Section A Recruitment Responsibility East Asia Teacher Recruitment Team Date 14 March 2017 Location China DAC code CHIN-068 Job Title Team Leader Job Type Examiner Scale Start Date ASAP Closing Date 11 June 2017 Advertise job Internal & External Number of posts 2 Beijing and 1 Guangzhou Job Specific skills, knowledge, qualifications & experience The British Council is recruiting Team Leaders with solid people management experience. As IELTS Examiner Trainer duties are a key component of the role, at least 3 years of IELTS examining experience is required. Team Leaders will be based in one of four main cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. British Council China has five offices and conducts examinations across four regions in China. The majority of the tests are IELTS examinations which are run at over 50 test centres throughout the country. The post holder will be based in one of the four main exams offices and is expected to work a standard Monday to Friday working week. Travel to other cities in China, the region and internationally may be required as part of the job. Please refer to our web site at http://www.britishcouncil.cn/en for more information about our work in China. Enquiries about the post should be directed to ea.recruitment@britishcouncil.org.sg Interviews will be held on 26 th and 30 th June 2017. Internal candidates only: please remember to include the full version of your most recent end-of-year-record of performance and confirm (when the system prompts you to) that you have discussed the application with both your line and centre manager. Local restrictions on employment (if any) All members of staff who are not Chinese nationals are required to apply for working visas and, in most cities, a Foreign Expert Certificate. The process requires you to submit notarised degree and TESOL qualification certificates, a criminal record check and undergo a medical examination at a designated clinic in China or your home country. An undergraduate/university degree is essential for visa approval. According to Chinese labour law, we are unable to obtain working visas for those over the retirement age in China. This varies in different cities, with the lowest being 55 for women and 60 for men and the highest 65 for both men and women.
There are several steps to complete the overall process and the whole process takes a minimum of 12 weeks. An initial visa application process begins in your home country and continues upon arrival in China to obtain the relevant work and residence permits. The process differs slightly in each city and may take longer in different locations. Section B Information about China Exams Operations. A brief overview. The British Council Exams Operations provides various language assessment solutions and support services in China. We deliver IELTS tests to candidates in more than 50 cities throughout China. In China, our exams work is managed through our subsidiary, BC Education Consulting (Beijing) Company Limited. Our 750+ exams staff are part of the global British Council network. Exams teams, including Team Leaders and Language assessment consultants, are based in one of four cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. IELTS examining work is conducted in the main cities and examining staff travel regularly to conduct speaking tests in different test centres around China. Trips last between two to four days, with transport and a good standard of hotel accommodation provided by the British Council. Travel is by flight or high-speed train. Please refer to our web site at www.britishcouncil.cn/en for more information. Section C Information about the terms and conditions of service (TACOS). Whilst the information below was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements are subject to change. Job Overview As part of the China Exams Examiner Management team you will support the Deputy National Examiner Managers, National Examiner Manager, Area Exams Directors and Examiner Support Teams in achieving consistently high quality of professional exams delivery and other language assessment services. As a key part of the examiner performance management structure, you will be responsible for the management of a team of language assessment consultants who are primarily engaged in IELTS examining. There is opportunity for Team Leaders to build skills and expertise in the area of Language Assessment and to apply for jobs in the wider British Council network.
Contract Length 24 months Renewable Period Contract Type Fixed term No. of Staff Managed 7-8 Contract Hours 37.5 hours per week Contact Hours Annual Salary The salary range starts from CNY37,000 per month. Variable annual bonus The British Council contributes to a supplementary pension scheme in addition to the monthly salary. Income Tax & National Insurance Income tax Individual income tax (IIT) is between 15-25% depending on total actual income. IIT is deducted at source. According to Chinese labour law, Social Security Contributions (SSC) must be made by both the employer and the employee. Again, this depends on total actual income, although there is a cap. SSC is deducted at source. National insurance Applicants who have been resident and working in the UK immediately prior to going abroad for employment, are liable for UK National Insurance Class 1 contributions for one year, and the British Council will pay the employer's contributions. Fares & Travel Economy class flight for member of staff at the start and end of the contract, should the applicant be recruited from abroad. Baggage Allowance Accountable allowance of 1,200 for single staff; 2,000 for staff with accompanying partner and/or children per transfer paid by British Council China. Annual Leave Allowance 22 days leave allowance per year.
Medical Allowance Team Leaders and language assessment consultants are provided with a good quality medical insurance plan. Settling-In Allowance Up to 2 weeks' hotel accommodation and subsistence plus 2 weeks' settling in allowance; 1 month settling in allowance (for applicants accompanied by dependants). Applicants are entitled to an advance of up to three months' salary recoverable in twelve equal monthly instalments.
