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Activity Manager - Residential

oxfordinternational

EFL Programmes UK

  • Onsite
  • Full Time
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About the role

Our seasonal programmes operate during the following periods:
 
Winter: 1st January – mid-February
Spring: 23rd March – 10th/12th April
Summer: 23rd/24th June – 12th/17th August

Specific start and end dates will be confirmed based on your role, assigned centre, and required induction training.

Overview

As an Activity Manager with Oxford International Junior Programmes, you will have direct responsibility for managing the Activities Team, including staff rotas, working hours, performance, development and welfare. Alongside your people-management responsibilities, you will take ownership of the planning, coordination and successful delivery of the centre's activity and excursion programme, anticipate challenges and respond proactively to changing circumstances to ensure the smooth running of the centre.

You will be accountable for ensuring Activity Leaders understand what is expected of them, work within their scheduled hours and consistently meet the required standards of performance and professionalism.

You will work closely with students, Group Leaders, Activity Leaders, a Senior Staff team, suppliers and other operational teams, requiring excellent organisation, communication, leadership and problem-solving skills.

All candidates need to be over 18 years old, eligible to work in the UK and willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS Disclosure Check and/or an Overseas Police Check.  

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Staff Management, Performance & Working Hours

Lead, motivate and support the Activities Team to ensure consistently high standards by:

Staff Leadership & Management
  • Take day-to-day management responsibility for the Activity Leaders at the centre. 
  • Lead, motivate and support the Activities Team while setting clear expectations and maintaining high standards. 
  • Deliver effective on-site induction, ensuring all staff understand their roles and responsibilities. 
  • Hold daily team meetings to communicate duties, timings, programme information and expectations. 
  • Create a positive, supportive and accountable team environment. 
  • Lead by example and consistently demonstrate high standards of professionalism. 

Staff Rotas, Deployment & Working Hours
  • Create and communicate fair, accurate and operationally effective staff rotas within required deadlines. 
  • Take responsibility for monitoring and managing Activity Leader working hours in line with contracted hours and company expectations. 
  • Maintain accurate records of hours worked and proactively identify potential over or under-scheduling. 
  •  Ensure appropriate staffing levels across activities, excursions, meals, arrivals/departures and evening duties. 
  • Manage rota changes effectively in response to absence, programme changes and operational requirements. 
  • Escalate staffing or working-hours concerns to the Centre Manager at the earliest opportunity. 
Performance Management & Development
  • Regularly observe Activity Leaders and monitor their performance throughout the programme. 
  • Provide regular, constructive feedback, guidance and coaching to support staff development. 
  • Complete formal staff appraisals accurately and within required deadlines. 
  • Set clear improvement actions where required and monitor progress. 
  • Address concerns relating to performance, conduct, attendance, punctuality or professionalism promptly, escalating where appropriate. 
  • Recognise and encourage strong performance within the team. 
Staff Welfare & Communication
  • Maintain regular communication with Activity Leaders and ensure staff feel appropriately supported. 
  • Monitor staff welfare and workload and respond appropriately to concerns. 
  • Ensure important operational, welfare and performance information is communicated to the Centre Manager. 
  • Maintain professional boundaries while remaining visible, approachable and available to the team. 
  • Work closely with the wider Senior Team to ensure effective communication and consistent management across the centre.
2. Client Management

Build strong relationships with clients and provide an excellent experience by:
  • Holding regular meetings with Group Leaders to discuss the activities and excursion programme
  • Promptly answering all requests from Group Leaders. This may include tailoring the activities programme to ensure the best possible experience for students
  • Collating and then acting upon any feedback received efficiently
  • Maintaining a healthy working relationship with host centre staff by ensuring regular communication regarding facility usage
  • Maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and ensuring all parties are kept informed of bookings, timings, coaches, entrances and other operational arrangements
3. Activity Programme Management

