Lead Instructor - Combined Cadet Force

Gateshead College; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 16,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday

Mental health support

LGPS pension

Free parking

Public transport discount

Cycle to work

Retail discounts

Volunteering days

Job summary

Gateshead College is recruiting a Lead Instructor to launch and deliver the Royal Navy Combined Cadet Force (CCF) alongside a college-wide Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme. The role is supported by the MOD under the Cadet Expansion Programme.

You will lead training during academy sessions, coordinate DofE across the college, plan trips and outdoor learning, ensure MOD safeguarding, and collaborate with RN instructors to grow cadet activities.

Qualifications

• Background in uniformed services and outdoor education.
• Strong leadership, organisation and communication skills.
• Confidence delivering practical and outdoor activities.
• Commitment to safeguarding and high standards.
• Willingness to complete MOD training (fully funded).

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver Royal Navy CCF training during academy/enrichment sessions.
• Establish and coordinate a cross college Duke of Edinburgh offer.
• Plan and oversee trips, expeditions, camps and outdoor learning.
• Ensure MOD compliance, safeguarding and safe delivery.
• Work with Royal Navy Area Instructors and Warrant Officers.
• Support enrichment within the UPS curriculum.

Skills

Uniformed services

Outdoor education

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication

Outdoor activities

Safeguarding

MOD training

Job description

Lead Instructor - Combined Cadet Force

Academy for Sport 18/10/2026

Salary £14,645 leading to £15,894 per annum Contractual hours 18.5 Basis Part time Region North Package Permanent Job category Non Teaching Date posted 06/08/2026 Job reference VV2124

Attachments Lead Instructor - CCF JD July 2026.docx Candidate Pack_generic_2026.pdf

Job overview

Gateshead College is recruiting a dynamic individual to lead the launch and delivery of our new Royal Navy Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and college wide Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme.

This is a unique role supported by the Ministry of Defence under the Cadet Expansion Programme.

Role Overview

• Lead and deliver Royal Navy CCF training during academy/enrichment sessions

• Establish and coordinate a cross college Duke of Edinburgh offer

• Plan and oversee trips, expeditions, camps and outdoor learning

• Ensure MOD compliance, safeguarding and safe delivery

• Work with Royal Navy Area Instructors and Warrant Officers

• Support enrichment within the UPS curriculum

This role is essential for MOD readiness, safe operation of cadet activities, and scaling DofE across the college.

Why This Role Matters

• Strengthens behaviour, attendance, confidence and resilience

• Enhances personal development, wellbeing and leadership

• Supports Ofsted priorities across all judgement areas

• Builds a distinctive cadet and leadership pathway in FE

• Backed by MOD start up funding and Navy funded support

Who We're Looking For'

• Background in uniformed services, outdoor education

• Strong leadership, organisation and communication skills

• Confidence delivering practical and outdoor activities

• Commitment to safeguarding and high standards

• Willingness to complete MOD training (fully funded)

About Gateshead College

At Gateshead College we're famous for education with Employment Edge, industry inspired education that combines high quality learning with real world skills. This means giving our students the knowledge and skills to be successful in work and life and supporting them to be the best they can be.

This means putting everything we've got into making sure our students are the most employable and this is what makes our college such an exciting place to work.

From bringing industry expertise into the classroom and working hand in hand with businesses, to delivering the highest quality teaching and learning and supporting students to develop personally as well as professionally, we're all about creating experiences that will set learners up for life

If you share our ambition, we'd love to hear from you.

In return we can offer a values-driven organisation and the chance to work with brilliant people who put students first. You'll be listened to and will have opportunities to make an impact. We prioritise health and wellbeing and your work life balance will be respected.

Our inclusive culture means you're valued for being yourself and diversity is celebrated, and our commitment to being a sustainable organisation means we always try to do business the right way to make our community better for everyone.

At Gateshead College we all have the opportunity to help our learners succeed and it's this clear purpose and shared effort that makes us such a great place to work; we hope you think about joining.

Our Benefits :

• Generous holiday allowance of 33 days plus bank holidays

• Mental health and wellbeing support, with 24/7 access to an employee assistance programme and counselling services.

• Career average pension with the Local Government Pension Scheme.

• Travel support including free onsite parking, discounted public transport scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Retail and travel discounts.

• Volunteering Days.