Interim Senior Instructor

Hertfordshire; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 49,000; Part time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council is seeking an experienced interim SfYP Senior Instructor to lead Hudnall Park’s outdoor education provision. You will oversee day-to-day operations, ensure safety, quality and staff development, and work with schools and partners to deliver impactful outdoor learning experiences.

The role is a 3–6 month interim contract with variable hours, based at Hudnall Park, Hemel Hempstead, reporting to the Service Manager and coordinating with wider Hertfordshire teams.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in outdoor education or related field.
• Experience in staff supervision, performance management, coaching or workforce development.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and practice when working with children and young people.
• Experience managing educational visits or outdoor learning programmes.

Responsibilities

• Providing day-to-day leadership and line management of sessional outdoor instructors.
• Developing staff capability through supervision, training, coaching and quality assurance.
• Managing instructor rotas and deployment to ensure safe staffing arrangements.
• Acting as the lead officer for operational health and safety across outdoor activities and site operations.
• Maintaining oversight of inspections, maintenance schedules and equipment records.
• Ensuring risk assessments, operating procedures and curriculum plans are accurate and up to date.
• Supporting development and delivery of high-quality outdoor learning and youth development programmes.
• Ensuring safeguarding practice and staffing ratios meet requirements.
• Working with schools and youth organisations to support bookings and enquiries.
• Liaising with partner agencies to ensure positive customer experiences.
• Supporting quality assurance and continuous improvement across service delivery.
• Providing operational leadership to prepare the centre for delivery.
• Supporting wider service development and operating model changes for Hudnall Park.

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Hudnall Park Field Studies Centre

Job Title:SfYP Senior Instructor (Interim)

Team:Hudnall Park (Hertfordshire Services for Young People)

Salary: £44,253 progressing to £48,738 pa pro rata

Hours:Up to 37 hours per week (subject to operational requirements)

Location:Hudnall Park, Hemel Hempstead

Contract Type:Variable Hours Contract – 3 to 6 months initially (with potential extension, subject to service requirements)

About us

We are looking for an experienced, proactive and highly organised interim Senior Instructor to join the team in addition to the Hudnall Park Centre Manager to support the day-to-day operation of Hudnall Park.

This interim role is critical to ensuring safe, effective and high-quality service delivery. The successful candidate will provide operational leadership, line management and professional oversight of the instructional workforce whilst ensuring that programmes, policies, procedures and safety systems are fully up to date.

Situated in over 85 acres of woodland and open countryside on the edge of the Chilterns, Hudnall Park delivers outdoor learning, environmental education, camping experiences, Duke of Edinburgh activity, youth development programmes and curriculum-based educational visits. The centre is transitioning towards a woodland-based outdoor learning and camping model, building on its significant strengths.

About the role

The post reports to the Service Manager and will work closely with colleagues across Services for Young People and other Hertfordshire County Council teams.

Working hours will be determined according to operational need and may include occasional evenings, weekends and overnight activities.

The Senior Instructor will provide interim operational leadership across Hudnall Park's outdoor education provision, with responsibility for the safe delivery of activities, quality assurance of programmes/delivery, workforce development and operational readiness.

The role is responsible for:

• Providing day-to-day leadership and line management of sessional outdoor instructors.
• Developing staff capability through supervision, training, coaching and quality assurance.
• Managing instructor rotas and deployment to ensure safe, effective staffing arrangements.
• Acting as the lead officer for operational health and safety across outdoor activities, equipment and relevant site operations.
• Maintaining oversight of inspections, maintenance schedules and equipment records.
• Ensuring risk assessments, operating procedures, curriculum plans, programme documentation and activity guidance are accurate, current and fit for purpose.
• Supporting the development and implementation of high-quality outdoor learning, environmental education and youth development programmes.
• Ensuring safeguarding practice, staffing ratios and operational standards meet Hertfordshire County Council requirements.
• Working with customers and stakeholders to support bookings, programme planning and service enquiries.
• Liaising with schools, youth organisations, community groups and partner agencies to ensure positive customer experiences.
• Supporting quality assurance and continuous improvement across all aspects of service delivery.
• Providing operational leadership to ensure the centre is fully prepared for delivery.
• Supporting wider service development and implementation of the future operating model for Hudnall Park.

This is a unique interim opportunity within a well-established outdoor education centre during a significant period of development and growth for the service.

The role offers the opportunity to:

• Lead and shape operational delivery within a respected outdoor education setting.
• Influence the development of programmes, quality standards and operational systems.
• Support the implementation of a new outdoor learning and camping model.
• Develop a skilled and motivated instructional workforce.
• Build relationships with schools, youth organisations and community partners.
• Contribute directly to improving outcomes for children and young people through outdoor learning experiences.
• Work within a unique woodland environment with extensive opportunities for environmental education and youth development.

About you

This role would suit someone with substantial experience in outdoor education, outdoor learning, adventurous activities or a related field.

• Experienced in leading or supervising outdoor education, instructional or activity-based teams.
• Experienced in staff supervision, performance management, coaching or workforce development.
• Knowledgeable in outdoor activity safety management and risk assessment processes.
• Able to demonstrate strong understanding of safeguarding principles and practice when working with children and young people.
• Experienced in the inspection, maintenance and safe management of outdoor activity equipment.
• Able to organise and prioritise operational workloads, staffing arrangements and competing demands.
• Confident in managing health and safety compliance and promoting a strong safety culture.
• Able to establish positive relationships with schools, customers, stakeholders and partner organisations.
• Skilled in quality assurance, monitoring standards and implementing service improvements.
• An excellent communicator with strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work independently whilst supporting wider organisational objectives.
• IT competent and able to utilise digital systems for planning, reporting and communication.
• Flexible, adaptable and willing to respond to operational requirements.
• Ability to travel independently to and from the workplace, as this location is not accessible by public transport.
• Outdoor activity qualifications (NGB or equivalent).
• Forest School, Duke of Edinburgh or environmental education experience.
• Experience managing educational visits or outdoor learning programmes.
• Experience developing curriculum-linked learning activities.
• Experience of working within local government, youth services or educational settings.
• Understanding of licensing, regulatory compliance and outdoor activity frameworks.
• Experience supporting organisational change and service development.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the capability expected of a Community Services Level 11 role, including leadership of a small team, translation of service objectives into operational delivery, problem solving, stakeholder engagement, specialist professional advice and maintaining high-quality front-line services.

This job role is Level 11. Please locate the job profile here:

Additional information

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

We are changing

Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), creating a unique opportunity to help shape the future of local services. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required

You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.