Programmes Development Manager // Al Shindagha Museum

About BLR WORLD

BLR WORLD is an award-winning global talent company for the culture,
entertainment, and events sectors, enabling organisations to plan, staff, and operate unique permanent and temporary visitor experiences with 'Simply Brilliant People'.

About Al Shindagha Museum

Located in the iconic Dubai Creek area, within Al Shindagha's historical
neighbourhood, the Museum tells one of the world's most inspiring stories, one visitors experience literally, walking house to house through its pavilions across time. This is a museum like no other: wandering from history into the present day, wearing traditional jewellery, breathing in perfumes, even diving virtually for pearls. Dubai's culture and traditions are at its heart, where people discover the Emirate's fascinating heritage. Together with Dubai Culture, BLR WORLD is bringing this heritage to life for every generation, a living heart of the community as much as a destination for the world.

Position Details

Position Title: Programs Development Manager
Department: Programming & Public Engagement
Reports To: District Manager
Location: Al Shindagha Museum, Dubai, UAE
Contract Type: Full-Time (24-Month Fixed-Term Contract)
Contract Duration: 24 Months (August 2026 – July 2028)

About the Role

BLR WORLD is hiring a Programs Development Manager to lead the planning, development, implementation, and continuous enhancement of Al Shindagha Museum's public programmes, workshops, educational activities, outreach initiatives, seasonal events, and visitor engagement experiences. Reporting to the District Manager, the Programs Development Manager will ensure that all programmes are culturally authentic, educationally meaningful, commercially viable, and aligned with Dubai Culture's strategic vision and the museum's storytelling objectives.

The role is responsible for overseeing the museum's annual programming calendar, developing innovative visitor experiences, managing programme quality, and ensuring all activities contribute to increased visitor participation, community engagement, and revenue generation. Working closely with the Operations Lead, Commercial Lead, Training Manager, and Community Outreach & Events Coordinator, the Programs Development Manager will ensure programmes are operationally deliverable, financially sustainable, and consistently provide exceptional visitor experiences.

The role will also drive programme innovation by developing new workshops, educational initiatives, family activities, cultural experiences, and seasonal activations while ensuring all programming aligns with museum content, learning objectives, operational capabilities, and international best practices.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Programme Development

• Develop and implement the museum's annual programming strategy in alignment with Dubai Culture's objectives, museum content, and contractual deliverables.
• Lead the planning, design, and continuous improvement of public programmes, workshops, educational activities, family experiences, seasonal events, and cultural activations.
• Ensure programming supports visitor growth, audience diversification, learning outcomes, and community engagement objectives.
• Introduce innovative programme concepts that enhance visitor participation while preserving cultural authenticity and heritage interpretation.

Programme Planning & Delivery

• Develop and maintain the museum's annual programming calendar, ensuring a balanced mix of educational, cultural, commercial, and community-focused activities.
• Oversee the successful delivery of all public programmes, workshops, guided experiences, educational initiatives, camps, and outreach activities.
• Ensure all programmes are fully planned, operationally prepared, appropriately resourced, and delivered to the highest quality standards.
• Review and update programme content regularly to ensure relevance, engagement, and alignment with museum exhibitions and collections.

Workshop & Educational Development

• Design engaging workshops and learning experiences for families, schools, adults, tourists, and community groups.
• Develop new educational programmes aligned with curriculum requirements and museum learning objectives.
• Introduce at least one new visitor programme or workshop each quarter to support continuous innovation and audience engagement.
• Ensure all programme materials, facilitator guides, learning resources, and participant activities are professionally developed and maintained.

Seasonal Events & Cultural Activations

Lead the planning and delivery of the museum's annual programme of major events, including:

• Hag Al Leila

• Ramadan Programmes

• Eid Al Fitr Celebrations

• Eid Al Adha Celebrations

• Summer Blessings & Dates Festival

• International Museum Day

• Al Shindagha Days

• UAE National Day Celebrations

• Summer Camps

• Winter Camps

• Family festivals and community events

• Ensure all seasonal programmes reflect UAE heritage, cultural traditions, and Dubai Culture's strategic priorities.

