Programme Leader Production Arts

Job description / Role

Job Purpose

The Programme Leader – Production Arts is responsible for the successful and effective establishment and continued development of specialised education and training for the production arts profession.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Deputy Director – Academic of the Academy and working with them as part of the senior leadership team, Programme Leaders shall execute the following tasks and responsibilities:
• Management of and participation in the development of the Academy’s programmes and their operational requirements, including recruitment of specialist staff in consultation with the Deputy Director.
• Leading the programme’s team of specialist staff and ensuring that the programmes are taught effectively.
• Monitoring quality through teaching observation and staff development.
• Working with the Deputy Director - Academic on the recruitment and interviewing of candidates for the Academy’s undergraduate and graduate programmes.
• Working with the Deputy Director and Quality Assurance Officer to ensure that all the documents required for obtaining all accreditation of the programmes offered by the Academy are complete and satisfactory.
• Development of relationships and partnerships with performing arts stakeholders in Sharjah, the UAE, and the region to promote the role of the Academy and its programmes.

Key Interactions
As part of the team, working closely with the Programme Leaders and other Specialist tutors to ensure the students are provided with the highest levels of teaching, learning and support during their course of study. Through the departmental channels within the Academy, the SPAA team will facilitate these fundamental practices ensuring programmes are running effectively and efficiently for the benefit of the students and the wider arts community in Sharjah and the UAE.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:
• Postgraduate qualification including significant component relevant to Production Arts.
• HE/Conservatoire teaching experience
• Experience of working and/or teaching in interdisciplinary contexts
• Professional creative production experience within the performing arts
• Knowledge and practice-based expertise in production arts in one or more of the following areas: Lighting, Sound, Video, Production/Stage/Event Management, Costume/Scenic Art/Construction
• Demonstrable understanding and experience of conservatoire training and relevant industry engagement activities and development
• IT Proficiency in relevant software
• Ability to teach interdisciplinary practice effectively at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Ability to work as a member of an academic team in the design and delivery of courses and programmes and to undertake administration and monitor own work programmes. Successfully deliver programmes of work whilst proactively meeting deadlines and developing good professional relationships with students, colleagues, employers, and outside agencies
• Working with others interdependently to perform a task and to achieve shared goals
• Demonstrate the ability to see and hear multiple perspectives and monitor and/or adjust work based on input from a variety of sources and depending on differing conditions
• Establishing specific and timely goals for completion of work
• Having curiosity and drive to learn more about known and unknown strategies, techniques, concepts, applications and ideas
• Responsible Risk-Taking
• Willing to chance making mistakes while tackling challenging musicals or ensemble problems that do not have easy, obvious, or conventional solutions, and seeing these challenges as opportunities for learning and growth
• Self-Reflection
• Applying self-knowledge and objective evaluation to personal work through questioning and introspection
• An effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills with commitment to student learning through a variety of delivery methods, including flexible and distance modes
• Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities issues within a diverse and multicultural environment

Desirable:
• Master or PhD in a related area (or near completion) OR a professional qualification with significant relevant professional experience
• Experience of teaching or training in Further and/or Higher Education with familiarity of UAE and UK higher education and current developments
• A wider understanding of professional industry practice & knowledge

Core Competencies

Delivery through:
• Decision making & problem solving
• Building Teams and communication
• Facilitating change

Development through:
• Resilience
• Driving results
• Managing stakeholders

About the Company

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) is dedicated to world-leading education and training in the performing arts. SPAA will see performers and technicians hone their craft while receiving global qualifications, paving the way for a successful future on and off the world stage. SPAA is a centre of excellence – the only dedicated performing arts academy of its kind in the Middle East – where everyone is welcome, from all backgrounds, to realise their potential as the new creative citizens of the world.