Head of Academic Unit- K12

Head of Academic Unit – K12 Build the Future At McGraw Hill, we believe that learning changes everything. As the leading provider of print and digital educational materials for Grades PreK–12, we are on a mission to unlock the full potential of every learner. The Gulf region is at a pivotal moment in its education journey. Schools are evolving rapidly, digital transformation is reshaping classrooms, and the demand for high-quality, research-backed educational solutions has never been greater. We are looking for a Head of Academic Unit -MEA to help lead that transformation. This is a rare opportunity to sit at the intersection of education expertise, commercial strategy, and regional leadership shaping how McGraw Hill's world-class K–12 solutions are understood, adopted, and championed across the Gulf. Based in our Dubai office, you will be a visible, credible, and influential force partnering with schools, distributors, sales teams, and internal stakeholders to drive meaningful educational impact at scale. How Can You Make an Impact? This role goes far beyond academic support. You will be a strategic leader, a master presenter, and a trusted partner to some of the most important voices in Gulf education. Here is how you will make your mark:
- Drive solution selling by partnering with the Sales and Marketing leadership team on key accounts building relationships with district and school-level influencers and connecting their strategic priorities to McGraw Hill's products, pedagogy, and technology.
- Lead and support the Academic Unit across the MEA region, guiding and mentoring academic colleagues to deliver consistently excellent results in a complex, multi-market environment.
- Build and strengthen distributor partnerships, working closely with key regional distributors to provide sales enablement, training, and strategic alignment across key accounts.
- Deliver high-impact presentations at major accounts and key opportunities, translating complex educational content into compelling, audience-relevant narratives for school leaders, teachers, and decision-makers.
- Shape marketing and product strategy by acting as the Voice of Sales, informing the development of marketing materials, presentation templates, and product development roadmaps with real field intelligence.
- Provide product training to the field team, equipping colleagues and partners with the knowledge and confidence to represent McGraw Hill's product lines effectively.
- Bring market intelligence to life, staying current with trends in K–12 education, digital learning, and competitor activity, and using that knowledge to help the organization position itself strategically across the Gulf. What Can You Expect from the Position?
- This is a regional leadership role with genuine scope, visibility, and influence. Here is what life in this position looks like:
- Regional responsibility spanning the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain as primary markets.
- Travel: Approximately 40% of the time, with seasonal variation depending on the academic calendar and key account activity.
- Collaboration: You will work closely with account managers, the UAE academic team, regional distributors, internal marketing and product development teams, and school and education-sector stakeholders across the Gulf.
- Strategic input: This is not a purely operational role. You will have a genuine seat at the table when it comes to product development, marketing strategy, and regional go-to-market planning.
- Growth: You will be joining a global organization that is investing heavily in digital education and the future of learning with real opportunities to grow your career as the region evolves. We're Looking for Someone With:
- A bachelor’s degree (in Education, a STEM discipline, or a related field)
- A minimum of five years of teaching experience at the elementary/K–12 level, with a genuine understanding of classroom realities, educator needs, and school culture
- Leadership experience or strong, demonstrable leadership potential whether from an education-industry role, a senior school leadership position, or a regional/team management background
- The ability to engage credibly with school leaders, teachers, and education stakeholders, building trust and influencing decisions at multiple levels
- Strong digital literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, as well as comfort with online and web-based tools
- The ability and willingness to travel regionally (40%), including overnight travel as required.
- A valid driver's license Strongly Preferred
- Experience in educational publishing, EdTech, digital learning, or the broader education industry.
- A STEM background (Science, Mathematics, ICT, Computing, or related disciplines) to complement the existing literacy expertise within the UAE academic team
- Previous experience in curriculum development and selection
- Previous leadership or managerial expe