Take ownership of the day-to-day delivery of the activity programme by:
  • Planning and overseeing the delivery of a varied, inclusive and engaging programme suitable for students aged 8–17
  • Ensuring activities are delivered safely, professionally and to the required standards
  • Promoting the Activity Programme effectively to students and encouraging high levels of participation
  • Supporting Activity Leaders with activity preparation, delivery and development
  • Ensuring activity equipment is available, well maintained and appropriately stored
  • Monitoring activity-related expenditure and ensuring spending remains within approved budgets
  • Identifying operational issues early and taking appropriate action to resolve them
  • Maintaining a visible and approachable presence across the centre and activity programme
  • Regularly observe the quality of activities being delivered and intervene where standards are not being met. 
  • Ensure Activity Leaders are appropriately allocated based on experience, strengths and development needs. 
  • Review programme participation and student feedback and make changes where required.
4. Excursion Planning & Delivery

Take responsibility for the successful planning and delivery of excursion days by:
  • Carefully planning excursion itineraries and ensuring all arrangements are confirmed in advance
  • Preparing clear and detailed excursion packs for Activity Leaders
  • Holding pre-excursion briefings with Activity Leaders to ensure everyone understands timings, responsibilities, meeting points and operational requirements
  • Holding pre-excursion meetings with Group Leaders and communicating all relevant information clearly
  • Working with Group Leaders to tailor itineraries where appropriate to meet client and student needs
  • Ensuring coach, attraction, entrance and other excursion bookings are accurately recorded and confirmed
  • Proactively identifying potential issues and having appropriate contingency plans in place
  • Supporting Activity Leaders throughout excursion days and ensuring high standards are maintained
  • Ensure Activity Leaders are appropriately deployed across excursion groups and understand their individual supervision, welfare and operational responsibilities before departure.

5. Administration & Operational Coordination

Maintain accurate records and ensure all programme administration is completed efficiently by:
  • Keeping spreadsheets and operational documents up to date
  • Take ownership of extra activities at centre and record effectively payments taken
  • Maintaining accurate records of coach, attraction and other supplier bookings
  • Updating facilities sheets and monitoring the use of meal cards, travel cards and other programme resources
  • Ensuring relevant information is communicated clearly to Centre Management and other stakeholders
  • Providing required documentation to Head Office within agreed deadlines
  • Monitoring expenditure and maintaining accurate records where required
  • Ensuring all operational information is accurate, accessible and communicated in a timely manner

6. Student Welfare, Safeguarding & Risk Management

Maintain the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all students throughout the programme by:
  • Ensuring appropriate levels of student discipline are maintained in line with company expectations
  • Responding promptly and appropriately to incidents, emergencies and welfare concerns
  • Always maintaining a strong awareness of safeguarding responsibilities
  • Working closely with the Student Support Manager to complete and review activity risk assessments
  • Ensuring relevant risk assessments and safety information are communicated to Activity staff and key stakeholders
  • Escalating concerns appropriately and always following company procedures
  • Creating an environment where students feel safe, supported, included and able to enjoy their experience

People Specifications

Legal status
  • Right to work in the Uk
  • Willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check and/or an Overseas Police Check, where applicable. 
Qualifications
  • Currently enrolled in, or holding, a university degree programme in any discipline.
  •  Currently studying towards, or holding, a qualification in sports, recreation, youth work, event management, or a related discipline. (Desirable)
Experience and knowledge
  • Experience working in a residential camp setting or similar
  • Previous experience leading or managing a team
  • Experience organising activities for young people 
Skills and Abilities
  • The ability to motivate and lead a diverse workforce
  • Strong organisational and planning skills 
  • A skill set that enables success in a fast-paced work environment
  • A proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems
  • The ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced and changing environment 
Personal qualities
  • A genuine enthusiasm for working with international students aged 8–17
  • The ability to demonstrate respect for equal opportunities and respect for race and diversity
  • Strong work ethic 
Expectations

As an Oxford International Employee, you will:
  • Represent the company in a reputable and professional manner at all times
  • Commit to the safeguarding of all participants on our programmes
  • Adapt to the changing demands of working with young people in a residential setting

Disclaimer

This job description is provided as a guide to the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to periodic revision. 

Oxford International is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service and, where appropriate, online searches of publicly available information as part of our safer recruitment procedures.

Oxford International is an equal opportunity employer. Every applicant and employee has the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.