10th Anniversary Campaign

Alumni and Community Engagement Officer

Location

Karuizawa

Compensation

Start Date

Application Deadline

Job Description

Overview:

UWC ISAK Japan is Japan’s first fully residential international high school, established in 2014 with the aim of developing leaders who will make a positive impact on the world. In 2017, it became a United World College, of which there are now 18 around the world.

Our students come from 80 different countries, and we provide scholarships to 70% of them to create an environment that is uniquely diverse, in many different ways. UWC ISAK Japan is always filled with the energy of faculty, staff, students, and parents who resonate with the school’s mission. Each member working here actively contributes to the development of the school by leveraging their own strengths and special qualities.

As UWC ISAK Japan continues to mature, so do its needs. The need to foster productive relationships with UWC ISAK Japan alumni and their respective networks, as well as the broad network of our extended community, has never been more vital. Under the supervision of the Head of External Relations, the Alumni and Community Engagement Officer (ACE) will support the school’s Development needs whilst progressively expanding UWC ISAK Japan’s alumni and other outreach functions. This is an exciting job which will grow and change as the nature of our community grows and changes. It has tremendous and stimulating potential for the right person.

Key Areas of Responsibility

General Responsibilities

Alumni Engagement

  • Plan, support, and participate in monthly Alumni Association meetings;
  • Support the Alumni Association in their recruitment, communication and event organization efforts;
  • Act as a liaison between the alumni and current community;
  • Initiate opportunities for the community to meet alumni and inform alumni about school news and ways to get involved;
  • Capture news, images, stories and videos from alumni;
  • Manage the UWC ISAK Japan Alumni network group on LinkedIn: accept/reject requests, publish alumni/school news, stay aware of alumni paths after High School graduation;
  • Initiate a strategy/vision discussion for the future of UWC ISAK Japan alumni in coordination with the alumni, current students, staff, faculty, board and council members;
  • Initiate school-organized alumni events for graduation anniversaries;
  • Support current students, staff and faculty in their relations with alumni.

Community Engagement and Relationship Management

  • Work closely with current and past parents to maintain their engagement with the school community and through this help to arrange fundraising opportunities with these constituencies;
  • Understand the school’s donor base and provide the necessary activities/support to keep up positive relationships with them;
  • Become familiar with the scholarship students who participate in the students/donors matching program and other programs set up by UWC International Office (Dare to Dream program);
  • Assist in creating content (get student stories) and sending out newsletters, SNS, and email campaigns;
  • Japanese translations of the website, creating the Japanese version of Youtube videos about alumni;
  • Administration of University scholarships, including liaising between the donor and the recipients, budget management, and working with the university advisers to ensure the selection process smoothly;

Fundraising Activities

  • Liaise with the Development Team to get student/alumni stories which are worth spreading to and sharing with prospective donors;
  • Join the discussions for fundraising activities and proactively support new initiatives and fundraising campaigns by the Development Team;
  • Liaise with the Marketing and Communications team and assist the development of the Annual Report (Japanese version) and the revamping of the school website when needed;
  • Answer phone inquiries about fundraising.

Database Management

  • Updating alumni information regularly;
  • Report creating.

Safeguarding:

All employees at ISAK 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 the duties of the post, the ACE 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 immediately.

Other duties:

Other duties may be assigned from time to time by the Head of External Relations, Head of School, or the Chair of the Board.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Experience of community management
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Business level fluency in English
  • Ability to use various digital tools to communicate with alumni living all over the world

Prefered Qualifications:

  • Experience working with younger generations
  • Experience of event planning and coordination

How to Apply:

Application Deadline:

Until filled

Note: The selected candidate will need to complete a criminal background check before the start of employment. UWC ISAK Japan will be responsible for the cost of the background check.

General Information

A Shared UWC Mission

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

Our Distinct Identity

At UWC ISAK Japan, we empower each other to be transformational leaders who explore new frontiers and make a positive impact today and in the future.

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.

Our Motto

Our school motto 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.

One Life
Realize Your Potential
Be a Catalyst for Positive Change

Leadership Education at UWC ISAK Japan

At UWC ISAK Japan, we empower each other to be transformational leaders who explore new frontiers and make a positive impact today and in the future.

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.

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 skills of leadership:

  • Awareness: Deeply observes oneself and the environment, and understands what is important for self and the greater good.
  • Connection: Empathizes with members of a community, understands their diverse potentials and values, and supports them towards a common goal.
  • Action Taking: Steps out of one’s comfort zone to courageously bring ideas to life.
  • Self-Discipline: Responds positively to challenges with measured reflection, growth mindset, resilience and optimism.
  • Creativity: Generates innovative ideas and questions and builds upon those of others

 

Leadership is a practice.

Leadership is not a position or status that a selective group of people earn, whether by the virtue of their economic or social position in society or their innate demeanor or personality. At UWC ISAK Japan, we believe that leadership is a practice. This practice is integrated into our curriculum​, and we believe that with practice, individuals can grow and integrate the essential skills 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 155 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 only full-boarding international high school and the newest 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 approximately 200 students from nearly 80 countries attend UWC ISAK Japan, with 70% of students receiving full or partial need-based scholarship support. 30% of enrolled students are Japanese, with the remaining 70% 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 around 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 go to the following website:
http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/karuizawa-guide

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Imagine… if there was an ISAK lower school!

Dear Friends of UWC ISAK,

UWC ISAK is celebrating its 10th anniversary! We are proud of where we’ve come from, and we are excited about the next decade.

At this important milestone, we are wondering – in pursuit of broadening our impact, could an ISAK Lower School be considered as one of the options and would it be feasible? A school that embraces ISAK values and vision for a better future?

As we embark on this journey, if you would like to participate in possible market research and receive updates, please subscribe to our mailing list.