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JESS Careers

Welcome to the JESS careers page and thank you for considering applying for a career opportunity with us.

JESS is a not-for-profit international school with over 2,300 students across two campuses in Dubai, UAE. We are one of the top British curriculum schools and have outstanding ratings in all our inspections. This success is thanks to our team of committed and enthusiastic staff.

At all levels, JESS provides opportunities to show curiosity, excellence, commitment, integrity, respect and care. Our mission is to discover brilliance in every individual, build community through respect and a sense of belonging, and empower people to act with purpose to ‘Make a Difference’ in the world.

We welcome applications from inspirational and enthusiastic teaching and non-teaching staff who share our vision of Educating to Make a Difference in the World. We look to enrich our students’ learning journey at JESS with new ideas and the best practices that you can bring with your experience.

Job Opportunities

Application Process

All our vacancies are published on the Times Education Supplement (TES). Please view our vacancies there and follow the application process as specified. Only completed applications will be considered. Once a position is closed, applications will be screened by the relevant recruitment panel. Our HR team will be in touch with shortlisted candidates outlining the next steps of the selection process.

JESS welcomes applications from UAE Nationals who have the relevant qualifications and experience.

Safer Recruitment

JESS is totally committed to providing a safe and happy environment for all its staff and in which its students can thrive and learn. JESS is committed to ongoing safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its employees and students and expect all employees, volunteers, and visitors to share this commitment and work in accordance with our safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. All employees are subject to appropriate pre-employment vetting procedures including identity checks, qualification checks, online social media checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment and criminal background checks namely satisfactory police clearance certificates for all counties in which a successful candidate has resided including home country. For candidates coming from or who have resided in the UK the most recent Enhanced DBS and an updated International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) is required. All candidates will require as a minimum 3 satisfactory professional references, which will be verified. All candidates who have worked as adults and who have resided in the UK will be subject to prohibition and barring checks.

For further information please see the relevant policies.

Career Development

JESS is a school with learning at its heart; we aim to instill in our students a passion for knowledge and discovery. The same is true of our staff. Our JESS CPD provides a forum for JESS staff to keep learning, fostering their growth mind-set and share best practice. This has a direct impact on our students’ attainment, progress and engagement. We work collaboratively across both JESS campuses to celebrate our strengths and enable us to get the best of ourselves, so we can ensure the best of our students.

JESS CPD umbrellas five strands:JESS Talks, JESS Workshops, JESS Listens, JESS Learns and JESS Leads.

JESS Talks are planned and presented by colleagues across all three JESS schools. The format of a JESS Talk is five talks lasting up to ten minutes each. Each JESS Talk is centred around one of the following: inform, innovate or inspire. Topics are selected that drive innovation; inform staff about developments in education; promote well-being and inspire staff to take risks in their practice.

JESS Workshop is a forty-five-minute classroom based workshop. The strands of JESS Workshops are driven by our whole school priorities (identified on our SIP and inspection reports). Facilitators are internally recruited from those identified as Lead Practitioners in a particular strand.

JESS Listens invites outside speakers, trainers and facilitators to work with JESS colleagues on a particular area of development within the school. This is our opportunity to seek out World experts in their field and learn from them.

JESS Learns matches staff on external courses. We believe wholeheartedly in investing in its greatest resource: our staff. With this in mind, JESS colleagues have the opportunity to attend a variety of external courses across the region – and beyond – to seek best practice, up-to-date thinking and professional development. On their return to school, information is gathered centrally so that all staff can benefit.

JESS Leads supports the UAE National Agenda; JESS recognises that by sharing our outstanding practice, we can help improve education for students across the region. With this in mind, JESS Shares opens its doors to colleagues from across Dubai (and beyond) and invites them to listen, collaborate and network for free. We also send JESS delegates to speak at Conferences around the globe to represent the UAE.

Living and Working in Dubai

Working in Dubai

As a JESS employee, you can expect to receive a rewarding, tax-free salary and an end of service payment linked to the years of service you have completed at JESS.

For our sponsored, international hired roles, you will also receive other benefits such as an annual flight allowance and subsidised tuition fees for children attending the school. In addition, we also provide staff recruited from overseas with a monthly accommodation allowance allowing them the flexibility to decide where they would like to live.

