Overview

We are looking for a motivated, mission-aligned coordinator to join our team in a hybrid department capacity, supporting both the Short Courses program and High School Admissions.

The ideal candidate brings a systems mindset, someone who naturally thinks several steps ahead, anticipates problems before they arise, and takes satisfaction in building systems that allow others to do their best work. At the same time, this is a role that sits at the heart of the student experience.

Role and Responsibilities

You will work closely with the Short Courses team and the High School Admissions team, taking ownership of the operational foundations that allow our programs to come to life. The role is approximately 75% Short Courses and 25% High School Admissions, shifting seasonally in line with program cycles.

Short Courses (75%)

You’ll play an important supporting role in how we communicate and connect with prospective students and families.

Admissions Support. Reviewing and screening student and staff applications; guiding applicants and families, particularly Japanese-speaking families, through the process with warmth and clarity.
Communications & Marketing. Supporting social media and email outreach to promote the Short Courses program, working alongside the UWC ISAK MarCom team.
Administrative Coordination. Contributing to team screening and interviews; coordinating campus preparation with various departments; managing Japanese-language correspondence and supporting the financial assistance program.
During & After Program. When the program is live, you’ll be present and hands-on supporting team orientation, student experiences, and parent communication. After the program closes, you’ll help ensure a clean and timely administrative wrap-up, including invoicing and reimbursements within two weeks of the program end.

High School Admissions (25%)

During peak admissions seasons, you’ll support the High School Admissions team and contribute directly to shaping our incoming student cohort.

Screening applications and conducting interviews for Grade 10 entry
Supporting on-campus open days, events, and school tours for prospective students and families
Representing UWC ISAK Japan’s mission, programs, and values with knowledge and genuine enthusiasm
Guiding applicants through the application, enrollment, and onboarding process, including visa support
Acting as the primary contact for travel-related financial assistance for eligible High School applicants
Responding to inbound inquiries from prospective students and families by phone and email

Ideal Candidate

Resonates with the UWC ISAK Leadership Model
Enthusiastic about learning and applying our coaching model to support student agency
Positive, flexible, and pragmatic in a dynamic, evolving environment
Collaborative, interdisciplinary, and self-motivated
Enjoys the richness and unpredictability of residential school life

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree
Proven experience in community engagement and management
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, in Japanese and English
Business-level fluency in English and native-level fluency in Japanese
Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings

Preferred Qualifications

A valid driving license (due to the remote location of the campus)
Relevant pedagogical experience

Benefits

Moving/shipping allowance (if applicable)
Professional development allowance
Housing allowance
Bi-annual seasonal bonus (January & June)
Currency fluctuation stipend
Commuting fee (varies based on home distance from workplace)
Lunch in the school cafeteria during the school year

Paid Time Off

Japanese national holidays
School holidays including fall break (3 days), winter break (approx. 2.5 weeks), and spring break (5 days)
Summer break (5 days, flexible use)
5 sick days per year
10 days of paid time off after 3 months of employment, increasing annually to a maximum of 20 days

Position Details

- Timeline. Open until filled
- Details. Full-time, one-year contract with option to renew
- Reporting to. Director of Short Courses; Admissions work assigned by Director of Admissions
- Schedule. Regular work hours Monday to Friday (occasional weekend work as needed)
- Location. UWC ISAK Japan Campus, Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture
- Health & leave benefits. Japanese private school health insurance, annual paid leave, professional development opportunities
- Salary range (annual). 3.0 to 3.4 million JPY (minimum requirements met); 3.4 to 3.8 million JPY (with relevant pedagogical experience)

Safeguarding

All employees must adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. If, in the course of carrying out their duties, a teacher becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School, they must report those concerns to the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) or DDSL (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) immediately.

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents to [email protected]:

Cover letter
CV (including any experience teaching IBDP, listing the subject and years taught)
Copy of teaching credentials
If selected for an interview, you will be asked to submit a diploma related to the subject to be taught (with relevant transcript), and a diploma from your highest degree earned (with relevant transcript)
Successful candidates will need to complete a criminal background check, arranged and paid for by the school, before the final employment contract is issued

We are looking for applicants who will be a strong fit for our unique educational environment.

General Information

We are looking for applicants who will be a strong fit for our unique educational environment. Please read this general information and give it careful consideration before submitting an application.

UWC ISAK Japan Core Values

UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

Our Distinct Identity

Our school vision reflects our hopes for and dedication to all UWC ISAK Japan students as they journey through one of the most important and exciting times of their lives.

