Special Needs Officer

Role overview

Canadian University Dubai is seeking a Special Needs Officer to join the Student Affairs Department. This role is focused on supporting students of determination by helping them access academic and campus resources fairly and by contributing to a welcoming, inclusive university environment.

The position is centered on individualized support, accessibility coordination, advocacy, and outreach. You will work with students, faculty, and staff to ensure students receive the accommodations and guidance they need to take part fully in university life.

What you will do

You will handle intake discussions and review supporting documents to better understand student requirements. Based on those needs, you will help design and put in place accommodations such as adaptive tools or extra time for examinations, act as a main support contact for students, and offer continuing guidance as they manage academic and personal challenges.

You will also coordinate with faculty members to explain approved accommodations and help ensure they are applied in classes and assessments. In addition, you will share inclusive teaching resources, support communication between instructors and students, and help address accessibility concerns.

Another part of the role involves working with relevant departments to review campus accessibility, suggest improvements to facilities and technologies, and support inclusive policy development. You will coordinate with ICT and facilities teams to make sure adaptive solutions are available and working properly.

You will partner with the Student Success Center to connect students with tutoring support, work with Student Life and student societies to organize awareness sessions and workshops, help establish peer mentoring or support groups, and maintain a resource library covering adaptive technology and related materials.

The role also includes advocacy for students with special needs, acting as a link between the university and external support organizations, keeping confidential student records, preparing reports on service usage and program results, and reviewing accommodation outcomes to support continuous improvement.

About the university

Founded in 2006, Canadian University Dubai is recognized as one of the most promising universities across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region. It is ranked among the top 2% of universities globally, is the #1 university in Dubai, and stands 21st in the Arab Region in the QS Arab Region Rankings 2025.

The expanded City Walk campus features modern facilities and a strong focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. The campus includes laboratories, research spaces, media studios, advanced classrooms, a multipurpose theatre, a gymnasium, a student centre, dining and entertainment options, and more. Dubai itself offers a dynamic, multicultural environment with strong career opportunities and a vibrant lifestyle.

Why join

Working at Canadian University Dubai means joining a mission-led institution that values academic excellence, diversity, and collaboration. The university offers a supportive environment, opportunities for growth, and strong international connections aligned with Canadian education standards.

Required background

A bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field is required, preferably with specialization or experience in special needs. The university is looking for someone with 1 to 2 years of experience in special education or a related area, and prior exposure to higher education or academic support is preferred. Certification in special needs or a related discipline is also desirable.

Skills and attributes

The role calls for excellent people skills and communication ability, comfort working with diverse groups, familiarity with assistive technology and accessibility tools such as screen readers and text-to-speech software, and strong organizational skills for managing multiple student cases. Empathy, patience, a genuine commitment to supporting students, strong problem-solving ability, and a collaborative approach are also important.

Additional information

This is a full-time, onsite position in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The role is for students of determination and focuses on equitable access, accessibility, case management, and inclusion within the university community.