Frequently Asked Questions

Concordia accepts new applications in the fall. Staffing needs for the coming year are finalized by mid November. Applications should include a completed application form, a cover letter, a resume and letters of reference. A face-to-face or virtual interview is preferred. Successful applications will be notified regarding next steps.

As our mission states, we view every student as a gift from God, and are committed in Christian stewardship to educate students holistically, which includes intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. We have found that quality educators who are Christian, intentionally nurture their students while providing the rigorous and comprehensive educational experience our parents desire for their children. At Concordia we look for teachers with depth in both their professional lives and faith walk.

Concordia offers teachers a highly competitive salary. Benefits for overseas hires include: housing, retirement plan, worldwide medical insurance, relocation allowance, school fees at Concordia for teachers’ children, tech equipment for professional use (currently this includes a MacBook and iPad-if needed), professional development allowance, annual passage allowance in support of home leave, medical evacuation, disability insurance, college student home-visit allowance, and the school pays the all Chinese taxes.

Get more information on Overseas Expat Faculty, Local Expat Faculty, Housing Benefit, Salary Schedule.

Concordia prefers to hire teaching couples. All qualified applicants will be considered. Teachers with non- teaching spouses are limited to 2 dependents in the school.

The most important professional development occurs as teachers work in teams and plan together, which is common at Concordia. Concordia also sponsors teachers to attend workshops that further the goals the school is working on. Outside experts come to campus, sometimes in collaboration with other international schools in the area. Each teacher has an annual fund of RMB10,000 (approximately US$1,400) to spend on professional opportunities that support her/his professional goals.

Shanghai is a destination of choice in Asia. Home to the 2010 World Expo, it is a cosmopolitan city with a unique blend of Western and Eastern influences. The arts flourish in concert halls and galleries; big- name concerts and sporting events grow more frequent; and restaurants offering food from around the world are readily available. In its mission to be a world city, Shanghai has worked to assure that the city grows in a balanced way. Hundreds of acres of parks have been created in recent years to balance the growth of new industrial zones. The greater city of Shanghai and the local neighborhood offer a variety of cultural and social opportunities for both families and singles. Life for many teachers centers around the people of the Concordia community.

Air quality has been of greater concern in recent years; however, the government is actively working to improve overall air quality. All buildings on campus are equipped with air filtration systems so that, on occasions when it is required, the indoor air quality at Concordia is significantly better than US EPA limits.

Concordia and teacher housing are conveniently located in a modern area  of Pudong called  Jinqiao, where many expatriates live in single-family homes as well as low-rise and high-rise apartment buildings. Several other schools are also located in the Jinqiao area. Nicknamed “Green City,” its tree-lined streets are home to a number of western restaurants, Carrefour supermarket, Mega Fit gym, and more. Taxi service and ride hailing services are easy to find and access to two metro lines are within walking distance from the school. Biking is a primary mode of transportation around the area.

Concordia informs new hires of their housing assignment prior to their arrival in August, typically by the end of June.

All new faculty members live in apartments appropriate for their family-size within a comfortable walk or bike ride from the school. The school provides basic appliances and pays the rent; the teacher, in most cases, furnishes the apartment and pays utilities. These apartment complexes were built with expatriate living in mind; many Concordia families choose to live there as well. Click to see samples of different apartment layouts.

Concordia regularly distributes information to new teachers through e-mail, a WeChat group, and through on-site teacher pen-pals and mentors. Concordia’s website has a wealth of information about the school, as well as links to information and organizations around Shanghai.

The majority (66 percent) of our 171 faculty and administrators are from the United States. Other countries represented are Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Korea，Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

Medical care options catering to expatriates have increased dramatically over the past  few years. Branches of Parkway Health, Huashan Worldwide Medical Center and the International Medical Center of Ruidong Hospital are just blocks from Concordia; 15 minutes away is the Yosemite Urgent Care Clinic, Sino United and United Family Hospital with emergency room facilities; Children’s Medical Center is a 25-minute drive; other options include local hospitals and international clinics (if located in Puxi, 45- to 60-minute drive). Second opinions are provided by our insurance via the Tele-doc and many choose non- emergency surgery  in Thailand, other locations in Asia or their home country.