One Life

Realize Your Potential

Be a Catalyst for Positive Change

We believe not only in the power of education, but also in the power of young people to become catalysts for positive change. We aim to create an environment where students learn to understand and appreciate different perspectives, challenge themselves academically and emotionally, and develop their innate potential as change-makers who can identify what is most important and needed, take action in the face of discomfort, use diversity as a strength, and support others in this practice.

Leadership Education at UWC ISAK Japan

Part of our distinct identity as a UWC is our focus on leadership and innovation.

We believe in transformational leadership.

Who is a transformational leader?

A transformational leader is someone who consistently identifies what is most important and what is needed, takes action in the face of discomfort, uses diversity as a strength, and supports others in this practice. With continuous practice, a transformational leader creates positive change within self and the community at large.

A transformational leader consistently applies these foundational facets of leadership:

Identify what is needed and what is important: a key attitude for making meaningful and lasting change is to identify what is actually the need and what is most important. These allow us to prioritise our efforts.
Take action in the face of discomfort: stability is comfortable while taking action requires energy and effort. We recognise action is necessary to make positive change in our lives, communities, and the world.
Use diversity as a strength: diversity works as a strength when dissenting voices are heard, communication is open and frequent, and where conflict is issue-based rather than relationship-based. Using diversity in leadership helps us find innovative and effective solutions in ambiguous and challenging situations.
Support others in this practice: positive change grows when we show up for others. Examples of how we support others include; sharing knowledge, teaching skills, mentoring, making introductions to other people, seeking debate and input, instilling ownership and accountability, challenging people, encouraging conversational turn-taking, and celebrating successes.

Leadership is a practice.

At UWC ISAK Japan, we believe that leadership is a practice. This practice is integrated into the programs, and we believe that with practice, individuals can grow and use the foundational facets of leadership.

About UWC

Founded in 1962, UWC (United World Colleges) is a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. UWC is comprised of schools and colleges in 18 countries, with national committees and selection contacts in more than 150 countries. UWC fosters a lifelong commitment to social responsibility, and to date has inspired a network of 60,000 alumni who believe it is possible to work for positive change.

The majority of students attending UWCs are selected by UWC national committees. In support of the belief that education should be independent of a student’s ability to pay, 70% of national committee selected IB Diploma students receive full scholarships. The UWC movement places a high value on experiential learning, outdoor education, service and other cultural understanding, alongside the academically challenging International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

About UWC ISAK Japan

UWC ISAK Japan is Japan’s first full-boarding international high school and the 17th member of the United World Colleges movement. Following the Japanese school system, UWC ISAK is a three-year high school, with all students in grades 11 and 12 following the IB Diploma Programme curriculum. The school is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) and all graduates receive a Japanese high school diploma.

Currently 200 students from more than 80 countries attend UWC ISAK Japan, with 70% of students receiving full or partial need-based scholarship support. About 25% of enrolled students are Japanese, with the remaining 75% coming from homes outside of Japan.

Location

Karuizawa is located in Nagano Prefecture, home to the 1998 Winter Olympics and fondly referred to as the “Roof of Japan.” Karuizawa has been attracting an international mix of visitors since the late nineteenth century. The mountainous climate keeps Kaurizawa cool and comfortable during Japan’s summer months, making it a popular escape from Tokyo’s heat and humidity. Karuizawa experiences four seasons with regular snow in the winter which generally lasts from early December through February.

Monthly temperatures average between 21 and -5 throughout the year.

While the full-time population of Karuizawa is fewer than 20,000, the population of the town increases dramatically during the summer tourist season. From Tokyo, it takes approximately 70 minutes to reach Karuizawa station on the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train).

Karuizawa is a favorite destination for outdoor enthusiasts and offers year-round recreation including hiking, cycling, tennis, golf and skiing. In addition, a vibrant arts & crafts scene includes art galleries and museums, a performing arts center, a symphony hall, and a community symphony. There are also many good restaurants with wide ranging cuisines, a large upscale outlet mall with designer shops, a variety of onsen hot springs and a local volcano, Mt. Asama.

UWC ISAK Japan is located on the outskirts of Karuizawa, in a quiet residential community and the school is not within easy walking distance to a train station or a large supermarket. Schooling options for faculty children are limited to the local public schools where all instruction and communication is in Japanese. We are not able to guarantee admission to UWC ISAK for faculty children in grades 10-12 or to guarantee scholarships if faculty children are admitted.

For more information about the town of Karuizawa, please visit the Life in Karuizawa section on the Work at ISAK page.

Short Courses and Admissions Officer

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