Additional Information Enquiries about the post should be directed to ea.recruitment@britishcouncil.org.sg Information on the Centre's current courses can be found at www.britishcouncil.org.cn/en Whilst the above information was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements are subject to change. Section D Information about the place Country Overview China is an exciting place to live and facilities are improving rapidly; infrastructure and transport are, in and between large cities, better than in most developed countries. Street life is vibrant and food, culture and entertainment options are numerous, especially in the four big cities. While there are numerous Chinese dialects, Putonghua, or Mandarin, is the lingua franca and is spoken by everyone. In the major cities, the use of English is growing and it is increasingly easy to get around without more than survival-level Chinese. Street signs and other public information necessary to move around are in both Chinese and English, as are ATMs and announcements on public transport. There are various ways of getting around the cities from bicycle to high-speed Maglev trains. The major cities have excellent modern public transportation systems which cost very little to use. Taxis are generally plentiful (except for during rush hour) and inexpensive. Harmony and mutual respect are key values in Chinese society. People with an ability to exercise tolerance and a willingness to work together to find solutions to challenges generally have a very positive experience living and working in China. There are very obvious efforts to make the cities cleaner and greener and there s also a growing organic food initiative. However, pollution is a reality and air quality can vary significantly from day to day. Applicants with respiratory conditions (or with family members with repiratory conditions) should take this into consideration. Crime rates in China are low and the political climate is stable. As with any country where the language and systems might be unfamiliar, there are challenges to living, working and travelling in this new environment. This role suits someone who enjoys challenges, is flexible and has some experience living and working in a different culture. China offers a comfortable, interesting lifestyle for adaptable people. City Overview
Beijing is characterised by wide boulevards and some of the world s best cultural attractions like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Food, shopping and entertainment options abound at every budget level. As the capital of China, Beijing attracts people from every corner of the globe. Shanghai is known as the financial centre of China and is a mix of steel and glass architectural wonders and bustling traditional neighbourhoods hidden behind tree-lined streets. There is a vibrant cafe-culture and shopping opportunities are plentiful. Guangzhou is located not far from Hong Kong and Cantonese tradition is evident especially in the food. There s no shortage of things to do: from small night-markets selling food and trinkets to enormous shopping malls sporting international brands and everything in between. Chongqing is known firstly for its spicy hot-pot dishes and then for its location at the junction of two converging rivers. The mountainous topography makes for a stunning backdrop to the bustling goings-on of one of the biggest cities in China. Although there are less international options in terms of food and groceries, Chongqing has a rich culture all of its own. In terms of cost of living, Chongqing is the most economical. All four cities offer a relatively comfortable lifestyle if you re adaptable and tolerant of unfamiliar ways of doing things. Western products are easily obtainable, although tend to be expensive. Climate China is a huge country with most climate types represented. The south of the country tends to be more humid and tropical with high summer temperatures and generally mild winters. The north tends to be dry and arid with hot summers and cold winters. Shanghai and Chongqing show quite large temperature variations between summer and winter, although neither is nearly as cold as Beijing. Both cities are quite humid, particularly in the summer time. Accommodation Generally, expatriate staff choose to live in private apartments at various price ranges depending on the location, condition and age of the apartment. Accommodation costs vary between cities. An indicative range, depending on location, size and condition: Beijing: CNY 7,000 CNY 15,000 Shanghai: CNY 7,000 CNY 15,000
Guangzhou: CNY 6,000 CNY 10,000 Chongqing: CNY 3,000 CNY 7,000 Some people choose to live in suburban areas where rents are cheaper. General living costs & conditions Although certain aspects of life in the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou can be quite expensive, it is also possible to live comfortably but economically, and save some money. Accommodation rental in Beijing and Shanghai is comparable to other major international cities; Guangzhou is cheaper and Chongqing generally offers the most economical option in terms of rent. Transport & Communication Public transport is plentiful, efficient, comfortable, and reasonably priced. Some staff prefer to use bicycles or electric bikes, although the traffic rules do take some getting used to. The internet is readily available and inexpensive; it s easy to get the internet installed at home and most coffee shops and restaurants have wifi. It s possible to access most internet sites. The speed of the internet reasonable, but not fast. There are restrictions in place and some sites may not be readily accessible or often impossible to access, e.g. Facebook, Youtube, Google, Gmail. General Health, Medical & Dental Care The major cities in China have a range of hospitals and clinics at various different price levels. In practice, it is difficult for foreigners to attend local wards and they are usually directed to the international ward where staff generally speak a reasonable level of English. In terms of personal safety, traffic rules are different to many countries and people who are not used to living in Asia should exercise caution when walking around or taking transport. China has a low crime rate and is considered a safe place to live. Job Opportunities for Partners China can be attractive to working couples who both work within the Exams team. There are also many other job opportunities for partners with TESOL qualifications and experience and, to a more limited extent, for people with sought-after skills in a variety of other fields.
Schooling & Childcare There is generally a range of international schools to choose from in all the major cities and there are some other options. Schooling at international schools can be expensive. Any Other Information (Shopping facilities, entertainment, leisure.) China is an exciting place to live and develop professionally. The lifestyle is very suitable for anyone who is adaptable and enjoys being in a vibrant urban environment. There s plenty to do and almost nothing you cannot find in the way of shopping, eating or entertainment. Working and socialising with Chinese people is easy and a very rewarding experience. Being part of a very large language assessment team and a much larger expatriate community from around the world also offers opportunities. Whilst the above information was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements are subject to change.