Outdoor learning leader jobs
How's your job search on our site?
Youth Work Apprenticeship
Location: Based at a local GMYF Youth Centre in Manchester or Trafford with regular attendance at Ormside Mill Outdoor Residential Centre in Cumbria
Responsible to: Outdoor Education Manager
Contract: Fixed 3-year apprenticeship contract with potential for FT employment on completion of successful apprenticeship.
Hours: 30 hours per week to be worked flexibly, inclusive one day per week university study.
Salary/Grade: £20,982 with the option of an auto enrolement pension
Annual Leave: 25 days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
Introduction
Greater Manchester Youth Federation (GMYF) is a long-established charity running vibrant youth centres across Greater Manchester. We are dedicated to raising aspirations and creating opportunities for young people, especially those facing disadvantage. A key part of our offer is the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and our approach champions youth voice, inclusion, building confidence and resilience. We offer outdoor education activities, including residentials at our Ormside Mill Residential Centre in Cumbria.
Purpose of Role:
The Youth Work Apprentice will work alongside professionally qualified youth workers learning the skills and qualities of the youth work profession. The apprentice will attend sessions on a weekly basis as well as committing to a university study day each trimester. A central focus will be to engage and support young people 11 – 18 years to take part in outdoor education activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award. There will be an expectation for the apprentice to attend residential events, expeditions and wider outdoor activities e.g. canoeing, climbing and hill walking to encourage and support young people taking part in these activities. Apprentices will learn a range of essential youth work skills including mentoring, boundaries, safeguarding and reflective practice which they will utilise in their work with young people, carrying out their roles with enthusiasm, integrity and professionalism.
An overarching skill and ethos of the role will be to build trustful and meaningful relationships with young people for which ongoing training will be provided. Understanding the barriers some young people face and how to overcome these will be a regular feature of the youth worker portfolio of skills. While the core components of youth work skills will be central to the role a significant amount of time will be spent supporting young people to experience and enjoy outdoor activities which is central to our mission of improving the life chances, inclusiveness and resilience of young people.
The role will involve regular travel and overnight stays which will need to be worked flexibly to meet the needs of the charity. A TOIL system is in place which is subject to agreement with line manager.
Key Responsibilities:
Programme Delivery & Development
- Undertake a course of studies at degree level attending university one day per week developing a broad range of skills, knowledge and behaviours to achieve a professionally recognised youth worker Degree Apprenticeship.
- Develop a working knowledge of GMYF’s policies and procedures in line with the requirements of the organisation and to meet the Apprenticeship Standard.
- To have a high regard to and comply with GMYF’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and to maintain a strong working knowledge of appropriate safeguarding developments.
- Provide high levels of performance which comply with GMYF’s commitment to young people, particularly those facing disadvantage and wider barriers to participation and achievement.
- Under supervision, work closely with other team members to assist (and as skills levels develop lead) in a range of youth work projects and areas of specialism e.g. outdoor education.
- Plan, coordinate, and support young people aged 11–18, up to 25 with additional needs, to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, reflecting GMYF’s youth work approach, values and behaviours.
- Develop progressive outdoor learning pathways that support personal development, confidence, teamwork, leadership, and wellbeing.
- Work collaboratively with youth workers to integrate outdoor education into wider youthwork programmes, targeted interventions, and school partnerships.
- Ensure programmes are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of young people from diverse backgrounds, including those with ADHD, SEND and other barriers to participation.
- Through personal example promote the behaviours that exemplify GMYF mission and ambition.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Ensure youth worker apprenticeship compliance and comply with university policy and procedures throughout the duration of studies. This will include working to GMYF professional guidance and licensing requirements as directed by supervising staff.
- Adhere to relevant legislation, guidance, and licensing requirements as directed by supervising staff.
- Read, understand and comply with risk assessments, operating procedures, and emergency action plans as required.
- Contribute to and support the organisation’s monitoring and self-evaluation process.
Administration & Organisation
- Maintain all academic and administrative duties aligned with the youth worker degree apprenticeship.
- Keep accurate and up-to-date records as required by line manager consistent with GDPR.
- Contribute to the promotion and marketing of GMYF to schools, youth groups, and partners.
Representation & Partnership Working
- Develop and maintain a professional partnership with the youth worker degree apprenticeship training provider, schools, DofE, funders, and outdoor sector regulator bodies.
- Represent GMYF within the youth work and outdoor education sectors at meetings and events.
- Advocate for the value of outdoor learning in supporting young people’s wellbeing, mental health, and personal development.
- Support GMYF’s strategic objectives and values through professional leadership, collaboration, and celebration of success.
Person Specification
Essential
- L2 qualification in Maths and English
- L3 qualification e.g. Youth Work, Sports Leader or similar (A’ Levels) *
- Commitment to equality, diversity, safeguarding, and youth-centred practice
- Ability to work collaboratively within a youth work and multi-disciplinary team
- L3 Safeguarding qualification working with young people – to be obtained within 3 months of employment – training provided via employer
Desirable
- Experience of working with young people from diverse backgrounds, including those facing disadvantage or additional barriers
- Experience and passion for outdoor education activities and or qualifications in this area e.g Mountain Leader, canoe instructor
*If an applicant does not have the essential qualifications stipulated, discretion may be applied if the applicant can evidence significant work experience and demonstrate appropriate levels of literacy and numeracy for studying in Higher Education.
Other Requirements
GMYF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An Enhanced DBS is required for this post. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
This is a UK-based post, and applicants must be living in and have the right to work in the UK. If applicable, please detail your Visa status in your cover email.
