Join our
Team

The International School of Macao is a multicultural school in its 20th year of operation and is the leading school in the community.

We offer an outstanding academic program to 1,400 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12, culminating in the Alberta High School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma recognized by universities and colleges around the world. English is the primary language of instruction.

• TIS is a highly diverse and multicultural community. Approximately 45% of our students were born in Macau, Hong Kong or China and 55% come from 40 countries around the world. 

Working in an international context where 75% of students are not native speakers is a challenge. However, our teachers work together collaboratively and are supported by experts in EAL, learning support, technology and inquiry in order to prepare students for English university abroad. TIS features small class sizes (average of 25 students or less), daily collaborative time, extensive Canadian resources and state-of-the-art technology. 

Through classroom activities, international field trips, extra-curricular clubs, sports teams, and meaningful day-to-day interactions, our team uses every chance to create learning opportunities. You will be challenged, but you will also be a part of something amazing!

We are seeking innovative and collaborative Alberta certified teachers or those with comparable qualifications to join our team. There is a generous compensation package commensurate with qualifications and experience, as well as medical and dental benefits. All successful teacher applicants must submit a current (within 6 months) criminal record check, including a vulnerable sector check from their home country and their current country of residence. In addition, Macau immigration will also conduct a criminal record check prior to approving a work visa.

Frequently Asked Questions about Working at TIS

Can you tell me something about Macau? 
Macau is located on the southern coast of China, about an hour by ferry from Hong Kong. It’s a safe, multicultural city of 657,426 people and home to a flourishing casino industry. Macao definitely has a vibe that is uniquely its own, thanks to the fusion of Chinese and Portuguese cultures over hundreds of years, Until as recently as 1999, Macao was a Portuguese colony and its influence can still be seen in the city’s architecture, food and culture. Today, Macao is a Special Administrative Region, with its own constitution and basic law, police force and currency. 

Do I need a work permit to work in Macau? 
Overseas employees are required to obtain a work permit or “blue card” to work in Macau legally. This process is started as early as possible and the human resources department at TIS will assist each employee in obtaining one. The application will be approved prior to the employee arriving in Macau. The issuance of the blue card will be finalised after the employee arrives in Macau.

Does TIS have medical insurance and a dental plan? 
TIS provides medical coverage to all staff, which includes clinical visits, physical therapy and hospitalisation through LFH Insurance Company. TIS also provides a dental coverage plan through Novocare Dental Center. Staff may upgrade their insurance coverage or may purchase supplemental insurance if they wish.

How many sick days do we have? 
Employees are entitled to 2 days paid sick leave per teaching month, not to exceed 15 days in a school year. A certificate issued by a registered physician is required if an employee claims sick leave prior to or immediately following a school holiday. The maximum of 15 days sick leave can be carried forward and used as sick leave in the event of future illness. Employees are entitled to compensation for unused sick leave at a rate of 0.5 the cost of a substitute teacher per day at the end of the contract. In other words, you get rewarded for not using up all of your sick leave.

What does the school year look like? 
Our school calendar is very similar to schools in Canada. Classes usually begin the last week of August and end the last week of June. There are 187 instructional days and an additional 8 teacher days. Teachers new to TIS are required to be at school one week prior to the return of regular teachers.

What types of accommodations are available in Macau? 
Almost everyone in Macao lives in an apartment and you will need an agent to help you find one. There are many real estate agents to choose from and TIS will also assist you in finding the right accommodation. Fully furnished apartments cost in the range of $1,200 Cdn per month for a two-bedroom apartment. The school provides a housing allowance to help offset housing costs. Most staff members live in Taipa.

What are the extracurricular responsibilities for staff members? 
TIS has three 8-week extra curricular sessions during the year. Teachers are required to offer a club during two of the three sessions for students in their division. Most clubs run 1 night per week for 1 hour. There are numerous opportunities for coaching as well. Coaching counts towards meeting the extra curricular responsibility. Teachers are paid a small stipend for meeting their extra-curricular responsibilities.

What meetings will I be required to attend?
TIS has a standardised meeting schedule. Every Thursday, teachers will attend either a general staff meeting, elementary/secondary meeting, division meeting, or committee meeting. Most meetings are about 45-60 minutes. Kindergarten to Grade 9 has common collaborative planning time during the week.

What about PD? 
Every teacher belongs to a Professional Learning Community. PLCs explore essential questions to improve teaching and learning. The school has two designated PD days during the year. In addition, each teacher has a PD allowance (currently $7,000 MOP per year) to use toward PD opportunities such as conferences, graduate work, online courses, etc. Opportunities are available for staff to conduct peer development and to visit other international schools in the area.

Is there a dress code? 
Teachers should dress in a manner that reflects the professional nature of the job. Business casual dress is appropriate.

Men: long pants and collared shirt; no jeans, shorts, or t-shirts

Women: long pants, capris or skirts; no shorts unless they are a part of a suit. 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 teachers only in which case smart athletic is required as opposed to casual athletic.

What is the best way to get to work?
The TIS staff bus makes stops in Macau, Taipa and Coloane each morning and afternoon. All staff members are permitted to use the staff bus. There are also buses for less than $1 CDN or taxis for $4-$5 CDN.

What about holidays and travel opportunities?
We try to balance Western and Eastern holidays each year. We also try to group our holidays together into longer blocks so that families and teachers can travel. As such, you can expect one week for fall break, two weeks for Christmas, one week for Chinese New Year and one week for Easter/Spring Break.

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. Most teachers are paying an average of 3% income tax. It is important that new teachers speak to tax advisors or accountants in their home countries about tax responsibilities.

What is the cost of living in Macau?
Judging the cost of living is fairly subjective. The amount that you save will probably depend on how often you travel.