Programme Supervisor MFA Performance Design: Lighting

Working as an integral part of the SPAA team, this role involves close collaboration with Programme Leaders, other Supervisors, and Lead Tutors to ensure the highest level of teaching and learning support is provided to students throughout their studies. This collective effort guarantees that courses are executed effectively and efficiently, benefiting students and the broader Sharjah arts community. 

Essential:

• Terminal Degree (MFA or PhD) or demonstrate and verify equivalent industry or professional experience or additional qualifications in professional performing arts education. 
• Significant professional theatre experience as a Lighting Designer (8 - 10 years minimum). 
• Must be trained in specialist knowledge of Lighting Design (including current design software suites). 
• Previous experience with 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 an integral part of a diverse, multinational team while exhibiting the emotional intelligence necessary for such environments. 
• Ability to work on a flexible schedule, which may include evening and weekend work. 
• Excellent organisational, verbal, and written communications skills. 
• Ability to work with Office365 Suite (especially Excel). 
• Flexible approach to curriculum development and andragogy to suit the Academy’s dynamic needs and cultural considerations and to enhance collaborative education delivery. 
• Must be willing to relocate to the UAE.
  

Desirable:

• Direct industry experience; connections within the theatre and live performance industry for outreach and collaborative purposes. 
• Documented success teaching Performance Design: Lighting (or similar course content) and related courses at a post-secondary institution and/or mentoring design students and emerging designers.  
• Documented success in Lighting Design (e.g., industry awards), particularly for live performance. 
• Clear understanding of schemes of work and preparing classwork while adhering to course and marking systems. 
• Experience working within a multinational, multilingual educational environment.  
• Ability to adapt to a wide range of age groups.  
• Experience writing and delivering courses for postgraduate education. 
• Experience with educational software (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard). 
• Experience with additional performance design areas (i.e., Sound, Projection, Video Mapping or others).  
• 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. 
• Second or third language. 

Delivery through:

• Decision making and solving problems with the Programme Leader Postgraduate Studies. 
• Building teams and communication with students.
• Facilitating change: curriculum development, community culture of creativity and innovation. 
• Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities. 

Development through:

• Resilience.
• Driving results. 

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) is an independent Academy established by His Highness, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, to address a growing demand in the UAE and MENA region for formal quality education and professional training in the performing arts sector. SPAA is the only performing arts conservatoire in the MENA region, offering quality undergraduate and graduate degree programmes taught in English.  The purpose-built Academy comprises one 432 seat theatre, two fully equipped studio performance spaces, TV/recording studios, twelve sprung rehearsal studios, 12 singing tutorial spaces, resource library, gymnasium and cafe. 

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy specialises in training graduates for work in the international professional performing arts industry. The faculty working at SPAA are highly experienced practitioners within their respective fields. The focus of the Academy is practical rather than academic. The central value for a SPAA graduate is arming them with the highest levels of practical skills for their field and giving them the tools to be able to successfully generate their own work or practice.

Salaries and Benefits

• Salaries in the UAE are tax-free and disbursed monthly in United Arab Emirates dirhams. Faculty members receive a competitive benefits package that includes accommodation, private medical insurance, and a residency visa, which extends to cover dependent family members. The Academy will cover the cost of education expenses for eligible dependent children under the age of 18.
• Employees and eligible dependents are entitled to an annual return ticket to their home country.

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy is a complex performing arts institution. Effective co-ordination between departments and courses is a high priority to ensure that resources are appropriately shared and quality in teaching and learning is maintained throughout the Academy.

• The Staff Handbook is an important resource for all employees. It sets out the expectations and important conditions of your employment.
• The post holder must accept responsibility for ensuring that SPAA policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times. 
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data.
• This is a temporary post based at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, University City, Sharjah, UAE. 
• This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed with the post holder and line manager as required and in line with the growth of the Academy.
• The Staff Handbook will be sent to you via email.
• Note: due to licensing requirements and safeguarding policies, any individual offered a position will be required to submit a background check/DBS/Police check.
  

Candidates offered positions at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy are required to undergo a comprehensive background screening and police check prior to finalising their employment.