Outdoor Education Team Leader - Chief Instructor - Staffordshire

Contract type Full time / Permanent

Closing date 02 Sep 2026 03:00 PM

Company: Entrust Support Services Ltd.
Contract: Permeant
Hours: 37.5 hours per week on a 5-out-of-7-day rota, including evenings and weekends
Additional Pay: £60 per night for overnight and breakfast duties
Accommodation: Not available

Are you an experienced outdoor educator with a passion for developing people, delivering exceptional learning experiences and maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism?

Entrust Outdoor Education is seeking an outstanding Chief Instructor (Team Leader) to join our leadership team at Standon Bowers
Outdoor Education Centre in Staffordshire

This is an exciting opportunity to combine hands-on outdoor learning delivery with staff leadership, operational management and quality assurance. You will play a key role in shaping memorable experiences for thousands of young people while supporting and developing a talented team of educators.

As Chief Instructor, you will lead and support a team of Educators, Associate Educators and freelance staff, ensuring the delivery of exceptional outdoor learning and residential programmes.

Working closely with the Outdoor Education Centre Manager and Leadership team, you will help drive service excellence, support staff development and maintain the highest standards of customer care, health and safety, and operational performance.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Leading and developing a team of outdoor educators.
• Delivering high-quality outdoor learning, residential and adventurous activity programmes.
• Monitoring and maintaining excellent customer service standards.
• Leading staff inductions, training, mentoring and competency assessments.
• Supporting quality assurance, inspections and accreditation processes.
• Developing and reviewing risk assessments and safe operating procedures.
• Supporting the continuous improvement and growth of the service.

We are looking for a confident and experienced outdoor learning professional who can inspire others, solve problems and lead by example.

You will have:

• Significant experience delivering outdoor learning, residential and adventurous activity programmes.
• Experience leading, motivating and developing staff teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET/PTLLS) or equivalent qualification.
• Strong organisational and decision-making skills.
• Experience of mentoring, coaching and supporting staff development.
• A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and continuous improvement.
• A broad range of relevant National Governing Body (NGB) qualifications.
• Enhanced DBS clearance.
• Safeguarding Level 2 qualification (or higher).
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and occasional overnight duties.
• Qualified in a range of outdoor activities
• Leading compliance audits, inspections or accreditation processes.
• AP, LPIOL and/or POL qualifications.
• Active involvement in outdoor learning networks and sector development.

Entrust Outdoors is a leading provider of high-quality outdoor education experiences across Staffordshire and the Midlands. Our centres, Standon Bowers and Laches Wood, offer unique environments and innovative programmes for schools, youth groups, charities, and alternative provision providers.

We are a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation with a strong reputation and ambitious plans for growth and diversification. Our mission is to deliver exceptional outdoor learning in a sustainable and commercially viable way.

• A competitive salary of £29,000 - £31,000.
• Opportunities for professional development and qualification enhancement.
• Supportive leadership and collaborative team culture.
• The chance to influence the future development of our centres and programmes.
• A rewarding role where you can make a real difference to young people's lives.