Academic Manager (Chinese Language School)

Work Location: Bangna Working Hours: 5 days per week (including Saturday and Sunday) with 2 consecutive weekdays off Position Overview The Academic Manager is responsible for leading the academic direction and quality of School, with a strong focus on Mandarin Chinese curriculum development, teaching quality, and teacher capability development . This role will be responsible for reviewing and continuously improving the existing curriculum and learning materials to ensure they are engaging, practical, structured, and aligned with learners’ needs and academic standards. The ideal candidate is an experienced Mandarin Chinese educator and curriculum developer who has hands-on experience in teaching Chinese, developing Mandarin language courses and learning materials, and coaching teachers to improve classroom performance. The Academic Manager will work closely with the management team to translate the school’s academic vision into high-quality learning programs and ensure consistent teaching standards across all classes. Key Responsibilities 1. Curriculum Development & Academic Program Management Review, evaluate, and continuously improve school’s existing curriculum, course structure, syllabus, and learning materials. Develop and enhance Mandarin Chinese courses for different learner levels, from beginner to advanced. Ensure curriculum progression is clear, systematic, and appropriate for students’ learning objectives. Design and improve lesson plans, teaching materials, activities, assessments, and learning resources. Identify gaps and opportunities in the current curriculum and develop solutions to improve learning outcomes. Ensure the curriculum is practical, engaging, learner-centered, and relevant to real-life Mandarin communication. Establish appropriate learning objectives, course outcomes, and academic standards for each program. Develop new academic programs and courses based on student needs, market trends, and business opportunities. Regularly collect feedback from students and teachers and use insights to improve curriculum and learning experiences. 2. Teacher Coaching & Development Lead, coach, and mentor Mandarin teachers to improve teaching quality and classroom effectiveness. Conduct regular teacher observations and provide constructive feedback and coaching. Develop teacher development programs, workshops, and academic training sessions. Support teachers in lesson planning, classroom management, teaching methodology, and student engagement. Establish teaching standards and best practices across the school. Identify individual teacher development needs and create appropriate coaching or development plans. Build a strong academic culture that encourages continuous learning, collaboration, and professional development. Provide guidance to new teachers and support their onboarding and academic development. 3. Teaching Quality & Academic Standards Monitor and maintain consistent teaching quality across all classes and programs. Develop academic quality assurance processes, teaching standards, and evaluation frameworks. Review student learning outcomes and identify areas for academic improvement. Monitor student progress and ensure learning objectives are being achieved. Develop and improve assessment methods to accurately measure students’ Mandarin proficiency and progress. Ensure teachers consistently follow the curriculum, academic standards, and teaching methodology. Take corrective action and provide coaching when teaching quality does not meet expected standards. 4. Academic Leadership Set and communicate the academic vision, direction, and standards of school. Lead the academic team and create a collaborative and high-performance environment. Work closely with the School Management, Business Development, Marketing, and Operations teams to ensure academic programs support overall business objectives. Translate business and customer needs into relevant academic programs and learning solutions. Participate in academic planning, new course launches, and strategic education projects. Stay updated on trends, developments, and best practices in Mandarin language education. 5. Student Learning Experience Ensure students receive a consistent, engaging, and high-quality Mandarin learning experience. Analyze student feedback, retention, progress, and learning outcomes to identify areas for improvement. Work with teachers and relevant teams to address academic issues affecting student satisfaction and retention. Continuously improve the learning journey from placement and course selection through to completion and progression. 6. Academic Projects & Innovation Lead academic projects related to curriculum enhancement, new course development, teaching methodology, and learning innovation. Explore and implement new approaches, tools, technology, and teaching resources to enhance Mandarin learning. Develop scalable academic systems and materials that can support the school’s future growth. Lead special academic projects assigned by management. Qualifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chinese Language, Chinese Education, Education, Linguistics, Teaching Chinese as a Second Language , or a related field. 5+ years of experience in teaching Mandarin Chinese , preferably with experience teaching different learner levels. Proven experience in Mandarin Chinese curriculum development , syllabus design, lesson planning, and learning material development. Strong experience in teacher coaching, mentoring, classroom observation, and teacher development . Strong understanding of Mandarin Chinese teaching methodologies and language acquisition. Experience developing courses for different student profiles and proficiency levels. Experience in an educational institution, language school, international school, university, or similar learning environment is preferred. Professional certification such as CTCSOL, TCSL, HSK-related certification, or other relevant Chinese teaching qualifications would be an advantage. Strong English communication skills are preferred for working with management and cross-functional teams. Strong leadership, communication, presentation, coaching, and interpersonal skills. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to turn academic concepts into practical, effective classroom solutions. Key Competencies Academic & Technical Mandarin Chinese Teaching Expertise Curriculum & Syllabus Development Learning Material Development Teaching Methodology Assessment & Learning Outcomes Academic Quality Assurance Leadership Teacher Coaching & Mentoring Team Leadership Academic Leadership Performance Management Stakeholder Management Business & Strategic Business Acumen Student-Centric Mindset Project Management Continuous Improvement Data-Driven Decision Making Innovation & Change Management Success Measures / KPIs Improvement in student learning outcomes and academic performance Curriculum quality and successful enhancement of existing programs Student satisfaction with academic and learning experience Teacher performance and teaching quality improvement Teacher development and coaching effectiveness Consistency of teaching standards across classes Successful development and launch of new courses/programs Student retention and course progression Completion of academic improvement projects within agreed timelines Ideal Candidate Profile This person should be confident in teaching, curriculum design, teacher coaching, academic leadership, and continuous improvement , while also having the business mindset to help school build a strong and scalable Mandarin learning platform.