Programme Coordinator - Dorset

Outdoor Learning; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £28k–£30k per annum

28 days paid holiday

Funding for training and development

ERCA High Ropes Instructor opportunity

Trade discounts on outdoor kit

Access across three centres

Job summary

Brenscombe Outdoor Centre in Dorset seeks a Programme Coordinator to be the heart of our customer care, ensuring bookings run smoothly and delivering outstanding outdoor experiences.

You’ll work with the Centre Manager and seasonal team to provide exceptional service, maintain high standards, and foster lasting relationships with visiting groups, while supporting centre operations and programme delivery.

Qualifications

• At least three years relevant experience would be an advantage.
• Strong IT skills and excellent written, email and telephone communication are essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage all administrative tasks post-booking, including processing group information, arranging accommodation and issuing invoices.
• Coordinate logistics by liaising with delivery, catering, housekeeping teams, and external contractors.
• Engage with group leaders during visits, gathering and responding to feedback to enhance customer experience and build high quality customer relationships.
• Ensure smooth day-to-day running of the centre’s programmes, promoting excellent customer service and professional standards.
• Support the instructional team to align programme delivery with customer expectations and quality standards.

Skills

Organised

Customer service

Communication

IT skills

Job description

Join our small passionate team at Brenscombe Outdoor Centre, a welcoming place where outdoor education and adventure come to life through real experiences in real environments. If you’re someone who thrives on creating memorable experiences and values quality, safety, and customer care, this role offers a unique chance to make a real impact in a beautiful environment.

Brenscombe is a bustling residential outdoor education centre located in the Isle of Purbeck, on the south coast of sunny Dorset. We offer a wide variety of outdoor activities that take full advantage of our surrounding countryside, from the stunning coastline to the rolling Purbeck hills and the vast Poole Harbour.

We offer residential stays for children and adults at our converted farm centre, sleeping up to 160. Big enough to offer a full variety of activities, hosting multiple groups at once, while remaining small enough to ensure high-quality experiences.

We truly believe in the value of outdoor education and the importance of immersive outdoor experience in real environments. We offer participants the chance to engage with and build a connection with the environment. We predominantly deliver school multi-activity residentials with a mixture of on and off-site activities, along with Corporate Team Development programmes, family activities and DofE Gold Residential programmes.

About the Role

As Programme Coordinator, you will be the heart of our customer care, ensuring every booking is handled smoothly throughout, an advocate for the quality of the customer experience. You’ll work closely with the Centre Manager, Chief Instructor and the seasonal instructional team to provide exceptional service, maintain high standards, and foster lasting relationships with our visiting groups. Your role is essential in supporting the centre’s operation and helping us grow by delivering outstanding outdoor experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all administrative tasks post-booking, including processing group information, arranging accommodation and issuing invoices.
• Coordinate logistics by liaising with delivery, catering, housekeeping teams, and external contractors.
• Engage with group leaders during visits, gathering and responding to feedback to enhance customer experience and build high quality customer relationships.
• Ensure smooth day-to-day running of the centre’s programmes, promoting excellent customer service and professional standards.
• Support the instructional team to align programme delivery with customer expectations and quality standards.

Additional responsibilities

• Act as part of the centre’s duty management team.
• Act as part of the centre duty instructor team during our shoulder season.
• Contribute to identifying opportunities for improving programme quality.

Additional responsibilities for an appropriately qualified candidate

• Deliver our full range of activities, working with a variety of customer groups, supplementing our seasonal Instructor team where necessary.
• Assist with staff training, mentoring, and monitoring to foster team development.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an organised, enthusiastic and proactive person to join our team and play an important role in the day-to-day running of our centre. You may have a background in outdoor education centres, administration or a similar environment, but what’s most important is that you’re organised, approachable and enjoy keeping things running smoothly. You’ll be confident managing a varied workload, balancing competing priorities and communicating effectively with a wide range of people. Strong IT skills and excellent written, email and telephone communication are essential, while at least three years relevant experience would be an advantage.

This is an exciting opportunity for an outdoor professional looking to broaden their experience and gain a deeper understanding of the wider operation and administration of an activity centre. Equally, it would suit an experienced administrator who is looking for a role beyond the traditional office environment and wants to be part of an organisation creating fantastic opportunities and experiences for young people.

Desirable qualifications for a candidate with an instructional background include a 16 hour Outdoor First Aid certificate, Paddlesports Leader Award and Rock Climbing Instructor award. Other relevant outdoor leadership awards, such as Sea Kayak or Canoe Leader, ERCA Traditional High Ropes Instructor award and Archery GB Instructor award will all be of benefit. Experience working with diverse client groups, including SEND and adult training programmes, plus a genuine passion for outdoor education, will make you stand out.

Above all, we want someone positive, customer-focused and with a strong desire to deliver great hospitality and high-quality experiences, ready to help our centre thrive.

What We Offer

At Brenscombe, you’ll be part of a supportive and energetic team dedicated to quality beyond instruction. We provide opportunities for professional growth and involvement in a variety of programmes. You’ll work in a stunning outdoor setting while gaining diverse experience in a dynamic environment, in addition to:

• Competitive salary, £28,000 to £30,000 per annum, reflective of your experience and qualifications
• 28 days paid holiday annually
• Funding and support for personal training and development
• Opportunity to obtain the ERCA Traditional High Ropes Instructor qualification
• A busy and exciting working atmosphere with plenty of opportunity to build on your experience
• Access to trade discounts on outdoor kit
• Access to facilities across the organisations three centres

Brenscombe Outdoor Centre is part of the wider Activate Outdoors Ltd group of three centres, including Portland Outdoor Centre and New Forest Outdoor Centre.

Activate Outdoors is an equal opportunities employer and we are eagerly seeking applications from all sectors of society.