Visitor Experience & Audience Engagement

• Develop programmes that encourage meaningful visitor participation and repeat visitation.
• Ensure all activities are inclusive, accessible, interactive, and suitable for diverse audiences.
• Monitor visitor engagement and continuously improve programme quality based on feedback and performance data.
• Work with the Commercial Lead to develop premium and paid programme offerings that generate sustainable revenue.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with Dubai Culture stakeholders to ensure programme alignment with institutional objectives.
• Collaborate with the Operations Lead to ensure all programmes are operationally feasible and adequately resourced.
• Partner with the Training Manager to ensure facilitators receive appropriate training before programme delivery.
• Coordinate with the Educational Programming Coordinator to align school programmes with educational objectives.
• Support the Community Outreach & Events Coordinator in extending museum engagement beyond the museum's physical locations.

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Establish programme quality standards and conduct regular evaluations of programme effectiveness.
• Collect visitor feedback and analyse participation data to identify opportunities for enhancement.
• Benchmark museum programming against international best practices and introduce innovative approaches where appropriate.
• Ensure all programmes comply with museum policies, safeguarding procedures, health and safety requirements, and operational guidelines.

Financial & Resource Management

• Support programme budgeting, resource planning, and cost management.
• Ensure efficient utilisation of programme resources, facilitators, materials, and venues.
• Work with the Commercial Lead to maximise programme participation and commercial performance.
• Recommend investments and enhancements that improve programme quality and visitor outcomes.

Reporting

Prepare and submit monthly and quarterly reports to the District Manager, including:

• Programme delivery performance.

• Workshop and event attendance.

• Visitor participation trends.

• Educational programme outcomes.

• Visitor feedback and satisfaction analysis.

• Commercial performance of paid programmes.

• Programme innovation updates.

• Recommendations for continuous improvement.

Required Experience

• Minimum 8 years' experience in programme development, museum education, public programming, cultural management, visitor engagement, or related fields.
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing large-scale public programmes, educational initiatives, or cultural events.
• Demonstrated experience developing educational content, visitor experiences, and community engagement programmes.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex operational programmes.
• Strong understanding of museum learning, interpretation, audience engagement, and heritage presentation.
• Experience in project management, programme evaluation, and performance reporting.
• Excellent leadership, planning, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and operational excellence.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working within museums, cultural institutions, heritage sites, or visitor attractions.
• Experience developing programmes aligned with UAE heritage and cultural initiatives.

• Familiarity with government or semi-government cultural organisations.

• Experience managing educational partnerships, festivals, family programmes, and outreach initiatives.

• Additional language skills are advantageous.

Required Education / Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Cultural Management, Heritage Management, Education, Tourism, Event Management, Arts Management, or a related discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in Museum Studies, Cultural Management, Education, or Business Management is highly desirable.
• Professional certifications in Project Management, Programme Management, Learning & Development, or Event Management are advantageous.

Location and Commitment

• Full-time position.

• 24-month fixed-term contract.

• Working 5 days per week, with flexibility to support operational requirements, seasonal programming, public holidays, special events, and emergency operational needs.
• Regular presence across all Al Shindagha Museum pavilions and facilities.

• Location: Al Shindagha Museum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Why Join BLR WORLD

BLR WORLD delivers tailored operational management, visitor experience, and workforce solutions for some of the region's leading cultural institutions. As District Manager, you will play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the strategic direction and successful delivery of operations across Al Shindagha Museum. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive operational excellence, develop innovative visitor experiences, strengthen commercial performance, and build lasting partnerships while contributing to the growth of one of Dubai's most significant cultural destinations. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of museum operations, heritage interpretation, and cultural engagement in the UAE.