ILON Academy — We're Hiring: Mandarin Department Lead (Primary, Year 1-6)
ILON Academy, The National-World School in BSD City
blends the
IB Primary Years Programme
,
Indonesia's National Curriculum
, and
Singapore Math
We're a warm, start-up community where inquiry, character, and mastery grow side-by-side through clear routines and joyful learning. Classes run in an English-medium environment with close parent partnership and strong safeguarding.
Non-IB teachers will be IB-trained and coached as part of onboarding.
Why these role matters
As our
Mandarin Department Lead
, you will build and coordinate the
Year 1-6
Mandarin programme while growing a high-performing team. You will shape the scope and sequence, set simple and consistent assessment routines, coach and nurture teachers, and partner closely with families—ensuring safeguarding and data privacy are part of daily practice. To stay student-facing and model best practice, you will also teach a modest load of approximately 8-16 periods per week.
What success looks like (first 6-12 months)
- Coordinated Mandarin team with calm, predictable classrooms;
visible progress
in speaking/listening → reading/writing (pinyin/tones, simplified characters).
- Clear assessment routines
(diagnostic → formative → simple progress notes) with on-time documentation in Google Workspace.
- Consistent parent communication
(brief, professional updates; timely follow-ups).
- Safer-recruitment and safeguarding practices embedded in daily work.
- Joyful language days/exhibitions delivered safely and on budget; cross-grade collaboration.
Job Requirements
- Minimum Bachelor's degree
with relevant qualification
- 5+ years
in reputable schools teaching and/or leading Mandarin at primary level
- Mandarin native/near-native
; strong English; Bahasa Indonesia workable
- Experience in
English-medium
classes; PYP exposure a plus
- Google Workspace–savvy; assessment and record-keeping discipline
- Safeguarding and data-privacy mindset
- Comfortable carrying a teaching load alongside coordination/department duties.
- Preferred:
Indonesian nationals
graduated from China/Taiwan
universities.
Role Add-Ons
- Young-learner pedagogy; pinyin/tones routines; simplified characters
- Familiarity with
YCT/HSK
(or TOCFL) for age-appropriate benchmarking
- Event leadership (language days, assemblies, exhibitions)
Responsibilities
People & Department Leadership
- Workforce planning;
screen, recruit, and reference-check
Mandarin teachers
- Design onboarding plans, schedules, and coaching cycles;
nurture
growth and recognise good work
- Run observation/feedback and simple data reviews to improve teaching quality
Programme & Assessment Quality
- Teach assigned Mandarin classes (Year 1-6) and share model lessons/resources with the team.
- Build
Year 1-6 scope & sequence
(listening/speaking, pinyin/tones; reading/writing in simplified characters)
- Provide model units/lessons and age-appropriate benchmarks (e.g., YCT/HSK descriptors for reference)
- Ensure assessment hygiene and portfolio completeness; keep records audit-ready in Google Workspace
Safety, Parent Partnership, and Events
- Uphold safeguarding and data-privacy practices at all times
- Communicate clearly with families; provide simple home practice ideas (no heavy homework)
- Lead language days/exhibitions; prepare risk assessments and brief post-event reports
Qualifications
- Education:
Bachelor's in Chinese Language Education/Chinese Studies (or Education with Mandarin specialization); postgraduate study a plus.
- Skills:
Department leadership (workforce planning; screening & recruitment), curriculum design for Year 1–6 (scope & sequence, model units), assessment literacy (diagnostic → formative → progress notes; YCT/HSK/TOCFL alignment), coaching & observation feedback, pinyin/tones & simplified-character pedagogy, clear parent communication, Google Workspace discipline, safeguarding & data-privacy (PDP).
- Experience:
5+ years primary-level Mandarin in reputable, English-medium schools; evidence of team/PLC leadership, moderation and portfolios, event leadership (language days/exhibitions), and carrying a teaching load alongside coordination duties; track record partnering with parents.
- Certifications (nice-to-have):
HSK/TOCFL credentials, IB PYP training (Category 1/2 or equivalent), child protection/safeguarding certification, basic HSE/first aid for events.
Apply
Email
Subject:
Mandarin Department Lead - [Your Name]
Attach:
CV, degree/license, a word leadership vision, earliest start date, salary expectation, and 1-2 sample unit plans/rubrics.
Safeguarding:
Safer recruitment in practice; offers subject to reference & credential checks.
Equal Opportunity:
We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities; inclusive, bias-aware hiring is our commitment.