Outdoor learning leader jobs in westminster, greater london
THE JOB (IN A NUTSHELL)
An amazing opportunity to be part of a UK charity with a bold social purpose - helping young people and early careers professionals discover more in themselves than they ever thought possible.
We’re looking for a dynamic and motivated individual to grow and develop new long-term partnerships with employers across the UK, focusing on Apprentices, Graduates, and Future Leaders. You’ll be helping businesses invest in the next generation of talent by connecting them with Outward Bound’s experiential learning programmes that accelerate personal growth, resilience, teamwork, and leadership in early careers cohorts.
Your focus will be on building strong relationships, understanding workforce development needs, and positioning Outward Bound as the partner of choice for early talent development.
Occasional evening, weekend, and overnight work will be required as part of the role, including attending client visits, taster sessions, and visits to our Outward Bound Centres.
WHO WERE LOOKING FOR
You’ll be a creative, results-driven team player with a strong understanding of early careers development and how experiential learning supports the transition from education to work.
You’ll have a proven business development background and experience in selling or promoting professional development solutions, graduate or apprenticeship training, or corporate learning programmes.
You’ll thrive on networking and building relationships with HR, L&D, and talent development professionals, and you’ll be excited by the idea of helping organisations future-proof their workforce through impactful outdoor learning experiences. You are someone who perseveres, never accepting silence or a lack of response as the end of the conversation.
You’ll also have a passion for the outdoors and be aligned to Outward Bound’s values of courage, integrity, and belief in young people’s potential.
YOUR EXPERIENCE
- Excellent communications skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external professionals. A strong understanding of the apprenticeship and graduate development programmes, and talent pipelines.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail, able to manage multiple projects and maintain consistent follow-up.
- Confident in presenting to clients, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences (HR, L&D, operational teams, senior leadership).
- Good negotiation and influencing skills.
- Experienced in LinkedIn / LinkedIn Sales Navigator for prospecting and building connections within early careers networks.
- Proficient in Microsoft systems and CRM tools.
- Knowledge of or interest in experiential learning, leadership development, and outdoor education is an advantage.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Secure mainly new and some key repeat business to meet personal, and team, quarterly and annual targets.
- Lead on developing new partnerships within key industry sectors for Apprentice, Graduate, and Emerging Leader programmes.
- Undertake client learning needs analysis to understand early career development goals and challenges.
- Produce compelling proposals that align Outward Bound programmes with organisational objectives.
- Represent Outward Bound at early careers events, conferences, and employer network sessions.
- Maintain accurate client records via our CRM system and ensure timely follow-up and reporting.
- Liaise with internal delivery and marketing teams to ensure client needs are met and opportunities are maximised.
- Drive new business through research, networking, referrals, and sector insights.
- Contribute ideas to help shape Outward Bound’s early careers strategy and offer to stay relevant in a fast-changing employment landscape.
Salary: £32,000 – £40,000, salary depending on experience
HOURS: 37.5 hours per week
REPORTING TO: Head of Early Careers Business Development
LOCATION: Home-based with extensive travel to centres and Head Office
Settling in period
There is a 3-month settling in period from contract start date.
The closing date is 21st November 2025 with first interviews taking place on 1st December 2025.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To inspire young people to realise their potential through learning and adventure in the outdoors.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We're looking for someone a lttle bit special - someone who believes in the deep potential of children who are not thriving elsewhere in life and who has the experience, passion, energy and the drive to go the extra mile on these young people’s behalf.
The position is an exciting dual role:
1. Volunteering & People Manager (80% of workload)
You'll become a key cog at the heart ofFree to Be's management team, taking lead responsibility for volunteer and staff recruitment and retention, holding and delivering our volunteering strategy, launching a new training infrastructure through 2026-27, and heading up 'all things volunteering'. With one direct report, you'll aim to grow volunteer numbers year on year, ensure volunteers are well matched, and well supported, onto our residential projects, and lead on quality assurance, including volunteering standards concerns/grievances. Alongside our Services, Operations and Fundraising Managers, you'll be a core management team member holding shared responsibility for the day to day running of an impactful and growing children's mental health and adventure charity and will work closely with our inspiring and supportive CEO to set longer-term key strategic goals underpinning Free to Be's future development.
2. Residential Project Lead Coordinator (20% of role)
Our residentials are fun, immersive, tiring (in all the right ways), impactful and inspiring. A core aspect of all Free to Be Kids staff's roles is leading circa 8-10 of our residential projects across each year - working on the ground with the children, leading the volunteers & staff team on project, and helping make the projects special, safe, and transformative for vulnerable young people, many of whom have damaged confidence, low self-worth, or other social-emotional needs.
Attendance at approximately 8-10 five-six night residential projects per year outside London is a core component of this role. As a manager, you'd likely attend 8-10 residentials in year 1 to build familiarity with both the projects and our volunteer base, with this dropping to c.8 per year thereafter.
On offer to the right candidate:
Salary: Circa £38,000 - £40,000, dependent on experience.
Hours: Fulltime: 37.5 hours per week. Essential attendance on at c.8-10 residential projects a year.
Leave: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays and up to 13 additional pre-set discretionary reward days in September and during the Christmas period. A substantial perk of the role is potential to take up to 4 consecutive weeks off to travel each September.
Other benefits: 4% employer pension contribution paid on full base salary, rising by 1% per year of service, up to a maximum of 7%; hybrid working; office with great transport links; flexible working (outside core hours); employee reward scheme; tight-knit, fun, vibrant, cohesive staff team with great morale.
