Academic Coordinator - Young Learner (Early Year)

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For over 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.
Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in the more than 100 countries. 

We connect. We inspire.

What's it like to work at the British Council as a Teacher?

          Teacher's Success Story

Job Overview

This role is ideal for an experienced Teacher or Coordinator seeking to grow their skills in academic management, safeguarding, customer service, product delivery, and business development. As part of the Teaching Centre management team, the candidate will collaborate with the Senior Teacher, Operations, and Sales and Customer Management teams to maintain the highest standards of teaching and service delivery.

The British Council Sri Lanka offers a diverse range of English courses for audiences from preschoolers to business professionals and emigrants, alongside professional skills training for corporate clients and teacher training programs. Teaching is conducted primarily face-to-face, with the main center in Colombo and additional locations in Kandy, Jaffna, and Matara. Young Learner courses are mostly delivered on Fridays and Saturdays.

Role Purpose
 

The British Council Sri Lanka is dedicated to empowering teachers to provide high-quality education in Young Learner classrooms, fostering professional development, and ensuring impactful learning experiences. By working collaboratively with Academic, Operations, Marketing and Sales, and Customer Management teams, the organization strives to enhance the delivery of its young learner programs. This coordinated effort aims to create an engaging and effective teaching environment that supports both students and educators in their learning journeys.

Additionally, the British Council plays a crucial role in advancing the objectives of the Sri Lanka Teaching Centre by aligning with strategic goals to achieve income and impact targets. Strengthening its reputation as a leading expert in English Language Teaching (ELT), the institution remains committed to cultural relations and broader educational missions. Through these initiatives, the British Council continues to contribute meaningfully to education in Sri Lanka, reinforcing its position as a trusted and influential provider of language education.

Role Accountabilities

The commitment to teaching excellence involves delivering up to 18 hours of high-quality English language instruction each week, closely monitoring student progress, providing constructive feedback, and fostering learner autonomy. Additionally, educators play a vital role in course development and promotional efforts, ensuring an engaging learning experience. Academic management extends this dedication by supporting senior teachers and excellence teams in executing the Teaching Excellence Action Plan (TEAP). Teachers assist in managing teaching center operations and contribute to the enhancement of Young Learner programs through teacher support, resource optimization, and effective customer engagement.

Beyond classroom instruction, teachers are instrumental in training and development by identifying training needs, delivering internal teacher training, and facilitating external programs such as TYLEC and DELTA. Safeguarding remains a priority, requiring educators to stay informed on policies, provide guidance, and act as primary contacts for concerns while contributing to broader sector-wide initiatives. Equally important is fostering collaboration and relationship-building, promoting an understanding of contemporary UK culture, establishing long-term professional connections, and supporting marketing and customer service excellence within the teaching center. Through these efforts, educators uphold high standards in English language teaching while enriching the overall educational experience.

Qualifications and Experience

• Educational Background: A university degree in any discipline, along with TEFL-I certification such as CELTA or Trinity Certificate TESOL, and a recognized diploma in EFL like DELTA or Trinity Diploma TESOL.
• Specialized Teaching Certifications: Additional credentials such as CELTYL or TYLEC, enhancing expertise in teaching young learners.
• Professional Experience: At least four years (or 2400+ hours) of English language teaching post-certification, including 400+ hours with Early Years (ages 3-6) and Primary students (ages 7-11), with strong communication and engagement skills with children and their families.
• Advanced Skills & Leadership: Experience teaching Secondary Plus, mentoring and managing teachers, delivering in-service training, and possessing a solid understanding of child development and behavioral impact.

Important informations:

• Salary: Basic monthly between 2,40,000 LKR - 3,00,000 LKR (depending on qualification and work experience).
• Annual Leave: Annual paid leave is 35 days. 
• Medical Allowances: Group Medical Insurance cover with an inpatient cover of LKR 750,000 per family unit.
• Settling-in allowance :(if you are recruited from outside Sri Lanka) - Equal to 3 weeks' salary for an accompanied employee and equal to 2 weeks' salary for the unaccompanied employee. Separate Rent loans for expat / overseas recruited teachers and then are deducted from salary.  Assistance provided by Resources by sharing leads for brokers for searching for accommodation. Permanent accommodation to be paid by employees themselves
• Baggage allowance :(if you are recruited from outside Sri Lanka) One Time accountable Baggage Allowance £ 1,200 for single employees and £ 2,000 for accompanied

• Contract Duration: 24 Months
• Contract Hours: 37.5 hours/week 
• Tentative start date: July 2025
• Work schedule:  Teaching is currently face-to-face 7 days a week but Young Learner courses are mostly delivered on Fridays and Saturdays. This may be subject to change in the future.
• Local restrictions on employment: Applicants must have the right to work in Sri Lanka. Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in the country in which the role is based. Given that our offices have different legal statuses depending on the work we do in those countries, we recommend that you contact HR in the country for additional information on the likelihood of securing a visa. Only at its discretion will the British Council provide support so please check first whether visa support is offered

• Closing date and time: Sunday, 15 June 2025 (23:59 Indian Standard Time)

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.