The Canadian International School of Guangzhou
[Education is Love]
Living in Guangzhou
Long known as the "Flower City", a city built on China’s southern coast along the banks of the Pearl River, Guangzhou is the largest modern metropolis in South China with more than 2,800 years of history. As it stands today, Guangzhou enjoys a prosperous economy and dynamic changes in its cityscape. The city is also a cultural center known especially for its arts, crafts and cuisine. While Guangdong embroidery and ceramics are well known, it is the food in Guangzhou that brings it international attention. Boasting the country’s largest number of restaurants per capita, the city offers Cantonese cooking at its best and has shaped the way the world perceives Chinese food.
Guangzhou is a good place to raise a family, offering a variety of education options in the form of quality private and international schools, a wide selection of real estate options and healthcare facilities of international standard.
Travel a world away. Make a world of difference！
Working at CISGZ
The Canadian International School of Guangzhou (CIS) has one goal - to provide a Canadian accredited world-class education from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. CIS follows the Alberta curriculum and was the first fully-accredited Alberta school in China to graduate students qualified for top Canadian and international universities. CIS meets the high quality standards and needs of international expatriate families whose children looking for academic excellence in the Guangzhou area. Alberta’s education system is recognized internationally as one of the best learning systems in the English-speaking world. Alberta students have placed among the top academic performers in all five cycles of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) held since 2000. CIS campus has capacity for 1000 students and boarding facilities for students in Grade 7-Grade 12.
CIS teachers are passionate, committed and caring professionals, who nurture and guide each student in exploring their talents and fulfilling their dreams. 100% of our teachers are Alberta certificated and have proven teaching and assessment practices. CIS employs highly qualified teachers with degrees in Education, with an average of 8 years of experience from Canada and internationally.
CISGZ is always looking for lively, dedicated and talented teachers to join our team.
General Employment Opportunities
Foreign Staffing CIS Job Opportunities [Click Here to View General Job Descriptions]
Homeroom Teacher (K-G6)
Specialty (PE, Arts, Music) Teachers (K-G12)
Core Teachers (ELA, Maths, Science, Social Studies) (G7-G12)
Local Staffing CIS Job Opportunities
Mandarin Coordinator
Mandarin Teacher
STEAM Technician (will also consider foreign applicants)
Education Assistant
CIS Recruitment Requirements
University bachelor degree or above (Foreign teachers require Bachelor of Education)
At least two years of work experience in related areas in international schools, IB schools, overseas private schools
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
How to Apply
CIS Guagngzhou is still recruiting teachers. Do you want to know more about teacher CIS recruitment? Please see the follow procedures!
Apply through SchroleSelected CIS school job vacancies posted on the CIS page of the Schrole website, generally in November. Please apply through Schrole. | |
Apply through 51jobJob openings that are open to Chinese local applicants are also posted on 51job. |
Other enquiries to hr@cisgz.com.
We thank all applicants for your interest in a position at CISGZ, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Frequently Asked Questions about Working at CISGZ
Can you tell me something about Guangzhou?
Guangzhou is a Tier I city in China with a population of over 18 million people. It is located in the south of China on the Pearl river just 120 kms northwest of Hong Kong and 145 kms north of Macau. The Tropic of Cancer runs through the north part of Guangzhou, so we have very hot summers and quite pleasant falls and springs. Once called Canton, Guangzhou has a history dating back over 2000 years and it wears that history proudly. Ancient temples, walls and dynasty sites abound in Guangzhou. It is a city full of some of the largest walkable parks within any Chinese city. It has one of the busiest airports in the world, but it is very easy and quick to board flights due to its high level of automation. The school itself is situated in the southern District of Panyu which is known for its quieter pace and family friendly amenities. The school is also a 15-minute drive to the South High Speed Train station. As a result, it is very easy to use Guangzhou as a hub to reach any destination in China or the world.
Do I need a work Permit to work in China?
Overseas or Foreign staff employees do require a work visa to legally work in China. There is a process which does take some time for this to be completed. Our Human Resources team will guide you through the process both in the employee’s home country and here in China. Once the employee arrives in China there is a finalizing process to get a Residence Permit which occurs and the school arranges everything for the employee.
