Senior Instructor Outdoors

Senior Instructor - Essex Outdoors Mersea and Essex Outdoors Harlow

Permanent, Full Time

26,840 to 31,576 per annum

Location:

East Mersea and Harlow

Working Style:
Fixed-base worker

Join Essex Outdoors and help inspire the next generation through adventure, learning and the outdoors.

Essex Outdoors is a leading provider of outdoor education and residential experiences for schools across the East of England. With ambitious plans to grow our reach nationally, our vision is to establish Essex Outdoors as the UK's leading provider of outdoor residential experiences through innovation, quality and exceptional customer service.

We are looking for experienced and enthusiastic Senior Instructors to join our teams in Harlow and East Mersea and play a key role in delivering outstanding outdoor education programmes.

Our Centres

Mersea - A large centre in a wonderful coastal setting with views across the Blackwater Estuary. Mersea offers a vast selection of both land and water-based activities.

Harlow - A specialist climbing and paddle-sport centre, our Harlow site is also home to 'The Lock' - one of the largest indoor climbing walls in the Southeast.

For more information about the activities we offer, visit:
Essex Outdoors

The Opportunity

Working closely with the Centre Manager and Assistant Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of high-quality outdoor education and National Governing Body (NGB) programmes. You will take a lead role in maintaining high standards of health and safety across all activity areas, ensuring equipment, facilities and resources are safe, compliant and well maintained.

This is a varied and rewarding position where you will supervise and support young people and adults both on and off-site, contribute to the delivery of residential programmes, and act as a positive role model. You will also play an important role in the training, development and assessment of staff, helping to maintain the excellent standards of delivery for which Essex Outdoors is known.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of high-quality outdoor education programmes.
• Provide supervision, pastoral care and support for young people and adults participating in residential experiences.
• Lead and contribute to staff training, development and assessment activities.
• Coordinate health and safety across activity areas, ensuring compliance with Essex County Council requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate programme effectiveness to drive continuous improvement.
• Organise repairs, renewals and maintenance of activity equipment, buildings and grounds.
• Support the allocation of resources and development of programmes to meet customer needs.
• Deliver outdoor education programmes in the UK and overseas where required.
• Recruit to and deliver NGB courses for staff and customers (Harlow Centre).

About You

We're looking for someone who is passionate about outdoor learning and committed to creating safe, engaging and memorable experiences for participants.

You will have:

• At least two National Governing Body qualifications at coach level (three preferred), such as:
• Paddle UK Core Coach / Paddle Leader
• Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI)
• Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI)
• Mountain Leader (Summer)
• ERCA qualifications
• Significant experience delivering outdoor education and environmental programmes.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and engage both young people and adults.
• Experience of maintaining safe activity environments and promoting best practice.
• The ability to plan, develop, monitor and evaluate educational programmes.
• Evidence of continuing professional development within the outdoor education sector.
• A D1/D1E driving licence category is desirable.

Interviews

The selection process for this role will consist of two stages.

• Stage 1 will involve an interview with the Centre Managers, during which you will be required to deliver a prepared presentation.
• Stage 2 will include a tour of the centre, an opportunity to meet the team, and the delivery of a training session for the instructor team.

Stage 1 interviews will take place on Tuesday 29th September and Wednesday 30th September at Essex Outdoors Danbury.

If you're an experienced outdoor professional looking to take the next step in your career and help shape exceptional outdoor learning experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local…