Hello everyone

I do not know where I should write this question so I will need to write it here because I need some help. I recently had to leave my first position in Beijing to return to the United States and have, as previously noted, accepted the position teaching in the city of Guiyang. Currently, I have a Residence Permit from my previous employer in my passport, but will need to obtain a new Z visa here in the U.S. for my new work location. I understand there are different work permits in China and my new school needs a Foreign Expert Certificate, not an Alien Work Permit, to start working for them, so the process will take longer than I previously expected. My first school issued an Alien Work Permit to me, which is why I will obtain my first Foreign Expert Certificate. Since I have never before gone through the process that I need to obtain a new Z work visa with a new school with the residence permit from my previous school still within my passport book, I am puzzled about how to do this and do not know if this process will be difficult or simple. My Residence Permit expires later next year. I wish the answers were easy to find, but the internet is very vague on this. Can anyone help me out? I really need an answer about this.