Director Product and Programme Delivery

About the Role

A pioneering client is developing an AI-driven education platform aimed at schools across the Gulf region. This innovative platform integrates curriculum, pedagogy, assessments, technology, and student creativity into a unified learning experience. As the project moves towards launch, a core founding team is being assembled to spearhead product definition, operational framework construction, and program scaling.

The company identity will be shared with shortlisted candidates after required confidentiality steps.

Role Overview

The Director of Product and Programme Delivery will lead the product lifecycle from initial conception through deployment in schools. This role involves ensuring that curriculum, teaching methodology, assessment, technology, safeguarding, and school deployment function cohesively as a comprehensive product.

You will collaborate closely with executive leadership, academics, developers, and external partners overseeing the product roadmap, platform rollout, school onboarding, and overall program quality. The position demands a practical, hands-on leader capable of navigating strategic planning, tech development, educational frameworks, and operational execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the comprehensive product roadmap and delivery strategy.
• Seamlessly integrate curriculum components, teaching methods, assessments, platform features, and partner content into a single cohesive experience.
• Translate the educational vision of the venture into detailed product requirements, priority settings, and action plans.
• Ensure product coherence across user experiences for students, teachers, schools, and administrators.
• Drive platform development in partnership with the Chief Architect and technical and external teams.
• Define product specifications including user journeys, acceptance criteria, and release sequencing.
• Guarantee that the platform is scalable, dependable, intuitive, and suitable for classroom environments.
• Manage interdependencies among content, technology, assessments, and operational functions.
• Lead implementation of the platform and associated programs within school settings.
• Supervise school onboarding processes, operational preparedness, teacher training, and launch activities.
• Set standards for delivery, quality assurance, escalation procedures, and performance monitoring.
• Continuously collect and apply feedback from schools, educators, and learners to refine the product.
• Incorporate child safety, privacy, and data protection requirements within the product design and delivery models.
• Establish necessary controls, protocols, and accountability mechanisms for safeguarding.
• Cooperate with experts to uphold strong safeguarding and quality standards.
• Build and lead product and program delivery teams.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across academic, technological, safeguarding, and operational areas.
• Manage relationships with schools, technology providers, content collaborators, and other stakeholders.
• Foster a culture emphasizing collaboration, accountability, and delivery excellence.

Required Experience and Skills

• Extensive experience managing integrated ed-tech, digital learning, or education technology products from inception to implementation.
• Proven success in advancing products from development phases to real-world school adoption.
• Experience launching technology or learning initiatives in educational institutions.
• Solid understanding of digital platforms, software development, product management, and execution methodologies.
• Ability to effectively engage with engineers, developers, designers, educators, and external technology partners.
• Experience integrating data protection, privacy, safeguarding, or child safety measures into digital products.
• Strong background in program management and steering multiple stakeholders.
• Skills in building and leading highly effective teams.
• Excellent judgment, communication, diplomatic skills, and problem resolution capabilities.
• Commitment to relocating and working onsite in the Gulf region.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct background in K-12 education or school-based learning environments.
• Exposure to AI-driven learning, adaptive education, or ed-tech platforms.
• Experience consolidating third-party content and technology into unified educational products.
• Insight into teacher workflows, classroom operations, assessment standards, and safeguarding protocols.
• Familiarity with the Gulf Cooperation Council or broader Middle Eastern education markets.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English languages.
• Proven track record establishing sustainable teams, systems, and operational procedures.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate is a builder and leader who understands that success in education technology stems from effective classroom application. You possess the ability to articulate vision clearly, translate this vision into actionable plans, collaborate closely with technical and academic teams, and ensure school community stakeholders experience a consistent, high-quality product. You thrive in early-stage ventures where priorities shift rapidly, decision-making is critical, and cross-functional leadership is key.