CDC Team Leader
Tedako Child Development Center (CDC)
The CDC opened on OIST campus in 2013 with the goal of developing an educational environment for the children of all OIST staff and students. The CDC provides high-quality childcare and early childhood education for children aged 0-6 years old in a bilingual (English and Japanese) environment.
Our Bi-Lingual Environment
Currently, the CDC holds about 160 children aged 0-6 years old who come from countries all over the world. To support the diverse needs of the children being raised in Japan, our language instruction at the CDC is a Bi-lingual (English and Japanese) Partial Immersion program. Daily activities are divided into morning and afternoon sessions, and the language used for teaching and learning is switched between Japanese and English to support the efficient acquisition of both languages. Each classroom with children over the age of 1 has one lead English teacher and one lead Japanese teacher. Lead teachers only interact with the children in one language and additional aide teachers are assigned to the classroom depending on classroom ratios.
The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University was established in 2011 to contribute to the development of science and technology worldwide and to serve as a hub of innovation in Okinawa. OIST is a dynamic new graduate university of science and technology in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan which offers a 5-year PhD program and brings together outstanding researchers from across the country and across disciplines to conduct cutting-edge scientific research.
The university is located on 85 hectares of protected forestland overlooking a beautiful shoreline and coral reefs. The campus is striking architecturally, and the facilities are outstanding. To facilitate multidisciplinary research, there are no academic departments. Outstanding resources and equipment are provided and managed to encourage easy access and collaboration.
English is the official language of the University, and the university research community is fully international, with more than 50 countries represented. OIST is rapidly gaining recognition in the worldwide academic community as a model for excellence in education and research, and our unwavering commitment to scientific and technological innovation is dedicated to generating progress that will fuel Okinawa's economic growth.
As part of continued efforts to improve the educational environment for children of employees and students, OIST is seeking to appoint a full-time team leader for OIST’s Child Development Center (Infant/Pretoddler/Toddler/Preschool/Kindergarten) Program. The team leader will assist the management and classroom staff in the daily operation of the preschool program for children ages 2 months to 6 years of age. This includes supervising classroom staff and aids and working with the CDC Director and CDC Management Team to facilitate the further growth and development of our preschool program.
Management and Supervisory Duties (20%)
- Observe and give feedback for CDC candidates at circle time interview for new classroom staff
- Participate in onboarding of new classroom staff and contribute to trainings and professional development of staff
- Plan work shifts, approve time sheets and supervise staff members in accordance with OIST/ CDC policies and procedures
- Perform classroom inspections and provide feedback to classroom staff
- Perform bi-annual observation and give feedback for classroom staff
- Provide a basic performance evaluation for classroom staff
- Review the contents of the childcare logbook, weekly and monthly plans, and provide feedback to the childcare worker in charge
Classroom Support (65%)
- Advise classroom staff on appropriate target outcomes, teaching methods, behavior management and curricula for preschool programs
- Attend field trips as necessary
- Support classroom staff to complete administrative procedures
- Cover classroom to ensure ratios for planned/unplanned leave and for staff shortage
- Work to ensure consistency in operations among group leader team, and throughout the CDC
Communication (10%)
- Communicate information about the law as it applies to preschool policy, education, school curriculum, rules and expectations of local government
- Update the CDC Management Team at regularly scheduled meetings with information regarding the care and safety of children as well as any staff or operational issues and parent concerns
- Give feedback to the CDC Management Team from classroom staff to assist the CDC Director to create and implement policies and procedures
- Attend and participate in meetings, center events, and parent meetings as requested
- Work with classroom staff to create and distribute monthly preschool newsletter
- Update the website, email distribution lists and required forms as needed
- Support parent teacher communication
- Serve as a point of contact for parents who have concerns about classroom
- Present at Parent Orientation
- Provide parents of newly enrolled children with information on classroom activities (Welcome Packet)
Other (5%)
- Support the collection of necessary data and information for decision making and reporting
- Support in the translation of communication and center documents
- Assist with other daily duties as needed
(Required)
- Hoikushi
- Computer literacy
- Leadership experience in a teaching environment
- Excellent communication skills in English and Japanese
- Valid Japanese driver’s license
(Preferred)
- Degree in Early Childhood Education
- CPR/ First Aid Certification
- Experience in the design of curricula for nursery & preschools
- Experience in an international preschool environment, and or experience in preschool outside of Japan
In accordance with the OIST Employee Compensation Regulations
Benefits:
- Relocation, housing and commuting allowances
- Annual paid leave and summer holidays
- Health insurance (Private School Mutual Aid)
- Welfare pension insurance (kousei-nenkin)
- Worker's accident compensation insurance (roudousha-saigai-hoshou-hoken)
- Access to Child Development Center
- Access to Schooling Options
- Language Education
- Resource Center (Daily Life Support in Okinawa)
- Cover letter in English (and Japanese if available)
- Curriculum vitae in English (and Japanese if available)
- Copy of education related certifications if available
* Applicants whose native language is Japanese are required to submit both documents in English and Japanese.
* Please be sure to indicate where you first saw the job advertisement.
* Up to 3 references may be requested during the final interview stage.
* Prior to the start of employment all new hires are required to successfully complete a background check. Personal information including employment history and academic background should be submitted to OIST after a conditional offer of employment.
- OIST Graduate University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty, students and staff. The University strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups.
- Information provided by applicants or references will be kept confidential, documents will not be returned. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their applications.
- Please view OIST policy for rules on external professional activities
- Further details about the University can be viewed on the OIST website www.oist.jp.
Full-time, fixed term appointment for 1-2 years. Contract initially with 6-month probationary period (inclusive). This contract may be renewed.
Mon-Fri, 7.5 or 9 hour/day work shift between 7:30 - 18:30 *CDC operation hours (8:00-18:00)
(Total working hours per month = 7.5 hours/day × prescribed working days of the month)