Social Programme Manager

Summer Boarding Courses; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading summer education provider in Cambridge seeks a Social Programme Manager to oversee the planning and delivery of engaging activities for students. This role includes managing resources, logistics, and a team to ensure enjoyable and safe experiences. You will coordinate events, manage a team, and promote student engagement while adhering to safety and welfare standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and organizational skills, with prior experience in summer school management and an empathic approach to working with students.

Benefits

Accommodation included

Paid training

Wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Proven experience of coordinating staff in an events or activity programme capacity.
• Experience of managing welfare & behaviour issues effectively.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver the Summer School Social Programme.
• Manage a team of staff to ensure high levels of support and engagement.
• Coordinate activity programmes and maintain relevant noticeboards.

Skills

Strong leadership

Organisational

Communication

Flexibility

Administrative skills

Education

Experience in a residential summer school

Management experience

Tools

Excel

Job description

Overview

The Social Programme Manager is responsible for planning and delivering the Summer School or College Social Programme, including a varied offering of daytime group activities and entertaining whole‑school evening events, ensuring engaging and safe experiences for students. This role involves managing resources, logistics, and a team of staff, while upholding safety and welfare standards. Strong leadership, organisational, and communication skills are essential to creating vibrant and unforgettable student experiences. Responsible To: The College Principal The Site Appealing to ambitious students wishing to prepare for future success and to gain an authentic taste of the studying at the prestigious University of Oxford. SBC Oxford College students undertake academic courses, exploring their chosen subject through a series of engaging lectures, tutorials, and industry workshops. Their academic programme sits next to their social programme allowing them to explore Oxford, take part in college events, wellbeing activities and the greatly enjoyed excursion to London. SBC at Oxford College is based over several Oxford Colleges. Students on the college programme are 15-17 and the capacity is 120 students over both sites each week.

Ways we support our Social Programme Managers

• We will cover the full cost of a new DBS (if required) for your first contract working with SBC. We encourage all staff to sign up for the Update Service
• Extensive, paid, on‑site training prior to student arrival
• Accommodation included
• CPD and Appraisals
• Staff Wellbeing Initiative
• Access to Employee Assist Programme (EAP)
• Continual support for all staff from the Head Office Team, both on the ground and via phone/email
• Online safeguarding and prevent training
• Professional, fun and supportive environment, Programme Delivery

Programme Delivery Responsibilities

• Coordinate the activity and evening event programmes, including scheduling, planning, preparation, and promotion.
• Develop and communicate an engaging, age‑appropriate weekly timetable for activities and events, maintaining relevant noticeboards.
• Ensure the provision of organised, engaging and student‑appropriate activity plans.
• Ensure all resources (e.g., signage, materials, equipment) are prepared ahead of time.
• Manage student sign‑ups, including resource creation, data entry, and registers.
• Lead student Activity Meetings, ensuring all students are allocated to activities.
• Brief staff for activities and events, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities are outlined.
• Provide support and feedback during and after sessions to ensure high‑quality delivery.
• Collaborate with external providers to ensure seamless delivery.
• Attend excursions and off‑site activities, taking the role of Excursion Leader when necessary.

Team Management

• Lead and manage a team of staff to plan, prepare and deliver activities and events, ensuring high levels of support, supervision, and engagement.
• Lead daily team meetings, conduct staff observations and manage appraisals.Welcome, train and support Activity Leaders during the staff induction week.
• Address performance issues and provide ongoing guidance in collaboration with the Course Leader and Head Office.

Resource, Facilities, Safety & Compliance

• Oversee the procurement, storage, distribution, and maintenance of all activity and event resources, ensuring compliance with financial and quality guidelines.
• Coordinate with the host site to secure and book appropriate facilities.
• Ensure social programme spaces are clean, organised, and meet safety requirements.
• Ensure staff are briefed and carry out equipment setup and pack‑down efficiently.
• Ensure the safe delivery of all activities and events, adhering to safety protocols and conducting risk assessments, with findings documented and communicated to staff.
• Ensure all activities and events align with safeguarding and welfare policies, maintaining appropriate student supervision.

General Managerial Duties: Teamwork & Communication

• Collaborate with the Management Team, attending meetings and maintaining open and proactive communication.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with students, staff, parents, agents, site hosts, and external stakeholders.
• Work with SBC Head Office to complete necessary paperwork and share updates.

