Chief Instructor - Dorset
Portland Outdoor Centre
Location: Portland, Dorset
Salary: £27,500 to £29,000
Chief Instructor – Portland Outdoor Centre
Start date: TBC, (currently flexible but at the latest 03/02/2025)
Permanent f/t contact.
Salary: £27,500 to £29,000 per annum pro rata
Portland Outdoor Centre is looking for experienced, passionate, and hardworking Chief Instructor to join our full-time team.
Portland Outdoor Centre is a small residential outdoor education centre located on the Isle of Portland, near Weymouth, on the south coast of sunny Dorset. Offering a variety of outdoor activities that take full advantage of the surrounding countryside, from the vast Chesil Beach to the cliff edges of Portland Bill. All our activities take place off-site ensuring our groups experience real environments with the time to immerse themselves in the landscape and the activities.
We offer residential stays for children and adults at our converted hotel centre, overlooking Portland Harbour. Sleeping up to 70 we are small enough to ensure high-quality experiences and hospitality for all our groups; be it multi activity school programmes, adult groups or DofE Gold Residential programmes. Our small close-knit team values the importance of engaging outdoor experiences and takes pride in delivering high quality activities, which leave young people with memories that last a lifetime.
Activities we offer include; Coasteering, Climbing and Abseiling, Costal Bushcraft and Watersports in Portland Harbour including journeys in our striking Big Canoes, a unique experience for many. Thorough training and inductions will be provided to enable you to deliver to our high standard.
Portland Outdoor Centre has two sister centres; New Forest Outdoor Centre and Brenscombe Outdoor Centre. You will have the opportunity to visit each centre and use their facilities. Each centre has its own character and feel with its own variety of activities and clientele. Although predominantly based at Portland the opportunity to work at the other sites during the season only provides more opportunity to broaden and develop your skill set.
At Portland, Instructors can expect to really use their awards while developing skills and experience. A normal week will involve Coasteering at Portland Bill, running Climbing sessions at one of our numerous local venues and delivering a selection of Water-sports from Portland Harbour. Portland Outdoor Centre offers a genuine opportunity to progress as an instructor. We have a highly motivated, active and professional team. If you like the idea of an afterwork Climb, Boulder, Dive or Coasteer you’ll fit right in.
You will continually aid in the development of Portland Outdoor Centre be responsible for the management of our seasonal/freelance team working to deliver high quality outdoor programmes for our clients.
In return for your hard work, we offer:
· Monthly salary + paid holiday
· Affordable accommodation in a spacious 5-bedroom staff house in Fortuneswell, a short walk from the centre, allowing personal space away from the working environment.
· Funding and support for personal training and development including CPD training days
· A professional high quality working atmosphere, with plenty of opportunity to develop your skills and progress in your role
· Access to facilities across the organisation including a bunkhouse in North Wales
· Access to trade discounted equipment
Qualities we are looking for:
· A strong work ethic
· Team player and comfortable in a leadership position
· Enthusiastic about sharing your knowledge of the outdoors
· Desire to progress and develop your own skills and qualifications
· Hospitable with good interpersonal skills
· Ability to inspire personal development and high-quality outdoor activity sessions
· Enthusiastic about others, and how they experience the outdoors.
Essential qualifications/experience:
· 2 Day First aid
· Sea Kayak or Canoe Leader or equivalent + FSRT (Higher lever (above PSL) Award)
· Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) or higher
· Bushcraft Award or experience
· NCC Guide Award
· 5-Day Beach Lifeguard Qualification Or recognised water lifesaving qualification ex. SLSGB Surf Coach Safety and Rescue
· Full UK Driving licence
· Minimum of three years working in outdoor centres
· Ability to lead and manage a team of Instructors. (experience of)
· Ability to prioritise and manage multiple demands
· Good working knowledge of team work and leadership approaches
· IT literate
Desirable qualifications/skills/experience:
· RCDI Award or Higher
· Lowland Leader Award or Higher
· DofE Assessor
· Outdoor Education Further or higher education qualification (NVQ, BTEC or Degree) NGB award provider
· ERCA Instructor Award or Higher
· Adventure WISE course attendee
· VHF experience
· Experience working with SEND groups
· Experience working on adult Training & Development programmes
· Activity and resource development experience
· Knowledge of the LotC accrediation
· Knowledge of Gold DofE Residential provision & requirements.
· Ability to identify areas of development within the seasonal/freelance team outside of what’s required for the operation.
· Desire to maintain personal skills and continue to progress professionally
If you want to be part of a team delivering high quality experiences in real environments then please get in touch. Email your CV and a covering letter to Jerome Cooper (Portland Outdoor Centre Manager) at [email protected]
Portland Outdoor Centre is an equal opportunities employer and we are eagerly seeking applications from all sectors of society.
Portland Outdoor Centre, Castletown, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1BD