Vacancy Information

Teacher of English
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Section A
Information about the vacancy
Recruitment Sarra Dafaalla Date 10 October 2018
Responsibility
Location Al Khobar, Eastern Province, Job code Teacher Scale
Saudi Arabia
Job Title Teacher Job Type TOE
Start Date Jan/Feb 2019 Closing Date 29th October 2018
Advertise job Internal/external Number of posts 1 (1 male)

Job Specific skills, knowledge, qualifications & experience

The British Council Centres in Saudi Arabia provides English language training to thousands of young Saudi
men and women each year in our own classrooms and on the premises of companies and partner training
institutes. There is huge demand for English in this fast growing and dynamic economy, and we are now
expanding our operations around the Kingdom. Would you like to join us?

If you can meet our qualification and experience requirements, then we can offer you a very good package, a
supportive and friendly work environment, and a real boost to your career as you gain experience in a variety
of interesting new courses, and support to study for a higher level ELT qualification.

Essential requirements:

 Recognised initial ELT certification equivalent to Cambridge CELTA

 First Degree – the Saudi authorities check the authenticity of these qualifications
 Two years full time ELT experience, post qualification
 Familiarity with contemporary UK
 Demonstrable expertise and enthusiasm in the teaching of English

Desirable requirements:

 CELTYL or equivalent
 400+ hours experience teaching Young Learners (aged 11-13, 14-17)
 Recognised advanced ELT certification equivalent to Cambridge DELTA
 Demonstrable expertise and enthusiasm with IT-related software and British Council products

English teaching is just one of many British Council activities that aim to promote mutual understanding and
intercultural dialogue. As a member of the British Council Saudi Arabia team, you will be contributing to our
work in a priority one country.

Internal candidates please remember to include the full version of your most recent end-of-year-record of
performance/evaluation and confirm when the system prompts you that you have discussed the application
with both your line and centre manager. Please note that we will not proceed with your application in the
absence of your line manager’s written approval and reserve the right to withdraw your candidature at
any stage of the recruitment process.

The closing date for applications is 29 th October 2018. Enquiries about the post can be sent to the MENA
Regional Teacher Recruitment team based in Dubai - MENA-TeacherRecruitment@ae.britishcouncil.org.
Please do not send any applications via email as they will not be considered.

The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. The British Council is committed to
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all of its partners to share

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Teacher of English
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
this commitment. Appointment to this role is subject to Criminal Records Bureau checks in the UK, and, where
appropriate, equivalent systems overseas. This position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as spent, must be
declared.

Local restrictions on employment (if any)

Saudi society is strictly segregated and all teaching takes place in single-sex groups.
There are some limitations on our ability to get visas for non-UK passport holders; please contact
TCM for more information if you are in this category.
A first degree is required to obtain a visa and thorough checks are carried out to ensure its
authenticity.
Accompanying partners must be married due to local legal requirements. Marriage certificates must
be provided as part of the visa application process. The Saudi authorities do not recognise same-
gender marriages.
Medical tests are carried out in country before a residence / work visa is granted – tests for major
infectious diseases are carried out. The British Council has no control over this process.
A candidate whose passport contains evidence of time spent in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian
Territories will not be granted a visa.

Section B
Information about the Teaching Centre. A brief overview.

Al Khobar
The centre in Al Khobar re-opened in 2010 and has grown significantly since then. The centre
currently has five classrooms on-site, all well-utilised.

The teaching team consists of around ten full time teaching staff and works closely together.
Teachers are always willing to share ideas and materials and there is a friendly atmosphere. The
teaching team is currently supported by a Senior Teacher Academic & an Academic Coordinator, as
well as the TCM.

On our public courses, women’s teaching currently takes place from 08.30 to 15.00, and men’s
teaching currently from 16.00 to 22.30. Hours in Ramadan can be significantly different, with the
possibility of teaching in the late evenings, currently as late as 02.00am. Offsite teaching hours vary
according to the customer’s wishes and our own logistical needs.

There is a growing interest in offsite classes and soft skills workshops. Experience in this area
would be warmly welcomed but is not essential.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Teacher of English
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Section C:
Information about the terms and conditions of service (TACOS).

Whilst the information below was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements
are subject to change.

Job Overview

 To promote and ensure quality teaching and effective learning of English

 To support the wider aims of British Council and its cultural relations mission

Contract Length 2 years Renewable Period 1 year

Contract Type Network, full time No. of Staff Managed N/A
Contract Hours 37.5 Contact Hours 24

Annual Salary

12,488 – 15,255 Saudi riyals per month including transport allowance.

Income Tax & National Insurance

Salary and all allowances are assessed as inclusive of any local taxes of whatever kind that may be levied by
the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At present the local position is that no local tax is payable on
your salary in Saudi Arabia. But if the host country requires you to pay income tax, you must do so and you
should inform the BC. The BC will not adjust your salary and allowances to take account of any such taxes.
Any UK Income tax charged will be your sole responsibility and will not attract compensation or extra payment
from the BC. UK Class 1 National Insurance payments may be compulsory for the first 52 weeks of this
agreement. If so, the BC will pay the employer’s share and will deduct the employee’s share from your salary
at source.

Fares & Travel

Country-Plus Contracts:
Economy class fares for post-holder and family to post. Return fares to UK after each year in post.

Locally Recruited Contracts:

Return fare for post-holder to home base after each year in post. No flight allowance for dependants.

Baggage Allowance

Country-Plus Contracts:
1,200 pounds (single) or 2,000 pounds (couple/family) at beginning and end of posting, accountable.

Locally Recruited Contracts: not applicable

Annual Leave Allowance

Country-Plus Contracts:
40 days plus public holidays. Total about ten and a half weeks.

Locally Recruited Contracts:

35 days plus public holidays. Total about nine and a half weeks.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Teacher of English
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Medical Allowance
Country-Plus Contracts:
Cover is provided for the employee and family members, currently through BUPA International.

Locally Recruited Contracts:

Cover is provided for the employee, plus (if applicable) a spouse and children who are under the direct
sponsorship of the employee. Currently, the provider is BUPA Arabia.

Settling-In Allowance

Country-Plus Contracts:
2 weeks’ salary (or three weeks if accompanied by spouse/family) paid in riyals with the first salary.

Locally Recruited Contracts: Not applicable

Accommodation Allowance

Country-Plus Contracts: Free accommodation provided with utilities.

Locally Recruited Contracts: Allowance of SAR 1,400 per month provided with salary

Any Other Allowances

A transport allowance of 700 SAR / month is paid as a contribution towards transport costs (see reference in
“Annual Salary” section)

A basic mobile phone handset is provided, with local calls and texts paid up to 150 SAR / month. Other
features (international dialling, mobile data, roaming) are not provided and most staff members choose to
arrange an additional personal sim card for these purposes.

Terminal gratuity payment on leaving the Council in Saudi Arabia: 50% of monthly salary for each year
worked, for the first four years (both Country Plus and locally recruited contracts).
Note that employees on Country Plus contracts cannot complete more than four years.
For locally recruited teachers, the allowance increases to 100% of one month’s salary for each year worked,
with effect from the fifth contractual year onwards.

Additional Information

The Council takes good care of staff, and provides full assistance with settling. However, some patience is
required with arrival procedures (id card, exit-entry visa, bank account), which can be slow.

Visas for accompanying family members can only be applied for once the post-holder has received their
Saudi Residence permit (i.e. it may take 2-4 months after the post-holder’s arrival in KSA for visas to be
issued for accompanying family members).

In order to comply with Saudi law / cultural norms, all women and teenage girls must wear an abaya in public
areas in Saudi Arabia. Most expatriate women do not consider it essential to wear a headscarf in Al Khobar,
though it is advisable to carry one. There is no need to wear an abaya on expatriate compounds.

The Saudi Riyal is fully convertible, and to remit funds to the UK and many other countries is straightforward.

There are often opportunities for overtime, and also for IELTS examining

If the post holder is engaged in off-site company teaching, the teaching load may be heavier in some weeks
than others.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Teacher of English
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Please Note: All above listed allowances and benefits will vary if the candidate is
recruited from within the Country.

Section D
Information about the place

Country Overview

Arabia, birthplace of Islam and home of the Arabic language, has always had a very special appeal as an
unknown and exotic kingdom of legend. Today Saudi Arabia is still difficult to enter, but if you have the chance
to work here, you will find it diverse and surprising: from traditional Bedouin encampments deep in one of the
world's greatest deserts, to large modern cities. Plunging landscapes of mountains in the south, sculpted
sand dunes of the empty quarter, and palm trees around oases offer amazing travel possibilities, as does
Medain Saleh, the sister city to Petra in Jordan, and the abandoned tracks of the Hejaz railway, with echoes
of T.E. Lawrence. For divers, the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf offer some of the best opportunities in the
world.
Modern Saudi Arabia is full of contradictions. Proud of its Islamic heritage, life is organised according to a
deeply fundamentalist religious interpretation. On the other hand, there is debate, and some desire for
change, particularly regarding the role of women in business. King Salman (Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques) has recently become monarch, succeeding the late King Abdullah. The latter led his country to
(slow) political reform, and (fast) economic development, investing massively in infrastructure and education.
Saudi Arabia enjoys longstanding friendship with the UK, and looks to us as a key partner working to shared
objectives of a better educated and skilled young population, as well as a safer world, achieved through
intercultural understanding. The Council's many projects support the Saudi reform agenda while building
relationships for the UK.

The security situation in the country is generally stable with high levels of policing, but there have been some
high profile security incidents in the recent past and potential applicants are advised to familiarise themselves
with the British Government’s travel advice. See https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia

City Overview

Al Khobar is a modern cosmopolitan urban centre, situated on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. It is less
crowded than the other main cities and there are fewer issues with traffic. Together with the adjacent centres
of Dhahran and Dammam, it is the hub of Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas industry. Al Khobar can be more open
that many other cities in Saudi Arabia and some foreign women do not wear a headscarf (though it is
advisable to carry one with you).

Al Khobar has some top quality shopping. There is a branch of IKEA and many teachers make good use of
malls such as Rashid Mall and the Mall of Dhahran.

A full range of restaurants and cuisines is available including many well-known international chains. Prices
range from very expensive to very cheap and great-value food can be bought from smaller restaurants often
run by South Asian expatriates. Most compounds have some options for eating out.

The beach is one option for weekend days. On public beaches Saudi dress codes still apply but there are
often options available to go to a private beach, where things are more relaxed and where Western standards
of dress may apply. Half Moon Beach is a favourite for those living in Al Khobar and some International Hotel
chains have a branch there.

Compound life can be very interesting. Compounds vary but there is often a range of activities available, e.g.
sports, swimming, activities for mothers and children, etc.

Bahrain is a short drive away across the King Fahad Causeway and offers a break from the routine, as well

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Teacher of English
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
as a fuller range of activities such as cinemas, licenced restaurants, etc. Other Gulf states are also relatively
close (Kuwait 4-5 hrs by car, Qatar 4-5 hrs by car), UAE takes longer but there is a range of flights available
from Dammam Airport or from Bahrain.

Life is comfortable, and the BC offices are supportive and friendly. Through embassies, expatriate groups and
compounds, there is access to a wide range of free-time activities, ranging from desert trekking to sports or
shopping.

Climate

Summer: very hot and dry

Winter: varies from warm to cool, usually sunny and pleasant

Accommodation
Country Plus Contracts:
Fully furnished apartment or small house provided on an expatriate compound. Unaccompanied post-holders
should expect a one-bedroom apartment. Those accompanied by spouse & family would have priority for 2-3
bedroom apartments. According to the British Council’s housing policy for staff on Country Plus contracts, a
three-bedroom apartment is the largest available.

Locally Recruited Contracts:

The post-holder is responsible for arranging accommodation. A range of options is available in the local area.

General living costs & conditions

There are impressive modern shopping centres in the main cities, with goods from all over the world. Prices
are generally reasonable and the cost of living is comparable to that of the UK though imported items can be
expensive.

There are bookshops/stationers which sell a limited selection of books in English as well as censored
international magazines and British newspapers (sporadically censored), which are generally available one or
two days after publication. Three English language newspapers are published in Saudi Arabia, and with
Internet and satellite TV, it is very easy to stay in touch with the world outside the Kingdom.

There is an excellent choice of well-stocked supermarkets, where just about everything is available with the
obvious exceptions of alcohol and pork. Household goods, home decorations and furniture are particularly
good value, as are handicrafts and Persian or Arabic carpets from the many colourful souks (markets).
Increasingly, locally produced fruit, vegetables and dairy products are available at very reasonable prices.
Bread and rice are very cheap.

Most teachers find it easy to save some money – exactly how much depends on one’s lifestyle choices.

Transport & Communication

Saudi Arabia is a very car based society, so acquiring a licence and buying a car are recommended for male
staff. Cars are cheaper to buy than in most other parts of the world, and petrol is extremely cheap. It remains
illegal for women to drive, with women generally travelling either by taxi or with a spouse or family member.
Most female teachers use a reputable local taxi company to get around, and Uber now operates in Saudi
Arabia. The company used by most staff currently has a small number of English-speaking drivers who
quickly become “familiar faces”.

Public transport is not generally used by Western expatriates. A limited range of buses run on main highways
though it is difficult to get information on times and routes. For women and men that do not purchase a car,

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Teacher of English
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
taxis are plentiful and usually charge reasonable prices.

General Health, Medical & Dental Care

High quality medical care is available, though some hospitals and clinics can be expensive. The cost of
medicine is relatively cheap.
In Al Khobar, teaching staff on Country Plus contracts usually have to pay the hospital directly for treatment
and then reclaim the costs from BUPA.
Those staff recruited locally may find it easier to use their health insurance cards without advance payment,
though they need to ensure that the hospital accepts the cards.

Generally the private hospitals in MENA offer a high standard of health care but mental health facilities are often
lacking.

Mental health:
Mental health care is not as readily available in some of the MENA countries as it is in other regions. If you do
suffer from mental illness, please ensure you research care available in the country that you applied for. Some
people find MENA a very challenging country to live in. You should consider carefully your ability (and that of your
family members, if applicable) to cope in a very different culture and working environment. Our team will provide
you with assistance in your professional induction and development but there is limited assistance within the
medical system for those who experience mental health difficulties after they arrive.

We urge all candidates to carry out adequate research on medical health facilities available in the Country you
are apply for with reference to any pre-existing medical conditions. Alternatively, we encourage you to check with
us on your pre-existing medical condition and we can thereafter advise you on whether or not the Country has the
necessary medical support.

Job Opportunities for Partners

There are opportunities for those who are flexible and proactive but please be aware that dependents’ visa
status does not permit them to work legally.

Schooling & Childcare

Good quality schooling is available. However, good quality international schools are expensive and it can be
difficult to gain places. This post does not come with a school fees allowance.

Any Other Information (Shopping facilities, entertainment, leisure.)

As is well known, Saudi Arabia has no cinemas or night clubs, and alcohol is strictly prohibited. As such, life
can be quiet. Despite this, many western expatriates find the social life to be lively and varied. The kingdom is
fast changing, and this is an interesting time to be here.
Whilst the information above was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements
are subject to change.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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