Full-Time Tenured Position-Notre Dame Seishin Elementary School in Okayama

Employment Opportunity: From April 2026
Position: Full Time Elementary (Primary) School Teacher (tenured position)
Notre Dame Seishin Women's University Affiliated Elementary School (NDSE), Okayama City
We are a private Catholic elementary school in Okayama city. At NDSE, we have a unique partial-immersion program whereby students will study core subjects of Math, Science and English in a full-immersion environment. Other subjects will be taught in Japanese by a homeroom teacher. Therefore, teachers applying must have a unique composition of experience and skills necessary for this position.
Applicants must have a solid foundation in at least two of the four Japanese language skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). Your title will be 「副担任」or assistant homeroom teacher. Therefore, you will be expected to perform the same tasks and responsibilities of other Japanese teachers, except in English. Much collaboration in English and Japanese is necessary from day to day for classroom issues, lesson content and scheduling and so applicants who prefer to work alone or have no Japanese language skills, should not apply. This position requires someone with high energy and high effort on a daily basis. For those looking to increase their current level of responsibility, develop deeper relationships with children and co-workers, and have the security of long term employment, this might be the right position.
The first year will be a probationary period and, upon mutual agreement to renew, the next contract will be automatically renewed until retirement. Only those intending to work long-term should apply. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to establish themselves in a community and turn their year to year teaching profession into a life time career.

Requirements:
Bachelor degree or higher
Minimum 2 years of teaching experience in Japan.
Native English Level Proficiency
Valid working visa
A long-term commitment

Duties/Responsibilities:
English immersion subject instruction (Math, Science, English).
Working with Japanese homeroom teachers and parents.
Assessment of student progress.
Communicating student progress with parents and homeroom teachers in Japanese.
Curriculum revision and development.
Participation in all school events and training.
Involvement in all club, committee and sub-committee responsibilities.

Weighted preference will be given to applicants with (not inclusive):
-Additional certification in fields of ESL/EFL/Early Childhood Education.
-Experience teaching in Elementary schools or with young children.
-An elementary school teaching license from an accredited educational organization.
-Communicative level of Japanese.
-Familiarity with Japanese Kanji.
-Demonstrative commitment to professional development.
-Some ICT skills (ROIRO, Office, Smartboard, Tablet Applications, google suite).
-Ability to put school teaching principles into practice and plan effective lessons.
-Ability and experience teaching EFL students.
-Ability to read Japanese teacher's manuals and textbooks and express content in a meaningful, and interesting way.
-The proper disposition to handle the rigors of lesson observation, peer assessment and schedule adjustments.
-The ability to work well with Japanese staff.

Compensation:
Salary is in accordance with the pay scale for municipal Okayama school teachers and therefore is based on age, experience, and responsibilities with set raises until retirement.
Bonus: Twice a year (June and December)
Contract Term: Starts from April 2026. The first year is probationary and then after that will automatically renew until retirement.
Insurance: Health insurance, pension, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation insurance.
Application Submission:
Send/Email your CV and Cover letter in PDF format with a scanned photo (does not have to be by a professional photographer) to:
Notre Dame Seishin Elementary School
Attn: Nathan Nishi
nathan@ndsu-e.ed.jp

​1st-Application Period begins July 8th, 2025 and ends November 31st, 2025 (or until the position is filled). Initial interviews will be held via Zoom.

Selection Process:
1. CV and Cover Letter Screening. (Please state your speaking, and reading level in Japanese on your CV.)
2. Only applicants chosen from (1) will be contacted for a video interview. (2nd screening)
3. The final applicants chosen from (2) will be asked for a face to face interview in English and some Japanese. (Barring unexpected circumstances such as pandemic lockdown or being in another country, the applicant will be expected to appear in person for the final interview.)

Applicants who have previously applied are welcome to re-apply, if their current standing has improved. Feel free to pass along this PDF to anyone who may be interested.