Programme Supervisor-Musical Direction

Reporting to: Programme Leader Postgraduate Studies and Executive Director.

Job Overview: The Programme Supervisor-Musical Direction (equivalent to an Assistant Professor) is a full time role focused on teaching at the postgraduate level. The successful candidate will supervise postgraduate students in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programme (Theatre and Live Performance Creation: Music Direction) and participate as a member of thesis supervisory committees.

Additional duties include mentoring postgraduate students as needed, teaching a mix of skills in the Musical Direction pathway's postgraduate classes, possibly taking on roles in Musical Direction for APA productions (to be confirmed), and overseeing MFA student directors or assistant directors involved in APA Musical Theatre productions.

Key responsibilities also include ensuring safe practice within music direction teaching, leading assessment and feedback, budgeting, and effectively leading a team. The candidate will collaborate with other departments-production, dance, and performance arts programmes-and the wider APA faculty.

Key Qualifications

• Terminal Degree (MFA or PhD) or equivalent industry or professional experience in performing arts education.
• Significant professional theatre and/or live performance experience as a Musical Director (8-10 years minimum), including Musical Theatre experience.
• Trained in specialist knowledge of Musical Direction for Theatre, Musical Theatre and Live Events, including current software suites.
• Prior experience providing feedback.
• Knowledge and insight into student performance evaluation.
• Experience with research and scholarly activity, including practice as research.
• Capable of working autonomously and as part of a diverse, multinational team, exhibiting necessary emotional intelligence.
• Ability to work on a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with Office365 Suite, especially Excel.
• Flexible approach to curriculum development and andragogy suitable for the Academy's dynamic needs and cultural considerations.
• Willingness to relocate to the UAE.
• Direct industry experience; connections within the theatre and live performance industry for outreach and collaboration.
• Documented success teaching Musical Direction (or similar course content) and related courses at a post secondary institution, and/or mentoring producing students and emerging producers.
• Documented success in Musical Direction (e.g., industry awards).
• Clear understanding of schemes of work and preparing classwork while adhering to course marking systems.
• Experience working within a multinational, multilingual educational environment.
• Experience writing and delivering courses for postgraduate education.
• Experience with educational software (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas).
• Experience teaching Leadership, Entrepreneurial skills, Strategic Planning or similar.
• Experience starting or running a company in a for profit environment.
• Ability to work with students from varying cultural backgrounds and abilities.
• Energetic, driven, creative and dependable.
• Openness to adapting and developing teaching and creative practices.

Start Date: September 2026 Employment Type: Full Time Closing date for applications: 15 May 2026.