Based: Hybrid – our small office in Waterloo, London. Hybrid working is well established with the majority of the team splitting time around 50:50 between the office and home.
To start: Early January 2026.
Who we’re looking for:
Our next Volunteering Manager hero. You'll be fun, flexible, energised, experienced in work with young people with addtional needs, and looking to join an organisation you can believe in and who in return will believe and invest in you.
Kind, empathetic, resilient and efficient, you’ll have a real affinity for supporting others - whether volunteers, more junior staff, or children themselves. We're looking for someone who loves working with young people, as you'll be role modelling that commitment and energy to our volunteers and playing a leading role in holding our already thriving team culture. Volunteer Management or HR experience is a bonus, and capacity and personality to quickly pick that up is a must, but ultimately we're looking for the right organisational fit - someone who believes in what we do and wants to step up to join a management team working hard to deliver it.
You’ll have the flexibility to work away from home on (up to) 10 five to six day residential projects per year. Ideally, you’ll also have experience of leading projects for children – whether residential or non-residential - for example as a teacher, or running groups in other settings. Experience of working on or leading residentials projects themselves is not required but may be an advantage.
We are a small, vibrant, 'can do', friendly staff team of 10, supported by a committed volunteer base of around 300.
We are particularly keen to encourage applications from those who can help us represent the lived experiences of our children through their own lived experience or background.
To apply:
See full Job Description & Person Specification on our website.
Send a copy of your CV or up to date LinkedIn profile, as well as a covering letter and introductory short video, by the closing date of 10pm, Wednesday 26th November 2025.
Covering letters should be very approximately 1 to 1.5 sides A4 and address the question of: ‘Why this role, why now’, as well as ‘what strengths, experience and skills you would bring into the role’.We also ask for a short (1-3 minutes) informal video introducing yourself and touching on the person specification. We have found this helps bring the strongest applications to life, and filters out AI driven applications.
Selection Process and Timeline:
Selection will be via two stage interview. As there is only a short turnaround from application closure on 26th November to 1st stage interviews 1st-2nd December, we will assess applications and offer interview slots throughout the window. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you need to wait till the closing date to submit.
1st stage interviews: Mon 1st - Tues 2nd December (virtual)
2nd stage final interviews: Mon 8th - Tues 9th December (in-person preferred, London Waterloo)
Please hold interview dates as alternate dates are unlikely to be available.
The role requires an Enhanced DBS check and existing right to work in the UK.
If you have any questions about the role, contact us via our website and we’d be happy to arrange an informal chat. We look forward to hearing from you!
Registered Charity
6 - 10
Using joy, adventure and the outdoors to transform particularly vulnerable London children's mental health.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
High Trees Community Development Trust is seeking an experienced and passionate Head of Children, Young People & Families (CYPF) to join our senior management team and lead one of our core service areas.
This is an exciting opportunity to oversee a wide-ranging CYPF service that directly supports over 400 children and young people each year, and many more through partnerships. You will lead the newly redeveloped Tulse Hill Adventure Playground, ensuring it thrives as a hub for children, young people and families, alongside a portfolio of impactful programmes including school-based mentoring, young leaders’ programmes, family stay-and-play, and peer-led social action.
Supported by our Adventure Playground Manager and a team of youth and play workers, this is an incredibly exciting time for the service – the newly built structures, alongside a small animal area and a growing area, are ready to build an ambitious service around that meets the needs and interests of local children and families.
High Trees is also the lead partner in Building Young Brixton (BYB) – a consortium of 10 youth organisations working with 2,000 young people across Lambeth – which you will coordinate, alongside contributing to the Lambeth Peer Action Collective.
Our Head of CYPF plays a key leadership role that combines strategic oversight with hands-on involvement. You will bring significant experience in youth or community work, with the skills to manage multifaceted services, lead teams, and build strong partnerships with local organisations, schools and statutory bodies. By working closely with our team and partners, you will help ensure that children and young people in Lambeth have the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
Our incredible interim Head of Service will be happy to arrange an informal chat with interested candidates to discuss the day to day responsibilities of the role.
About High Trees
Based in Tulse Hill, High Trees has been rooted in the local community for over 27 years. We delivery community action, employment, education, youth services and community research, working in partnership with local people and local organisations, to build stronger communities and create meaningful change. We are recognised for our collaborative, long-term approach and our ability to adapt and respond to the issues that matter most to local people.
About the role
As Head of Children, Young People and Families, you will:
- Lead and inspire our Children, Young People and Families team to deliver high-impact, community-led work.
- Oversee a portfolio of projects and contracts, ensuring they are delivered to time, budget, and quality.
- Build and strengthen partnerships across the sector to support children, young people and families in Lambeth.
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for CYPF services and partnerships.
- Contribute as a member of High Trees’ senior management team, helping shape organisational strategy and drive our ambitions across all service areas.
About you
We are looking for someone who brings:
- Significant experience in working with Children, Young People and Families.
- A proven track record of leading teams and managing complex projects.
- Excellent communication and partnership-building skills across diverse stakeholders.
- A strategic but practical approach with the ability to balance day-to-day delivery with long-term vision.
- A passion for place-based working, collaboration, and advocating for the needs of children and young people.
Why join us?
This is a rare opportunity to take a senior leadership role in a values-led organisation at a time of growth and ambition. You will play a pivotal role in shaping CYPF services and ensuring that children and young people in Lambeth have the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Connecting with people and communities to strengthen skills and build stronger voices.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.