Living in Dubai

Dubai is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place to live, where an international population is intertwined with Arabic culture, heritage and laws. The city offers the hustle and bustle of urban living, with everything from family communities to high-rise residential buildings either in the city or close to the beach. Green spaces are on your doorstep with nearly everything up to 20 minutes away, from parks, lakes and beaches to the desert, where you can take your family, friends or pet for a walk, and even have a picnic or camp overnight. There is no shortage of entertainment options, including Dubai Opera, many music halls and sports stadiums that host international events. To those seeking more family orientated activities, you can find pottery classes, water parks and cinemas dotted around the city. Dubai is well known for its long list of restaurants, offering all sorts of cuisines with international flavours.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the UAE. Away from home, there is much to explore, with each other emirate offering something different, from hiking in the mountains of RAK to visiting the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. If you want a weekend away, you are connected to nearly 70% of the world via Emirates Airlines, or you can drive to Oman for something closer to home. JESS has made Dubai its home for the last 45 years and we encourage you to make it your home too.

Climate

The weather in Dubai is beautiful, with clear blue skies and sunshine practically the whole year round. Whilst temperatures may seem on the unbearable side in August, everywhere is air-conditioned. By October, temperatures are pleasant and conducive to an outdoor lifestyle. These more pleasant temperatures last until virtually the end of the school year.

Obviously, sensible sun protection measures are recommended, and you should drink plenty of water to avoid heat stroke and dehydration. JESS provides chilled water dispensers on site for staff and students.

What to see

Dubai is known as a top tourist destination and a first-class hub for travel. From the adventurous to those who just like to lie on a beach, Dubai will be able to cater to your needs. Dubai itself has excellent hotels, beaches, spa resorts and nightlife for those who like to spoil and indulge themselves.

It is well worth seeing a bit more of the country, however, as the UAE is surprisingly diverse with lots to offer. Within a two-hour drive, you can find the beaches of the East Coast, which has some stunning scenery, with the Hajar Mountains plunging straight into the Arabian Sea. At Dibba, there are spots for diving and snorkelling, and Khor Fakkan is also worth a visit for its old Mosque and Fort. Within an hours’ drive of Dubai, you can reach the oasis town of Al-Ain, on the border of Oman, or you could choose to drive into the Hajar Mountains and Hatta Fort. Here you can take a plunge into the natural rock pools which are fed from an underground spring.

For those of you who want to see a more traditional side to Bedouin life, a visit to the desert sands at Liwa (2 hours by car from Abu Dhabi) is a must. This has some stunning scenery as well as the highest sand dunes in the world. Dubai has an excellent airport which makes getting away and visiting the surrounding regions remarkably easy. Dubai is also a great hub for planning longer holidays, with Europe and Southeast Asia both within easy reach.

Sports

Residents of Dubai can participate in all major sports. These include golf, skiing, snowboarding, polo, horse riding and water sports (sailing, yachting, jet skiing,) etc. There are many amateur sporting leagues such as netball, football, tennis and rugby. Dubai is increasingly attracting major international sporting events, such as Dubai Rugby 7’s, Dubai Tennis Open, Dubai World Cup, Offshore Powerboat Racing and the Dubai Golf Desert Classic with Abu Dhabi hosting a F1 Grand Prix. Many of the world’s major sporting stars have visited Dubai to participate in these events. Gym membership can be expensive and it’s best to research what’s best for your training plan.

Transport

Dubai has an extensive bus system in the centre of the city and a metro system, linking the main business areas. Generally, most of our staff choose cars or taxis to get to and from work. There are a number of care hire companies such as Hertz, Speedy Drive, Selfdrive.ae and Dollar all of which are online and most people opt for a lease agreement.

Taxis are also abundant and easy to book via apps and online and are generally reasonably priced.

Dining out

Dubai offers a cosmopolitan range of dining out opportunities from five-star restaurants to good-value local restaurants. Every cuisine is catered for and many offer takeaway and home delivery options to. Dubai also attracts a wide range of entertainers from around the world: international DJ’s, theatre productions and major recording stars all visit Dubai. There are many cinemas in Dubai and the latest Hollywood movies are shown although some films are edited. There are many social groups for nightlife in Dubai.

Where to live

Dubai offers many different residential areas for expats each with their own distinct flavour such as Dubai Marina, Town Square, Mudon, Mira, Arabian Ranches, Al Soufah, Dubai Hills, Al Barsha, Jumeirah. Internet Searches will show you the top expat areas that fit you and your family’s requirements.

We suggest you consider the characteristics of the neighbourhood, such as traffic, ease of parking, proximity to amenities and access to roads to reach other areas of the city as Dubai is a busy city. Expats can buy or rent their properties and prices vary considerably. As well as rent or a mortgage, you should also consider the cost of services such as air-conditioning, water, electricity and gas.