Does CIS have medical insurance and a dental plan?
CIS provides medical coverage to all staff which includes clinical visits, and hospitalization through MSH China. Some Dental coverage is provided through the same carrier. With this plan the insurance provider covers 80% of the fee and the employee covers 20%.
How many sick days do we have?
Foreign staff get 5 sick days and 5 compassionate days in a contractual year. A certificate issued by a registered physician is required if an employee claims sick leave prior to or immediately following a school holiday.
What does the school year look like?
Our school calendar looks very similar to a school year in Canada. We do provide a mix of Eastern and Western holidays. We have a one-week holiday for the China’s National Day holiday in early October, a two week Christmas break, a two week Chinese New Year break, and one week Spring/Tomb Sweeping break in late March or early April. Our school year begins in late August and lasts until the last week of June. We have around 185 teaching days every year.
What types of accommodations are available in Guangzhou?
Our staff lives in apartments either within walking distance to the school campus or a short 5 minute drive away at the Clifford Wonderland complex. Our HR team will guide and assist you in finding the right accommodation for you or your family. The school will loan the employee the damage deposit and agent fee, so the employee does not have to arrive in Guangzhou and pay that amount. Fully furnished apartments cost in the range from 3500-4500 RMB ( $685- $885 Cdn) for a two bedroom apartment. More bedrooms will cost more. The utilities are also very cheap in China as well.
What are the extracurricular responsibilities for staff members?
CIS runs After School Activities (ASA) like all International Schools in China. CIS runs two 16 week ASA sessions during the year. Staff are required to offer an ASA option after school twice a week from 3:10 until 4:05. This is often a pursuit of a passion for the staff member like Robotics or Dance. Coaching also counts towards this requirement. Staff are paid extra for this extra-curricular responsibility.
What meetings will I be required to attend?
CIS has a standardized meeting schedule. Every Tuesday, teachers will attend a division meeting, elementary/secondary meeting, a committee meeting, or a general staff meeting. Most meeting are 45-60 minutes long. Each grade level and subject area also has a lateral meeting each week in order to co-plan or create projects.
Is there Professional Development?
Every teacher belongs to a Professional Learning Community. PLCs explore essential questions and focus on student learning. The goal is to develop and improve teaching pedagogy. There are two designated PDs in the school year. Teachers are encouraged to seek out PD opportunities that matches their Professional Growth Plan. They can access a school PD fund to help them support that goal. There is the opportunity to visit other international schools in the area.
Is there a dress code?
Teachers should dress in a professional manner that befits the professional nature of the job. Business casual is appropriate.
Men: long pants and collared shirt; no jeans, shorts, or t-shirts.
Women: long pants, capris or skirts; no shorts, and no tops with spaghetti straps. Clothing should not be too tight or revealing.
Athletic wear such as yoga pants, jogging pants and athletic shorts are to be worn by PE staff only. Smart athletic wear rather than casual athletic wear is required.
What is the best way to get to work?
Some staff are able to walk to work as they live very close. There is a staff bus that picks up and drops staff off at Clifford Wonderland. Some staff use Didi which is a ride hailing system similar to Uber. It is very inexpensive to use the Didi hailing App.
What about holidays and what are the travel opportunities?
As we try to balance the Western and Eastern holidays each year, there are many opportunities to travel especially within China. As the world resumes normal travel, Guangzhou is a great place to spring to many places in South East Asia. The longer breaks do allow families and teachers to travel and enjoy the sights and sounds of new places.
What kind of taxes do we need to pay?
The school will calculate your income tax and deduct it from each month’s pay cheque. The tax rate is between 14-20% depending on the rate of your pay. It is important to seek out tax advisors or accountants in your home country to understand your tax responsibilities.
What is the cost of living in Guangzhou?
The cost of living here in Guangzhou is extremely reasonable. From the apartment costs, to food costs, to dining out, it is quite easy to save money if you so desire. Most staff send money home and still live quite comfortably. They travel often and some still are able to hire locals to watch over children or clean their flats.
CIS Employment Network
Canadian International School of Guangzhou is affiliated with these Canadian International Schools:
