Organizations: Brainiacs Adventures / Fraser Valley Chess Academy

Position: Chess Instructor

Employment Type: Part-time, with potential for expanded hours

Location: West Vancouver and North Vancouver, BC

Schedule: Weekday afternoons, weekends and seasonal camps, depending on program requirements. Shifts are pre-decided based on program requirements and instructor constraints.

Compensation: 20-25/hour, depending on chess expertise, teaching experience and responsibilities. Instructors with 2000+ ELO rating may be considered for higher pay.

Reports To: CEO / Operations Manager

About Us

Brainiacs Adventures & Fraser Valley Chess Academy are collaborating to expand engaging educational programs for children across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Our programs combine strategic thinking, problem-solving, creativity and experiential learning in supportive environments that encourage students to challenge themselves, develop confidence and enjoy learning.

We are seeking enthusiastic and knowledgeable Chess Instructors to deliver high-quality chess programs at elementary schools, community venues, camps and other educational locations.

Position Overview

The Chess Instructor will introduce students to chess fundamentals, develop their strategic thinking and support their progression through increasingly advanced concepts.

The ideal candidate combines strong chess knowledge with patience, enthusiasm, effective classroom management and the ability to make chess accessible and enjoyable for children of varying ages and skill levels.

This is an instructional role requiring active student engagement, structured lesson delivery and consistent communication with parents and program leadership.

Key Responsibilities

1. Chess Instruction & Curriculum Delivery

- Deliver structured chess lessons for beginner, intermediate and, where qualified, advanced students.
- Teach chess fundamentals, including piece movement, rules, notation, checkmate and basic tactics.
- Introduce strategic concepts such as opening principles, development, positional play, planning and endgame fundamentals.
- Adapt lessons to accommodate different ages, abilities and learning styles.
- Incorporate puzzles, exercises, guided games, friendly competitions and mini-tournaments.
- Encourage independent thinking, patience, resilience, sportsmanship and problem-solving.




- Assess student progress and provide constructive, age-appropriate feedback.
- Follow approved curriculum and recommend improvements based on student needs.

2. Classroom Management & Student Engagement

- Maintain a protected, inclusive, structured and engaging learning environment.
- Establish clear expectations for student behaviour, respectful competition and participation.
- Support students who are new to chess or require additional instruction.
- Encourage students to learn from mistakes, reflect on their decisions and develop confidence.
- Manage students of varying chess abilities within the same session.
- Supervise students throughout all assigned program activities.

3. Program Operations & Reporting

- Arrive at least 10 minutes before scheduled program commencement.
- Prepare chessboards, clocks, learning materials and classroom arrangements.
- Manage attendance and promptly report absences or discrepancies.
- Ensure proper setup, care, inventory control and storage of chess equipment.
- Complete session updates, student progress assessments and end-of-term reports as required.
- Follow established student dismissal and parent pickup procedures.
- Report incidents, concerns or operational issues promptly.

4. Parent, School & Team Communication

- Provide parents with constructive feedback about student progress and participation.
- Communicate professionally with school representatives, venue staff and program leadership.
- Support a positive relationship between the organizations and their host schools or venues.
- Collaborate with other instructors to maintain consistent teaching quality.
- Participate in required training, curriculum discussions and program evaluations.

Required Qualifications

- Strong understanding of chess rules, tactics, strategy and instructional fundamentals.
- Experience teaching, coaching, tutoring or working with school-aged children.
- Ability to explain complex concepts clearly and adapt instruction to different abilities.
- Strong communication,



classroom management and interpersonal skills.
- Reliability, punctuality and professional conduct.
- Ability to travel to assigned program locations in West Vancouver and North Vancouver.
- Successful completion of applicable criminal record and vulnerable-sector screening requirements before working with children.

Preferred Qualifications

- Competitive chess experience, including tournament participation or an established chess rating. 2000+ ELO rating preferred.
- Experience coaching children in chess clubs, schools, academies or camps.
- Chess coaching credentials or relevant instructional certifications.
- Experience organizing chess tournaments or competitions.
- First Aid/CPR certification.
- Familiarity with digital chess platforms such as Chess.com or Lichess.

Performance Expectations

Successful instructors will demonstrate:

- Consistent student engagement and measurable chess skill development.
- Positive feedback from students, parents and host venues.
- Reliable attendance, punctuality and program continuity.
- Effective classroom management and compliance with safety procedures.
- Accurate attendance, progress reporting and equipment management.
- Strong teamwork and professionalism.

Growth Opportunities

Depending on experience, performance and organizational needs, successful instructors may progress into:

- Senior Chess Instructor
- Lead Chess Coach
- Chess Curriculum Developer
- Chess Program Coordinator
- Regional or Cluster Lead
- Chess Tournament & Events Coordinator

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and a brief description of their chess experience, teaching background and availability.

Applicants are encouraged to include any chess ratings, coaching credentials or relevant tournament experience.

Brainiacs Adventures | Fraser Valley Chess Academy

We welcome applicants who are passionate about helping children develop confidence, critical thinking and a lifelong appreciation for chess.

Pay: $20.00-$25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits:

- Casual dress
- Flexible schedule

Application question(s):

- Briefly describe your chess experience
- Are you able to reliably work in West Vancouver and North Vancouver?

Experience:

- teaching: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Chess Instructor (North Vancouver)
🏢 Brainiacs Adventures
📍 North Vancouver