Teacher of Middle & Secondary School Mathematics / Teacher Mentor

Application date/s: URGENT, for August 20th 2018 start - apply immediately
Start date: September 5th 2018
Contract type: Full Time
Salary: Competitive, with full package expatriate package
Contract term: Fixed Term (annually renewable)

About the position

A rapidly expanding international school in Baku, Azerbaijan seek a qualified secondary school teacher of Maths to work as a middle and secondary school teacher and mentor to other teachers. The post is suitable for an individual who is highly capable and self-motivated

This is an exciting, creative and varied role, suited to a committed, enthusiastic teaching professional; someone who possesses the correct blend of moral purpose alongside teaching, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.

The role involves two key duties, of equal importance:

1. Excellent teaching: the successful applicant will be responsible for teaching the Maths curriculum to years 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, in a growing international school with a current pupil roll of around 50 students in secondary, but projected to rise sharply in 2018-19.  Around a 50% teaching timetable is anticipated
2. Mentoring colleagues: a key dimension of the role will be building capacity in local colleagues; this will involve a blend of modelling excellent teaching, team teaching, formally observing teacher and mentoring / formally appraising colleagues

The successful applicant will work in close cooperation with expatriate applicants for the parallel positions of:

• Early Years Leader of Learning & Personal Development / Teacher Mentor
• Early Years Teacher / Teacher Mentor
• Primary Teacher / Teacher Mentor
• Teacher of Primary English / Teacher Mentor
• Teacher of Secondary English / Teacher Mentor

…as well as the school Senior Leadership Team.  

Essential requirements:

• Qualified Teacher Status achieved in any of the following contexts: United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa or the USA
• Experience of teaching Maths to students aged 11 – 16, using one of the above national curricula. Willingness to teach years 5 and 6.
• A positive work ethic and a high level of self-motivation; the willingness to act as a role-model (to students and colleagues) and mentor
• An excellent grasp of the teaching and learning practices suited to a modern English-medium international school (i.e. able to teach highly effective 3-part lessons but also model more independent, collaborative and technology-rich aspects of 21st century learning; a positive ability to adapt teaching and learning to an inclusive environment where EAL and a range of abilities will be common)
• Cultural sensitivity and intercultural communication competence - i.e. the ability to relate in a positive way and achieve positive results working with professionals who were raised in a distinctly different culture
• Resilience and a solution-oriented outlook; the ability to complete and finish tasks, set developmental targets for mentees and take responsibility for ensuring that these are achieved; a ‘no excuses’ approach
• The positivity, patience, open-mindedness and resilience necessary to thrive in an exciting but very culturally different location and a commitment to being an excellent ambassador for our school within the community

Also desirable would be one or a number of the following:

• Experience of teaching a syllabus for UK GCSE or IGCSE
• Specific experience of the Cambridge Secondary Curriculum 1 and/or 2
• Specific EAL / ESL experience or qualifications
• Experience of teaching KS2 Maths
• Experience of mentoring colleagues / general leadership and management experience; experience of leading appraisal
• Experience of leading professional learning communities and/or staff training
• Experience of working in an international setting within a team that has a high proportion of host country nationals
• Experience of living in former-Soviet countries and/or language skills (such as Azerbaijani, Russian or Turkic-group languages)

Remuneration and benefits offered (all figures shown in Euros):

• The school operates for 175 school days per year (working days 207), meaning that staff work hard but also enjoy an excellent work-life balance
• A net salary which is excellent for the location
• A performance-related bonus (additional to basic salary) of around 20%  of the annual salary, determined by appraisals.
• An apartment located in the heart of the city centre (or a quieter location, as per preference) is provided for new arrivals; second year teachers can opt to receive a housing allowance instead of the accommodation provided
• Comprehensive medical insurance (covering GP visits, medicine and accident and emergency cover)
• A flight allowance including a sum for excess baggage on arrival
• Snack breakfast and lunch provided daily, free of charge
• Access to the school gym and swimming pool (when the latter is not in use) on work-day evenings from 17.00-19.00 and Saturday mornings

About Baku

Baku, situated on the Caspian Sea, is an eclectic, modern, vibrant city replete with all of the sights, museums, civic buildings, shopping, dining and social opportunities that one usually associates with modern, cosmopolitan capitals. 

The climate is pleasant: mild in the winter and warm in the summer, although often somewhat windy.  While the evidence of Azerbaijan’s Soviet past remains clearly evident, especially in the suburbs, the centre of city is attractive and modern with tree-lined boulevards, outdoor dining and a relaxed atmosphere.  Locals welcome foreigners and, as a rule, very much enjoy meeting and chatting to people from different cultures.  Latterly, Baku has begun to establish itself as a venue for a range of prestigious international events, such as the annual Grand Prix, inaugural European Olympic Games (2015) and Eurovision (hosted by Azerbaijan in 2012 as previous winners). 

The package offered for this role is excellent and, when considered in relation to the highly affordable cost of living, it will enable appointees to enjoy all of the rich social and cultural opportunities on offer while also saving a large portion of their salary. 

Compared to other large cities (population around 4 million), Baku is extremely safe and has a secular, tolerant atmosphere where gender politics and lifestyles, while specific in their own way, are much more akin to Europe or Russia than most of the Islamic world.  All in all, Baku is a rich tapestry of European, post-Soviet and Middle Eastern culture, reflected in the architecture, cuisine, language and people. 

How to apply:

Interested applicants should send the following addressed to Mr Raymond Finch (MTK Senior Leadership Team) to the e-mail expatriatejobs@mtk.edu.az, including as attachments:

• a concise covering email, stating the role for which you are applying and core reasons why you are suited to the role
• a well-presented curriculum vitae, including full name, recent photograph, clear details of relevant qualifications, an accurate, clear chronology of teaching experience (with all gaps in employment since your initial teacher training accounted for) and, finally, a personal statement / statement of teaching philosophy.