Senior Teacher - Young Learners, Japan

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity. Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. We connect. We inspire.

The British Council Japan is looking for a dedicated Senior Teacher to help maintain and enhance academic quality at our teaching centre by leading and supporting in-house teacher development initiatives. In this role, you will play a key part in promoting high-quality teaching and ensuring effective learning of English across our programmes. You will contribute to creating a rewarding and stimulating learning experience for all our students, while actively supporting the wider aims of the British Council and its cultural relations mission.

Role Accountabilities

• As a Senior Teacher you will play a central role in supporting our teaching team and enhancing the quality of English language teaching.
• You will provide line management, guidance and performance support to teachers, ensuring classroom practice aligns with British Council standards and our global teaching approach.
• You will monitor staff wellbeing, offer support where needed, act as a duty officer for teachers, parents and students, and contribute to recruitment, induction and mentoring programmes that help teachers succeed in new contexts.
• A key focus of the role is leading Continuing Professional Development (CPD). You will design, coordinate and deliver an annual CPD programme aligned with regional priorities, identifying development needs and creating opportunities that support teacher growth and improved learner outcomes.
• Through classroom observations, feedback discussions, coaching, mentoring, demonstration lessons and professional development sessions, you will promote reflective practice and continuous improvement.
• You will stay informed about developments in ELT, share best practice across the teaching team and represent the British Council at relevant professional events.
• Working closely with Teaching Operations and Customer Services, you will support academic quality, product delivery and the implementation of key policies and frameworks.
• You will also champion safeguarding, EDI and SEND, helping to create an inclusive learning environment while contributing to the wider mission of the British Council and delivering an outstanding learner experience.

Qualifications & Experience

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated professional who combines strong academic expertise with the ability to lead, collaborate and drive impact in a global, education-focused organisation.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Undergraduate/University degree.
• Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (Cambridge CELTA) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity TESOL) certification.
• Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Cambridge DELTA or Trinity DipTESOL) or equivalent as recognised by the British Council.
• A minimum of 2 years post-diploma i.e. DELTA/Trinity DipTESOL experience gained from teaching a variety of age groups and levels from young learners through to adults.
• Knowledge and experience of management of Young Learners course delivery.
• Knowledge and experience of line managing/ coordinating teaching teams.
• Knowledge and experience of teacher training.
• Proficiency in English equivalent to a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) C2 level.

Desirable Experience and Qualifications

• Relevant Young Learner qualification (e.g. TYLEC, YL Extension to CELTA etc).
• TYLEC trainer qualification or equivalent.
• Relevant Early Years certificate / qualification.
• Relevant masters/post graduate qualification.
• Extensive experience in teaching relevant age groups:
• Primary aged 6 to 10 (800+ hours)
• Lower Secondary aged 11 to 14 (400+ hours)
• Upper Secondary aged 15 to 17 (400+ hours)
• Early Years aged 2 to 5 (400+hours)

Important Information

• Location: Tokyo, Japan.
• Salary: The role offers a starting salary of 480,000 yen per month, with final remuneration determined by qualifications and experience.
• Income tax and national insurance: Your salary is a gross salary and is subject to local taxes and statutory deductions.
• Medical insurance: Teachers are registered for National Health Insurance in line with statutory requirements.
• Annual Leave: Employees are entitled to 35 days of annual leave per year, in addition to 14 public holidays.
• Contracted hours per week: 40 hours - Full time.
• Working Hours: The schedule runs from Wednesday to Sunday, with some flexibility required depending on business needs.
• Contract type: 2 years Fixed-Term contract renewable.

Renewals

In deciding whether to agree to renew your employment, the British Council will take into account following factors: (a) your workload at the time of the end of the employment term; (b) your job performance and work attitude; (c) your ability and competence; (d) business conditions of the British Council; (e) progress of your work; (f) your level of constructive cooperation/teamwork with both your colleagues and your line manager; and (g) any other factors that the British Council may reasonably consider relevant to the decision to renew or not. The Maximum Number of Renewals: There is no limit on the number of renewals.

Possible Changes to Your Duties

You may be assigned to different duties designated by the British Council to meet operational demands.

Possible Changes to Your Place of Work

You may be transferred to a different workplace designated by the British Council to meet operational demands.

Proof of Identity & Right to Work

Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in Japan. The British Council Japan welcomes international candidates and will support successful applicants in obtaining a work visa.

International Transfer

This role is open to all applicants including those who need to relocate to undertake the role. Candidates who do not have a natural right to work in the country will be provided with immigration clearance and visa support.

Background Screening

All successful candidates are obliged to undergo comprehensive background screening.

Closing Date

5th August 2026

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989. Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.