Closing date for applications: 14th May 2026, midday.
Interview date: 20th & 21st May 2026
Start date: August 2026
Registered Charity The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Visitor Experience Manager
Location: Painswick, Gloucestershire (GL6 6TH)
Hours: 32hrs per week (over 4 days)
Salary: £32,905.60 FTE, equating to £26,324.48 pro-rata Are you a creative and people-focused leader who can turn a great visit into an unforgettable one?
The location
Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, Painswick Rococo Garden is the last surviving Rococo garden in England. Designed in the 1740s as a place to entertain and relax, it remains a place of beauty, surprise and escape. Today, the garden is an independent charity, which offers a unique blend of heritage, horticulture and wildlife, making it a truly special place to work and visit.
Role summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Visitor Experience Manager to help make every visit to Painswick Rococo Garden warm, inspiring and memorable.
You’ll be an integral part of bringing our beautiful and quirky 18th-century garden to life by leading our programme of events and family trails, interpretation, customer service and presentation standards.
Passionate and enthusiastic, you will deliver a high-quality visitor experience that make visitors feel more connected to the garden.
With a strong commercial and community focus, you’ll grow audiences and income through well-planned, profitable activity and new offers, while supporting safe, compliant day-to-day operations (including duty management and safeguarding responsibilities).
You’ll manage, motivate and develop the visitor experience team, and will lead the volunteer journey, ensuring the volunteer experience is varied, productive and rewarding for all involved.
You’ll champion excellent customer service, so every visitor feels welcome and enjoys a great day out.
Please note: the role includes regular duty management on a rota basis, including weekends, bank holidays and evenings. About you If you’re a people-focused leader with experience in heritage visitor operations and delivering engaging events and interpretation, we’d love to hear from you.
• Hands-on experience of delivering interpretation, events and visitor operations in a heritage/visitor attraction setting.
• Experience of establishing and leading a culture of exceptional customer service.
• Experience of running high-quality, profitable events.
• Team management and leadership skills including coaching, development, motivation, and communication.
• Excellent people and influencing skills, with the ability to build great relationships and work collaboratively, proactively and effectively to achieve the charity’s goals.
• Good understanding of different visitor audiences and the ability to draw on / develop audience insight.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills: able to prioritise, work to tight timescales, and communicate clearly with a wide range of people.
• Understand responsibilities in terms of health and safety, security and data protection in a visitor operations setting and how to manage and minimise risk.
• Ability to manage budgets effectively to maximise income. Demonstrates a responsible attitude to available resources.
• Great IT skills including with Microsoft Office.
• First aid qualification (or willingness to learn).
What we offer
As well as working in a beautiful setting, we offer discretionary benefits including 8% employer pension contribution, free admission, 20% discount in the café and shop, simple lunch, and training and learning opportunities. How to apply Send your CV and covering letter explaining why you’re interested and how you meet the requirements.
21 - 50
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Group Head of Finance
Eltham College Family of Schools | South East London
Salary circa £75,000 + excellent benefits
A rare opportunity to join one of London’s leading independent school groups at a genuinely exciting point of transformation and growth.
The Eltham College Family of Schools — comprising Eltham College Senior School, Eltham College Junior School and Blackheath Prep — is a high-performing, values-led organisation with an outstanding reputation for academic excellence and a rich co-curricular offering. Named London Independent School of the Year 2024 by The Sunday Times, the group continues to thrive despite wider sector challenges.
This is a pivotal appointment.
The newly created Group Head of Finance role offers the chance to step into a business that is not only successful, but evolving — with significant change underway across systems, structure and ways of working. For a commercially minded and hands-on finance leader, this is an opportunity to truly get your teeth stuck into something meaningful.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Bursar and working closely with the Executive Team, you will act as the senior finance professional across the group, providing both strategic leadership and operational oversight.
Crucially, you will join at a time of real momentum:
- A new finance system is being implemented across the group, requiring leadership to embed, optimise and enhance reporting capability
- The finance function is undergoing restructure, offering the opportunity to shape team design, capability and future direction
- There is a clear mandate to modernise processes, strengthen controls and drive efficiencies
- Senior stakeholders are engaged and open to fresh thinking and improvement
This is not a role where you simply maintain — this is a role where you build.
You will lead financial planning, reporting and governance across all three schools, supporting key strategic decisions including investment, estates development and long-term financial sustainability. Alongside this, you will remain close to the detail, ensuring operational excellence across the finance function.
The environment
Set across a stunning 70-acre campus in south-east London, Eltham College combines heritage with ambition. The group benefits from strong financial foundations, high demand, and a clear vision for continued success.
It is a collaborative and values-driven environment, underpinned by a commitment to education, development and community. Staff benefit from excellent facilities, strong leadership, and a culture that genuinely invests in people.
The person
We are looking for a qualified accountant with strong technical grounding and proven experience operating in a senior finance role.
You will bring:
- Experience of leading finance within a complex, multi-entity or multi-site environment
- A track record of improving systems, processes and controls
- The ability to lead through change and bring teams with you
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to influence at senior level
- A proactive, hands-on approach with the ability to balance strategy and delivery
Experience within education or the independent school sector would be beneficial, but is not essential.
Why join?
This is an opportunity to join a thriving organisation that is not standing still — but actively investing in its future.
You will play a key role in shaping a modern, high-performing finance function, with the autonomy and support to make a real impact. For someone motivated by change, improvement and leadership, this role offers both challenge and reward in equal measure.
