Role Summary:
The Community Liaison Team liaises between the school and the external community. We support students, faculty, and staff’s smooth transition to life in Karuizawa, and communicate with the external community on their behalf when necessary.
The team is also in charge of the Nippon Foundation Scholarship, the scholarship for ISAK graduates who are studying at Japanese universities.
Working under the direction of the Head of Operation and directly supervised by the Community Liaison Manager, the Community Liaison staff will be responsible for managing the Nippon Foundation Scholarship, faculty support, campus tour, and general office management. Together with the Community Liaison Manager, the staff will also serve as a liaison between the school and external community, and support students.
The ideal candidate is to have the right and positive attitude for the job and is willing to keep up with the fast-paced multicultural environment.
Key Relationships:
The Community Liaison staff will work closely with the entire community such as students, staff, and faculty. Furthermore, the staff will collaborate with the external community and outside organizations.
Reports to and supervised by:
Community Liaison Manager
Estimated Start Date:
December 1, 2023. One-year contract open to renewal.
Schedule/Hours:
This is a full-time, year-round position at the UWC ISAK Japan campus in Karuizawa, Japan. Overtime and business trips are occasionally required.
*UWC ISAK Japan is located on the outskirts of Karuizawa, in a quiet residential community. Due to the school’s location, employees must have a driving license.
Salary and Benefits:
Salary will be determined based on experience. Estimated range: 3.0 – 3.2 million JPY (before taxes/withholding). Benefits include enrollment in the Shigaku Kyosai (private school) health insurance and pension scheme. Generous school holiday/paid time off package.
Additional Benefits:
Free lunch in the school cafeteria on weekdays during the school year (taxable benefit)
Fall break, winter break, and spring break, in addition to annual paid leave
Professional development allowance (50,000 JPY / year)
Moving fee allowance (100,000 JPY / reimbursement)
Settlement allowance (100,000 JPY/ reimbursement)
Commuting allowance (Monthly)
Main Areas of the Community Liaison Staff:
The Nippon Foundation Scholarship
Serve as the main contact person for the Nippon Foundation and scholars
Manage monthly scholarship payments
Manage budget
Arrange meetings/trips with scholars and the Nippon Foundation (also required to attend meetings/trips)
Check scholars’ reports/documents submission
Update the Nippon Foundation social media
Student/Faculty/Staff Support and general office management
Support student/faculty/ staff’s smooth transition to life in Karuizawa
Other day-to-day support
Campus tour
General office management
Other community liaison duties
Required Professional Experience:
Strong communication skills in both English and Japanese to effectively communicate with faculty, staff, students, and external community
Project management skill
Detailed oriented
Personality/Successful Traits:
Commitment to being a team player and a contributing member of UWC ISAK Japan
Positive attitude and enthusiasm about creating and contributing to a young school
Ability to develop initiatives that take into account both the School’s long-term objectives and immediate needs
Ability to work in a multicultural environment with people from around the world
Ability to work well with people at all levels of the organization
Interest in taking on new challenges and exploring new possibilities, rather than simply continuing with what is already being done
Ability to effectively deal with multiple priorities, functions, and activities
Flexibility: Ability to adjust projects and priorities as needed
Ability to identify needs and take action to address them
Well-developed business ethics and the ability to maintain a high level of discretion
Self-aware and motivated; engaged in continuous reflection and improvement
Enthusiastic to attend school events and contribute to the community outside the Community Liaison role
How To Apply:
Please submit the following documents to [email protected]. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Cover Letter
CV in English and Japanese
Note: Successful candidates will need to complete a criminal background check (arranged and paid for by the school) before the final employment contract is issued.
UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
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 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.
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.
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:
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.
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).
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.
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
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.
Anchored by a unique leadership-oriented mission, our programs and community continue to thrive, drawing enduring inspiration from the example and vision set forth by our founders.