Student Experience

• Encourage student engagement in the programme, promoting communication, confidence, and social skills.
• Promote a culture of equality, respect, and diversity, ensuring students adhere to the Student Code of Conduct and assisting staff in managing behaviour.
• Encourage student feedback and promptly address concerns or complaints.
• Contribute to hosting arrival and departure days, ensuring a welcoming and professional experience for students and parents.
• Support the safe delivery of the programme, covering sessions, attending off‑site activities & supporting breaks, meals, and welfare duties where needed.

Safety & Compliance

• Implement Health and Safety procedures, ensuring incidents are reported and risk assessments are followed.
• Keep staff informed of student welfare needs and maintain required welfare records.
• Ensure staff and students understand Emergency and Fire Evacuation procedures.
• Securely manage summer camp data, following GDPR and confidentiality policies.

General

• Attend SBC Management Training prior to arriving at the school to familiarise with all aspects of the programme, roles, and responsibilities.
• Assist with Induction Week, preparing the site and inducting staff.
• Demonstrate flexibility and assist in emergency situations, whether on duty or not.
• Provide feedback to the Head Office team throughout and at the end of the summer.
• Uphold the reputation of Summer Boarding Courses and the host venue.

Safeguarding Duties

• Be committed to the safeguarding and welfare of students in your care.
• Complete online safeguarding training and attend on‑site safeguarding training during induction week.
• To read and understand SBC's Safeguarding Policy, Staff Handbook, Operations Policy Handbook and Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (including annexes A & B).
• To be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and report any concerns to the DSO immediately (including low level concerns).
• To know what to do if a student tells a member of staff they are being abused, exploited or neglected.
• To help students understand how to keep themselves safe and manage risk; earning their trust while maintaining professional boundaries.

Please see the attached Job description for a more complete list of the duties associated with this Management role.

Candidate Requirements

• You will provide the details of two recent and relevant referees who we will contact and specifically ask about your suitability to work with children and any concerns.
• You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), and equivalent if you live, or have lived, outside of the UK.
• You will be asked to state that you have no known reason why you cannot work with children.
• Official identification and certificates will be required for our records.

Please be aware that SBC may conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of our legal duty to meet out safeguarding duties.

All members of staff employed by SBC will be expected to bring certain key qualities to the operation. There must be a professional interest in working with young people and particularly international children. Safety and welfare of the students is of paramount importance at SBC and a practical enforcing of this belief should be a quality exhibited by all staff. We look for staff who are:

Desired Qualities

• Approachable & empathic to the needs of students.
• Enthusiastic & engaging.
• Diplomatic, responsible & motivated.
• Flexible within the summer school environment.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, flexibility.
• Previous residential summer school experience.
• Previous management experience with a confident and supportive approach.
• Proven experience of coordinating staff in an events or activity programme capacity.
• Rigorously organised approach & excellent administrative skills.
• Experience of managing welfare & behaviour issues effectively.
• Proven professional experience of working in a medical or pastoral role with young people.
• Good working knowledge of Excel.
• An empathic manner.

Desirable

• First Aid qualification.
• Experience of residential international summer schools.

About SBC

Founded in 2008, Summer Boarding Courses have united students from around the world through education. Delivering award‑winning, future‑focused courses that strike the perfect balance between academic and social enrichment. Our courses unlock potential and ignite a spark for long‑term success. Our residential summer courses take place at some of the UK's top boarding schools and university college campuses, including Eton College, Oxford University Colleges and Headington School. We carefully select our campuses to ensure that they provide the perfect environment for our students to live and study. Over 15,800 students from 152 nationalities have been welcomed to study with us to date. Whether it's preparing for future studies, developing 21st‑century skills or building confidence, the knowledge gained on an SBC course allows students to go forward and apply what they have learnt to other areas of their education and beyond; giving them the necessary skills to achieve their future goals. The EL Gazette publishes a league table based on British Council inspections, and SBC have been ranked Number 1 from 2018 to 2023. We are very proud of this achievement and will continue to grow and develop our courses to offer students extraordinary experiences. SBC is the only multi‑campus summer school provider in the UK to have achieved a perfect 15/15 areas of strength by the British Council. A true hallmark of educational quality.

Additional Role Specific Support

• Paid attendance to pre‑course Management Training.
• Paid attendance of a certified First Aid Course.

Remuneration

The salary for the Social Programme Manager role is £1010 per week (subject to tax and national insurance), paid weekly in arrears (for the avoidance of doubt this sum includes a holiday allowance at 12.07% of basic pay in the sum of £108.78), plus accommodation at the summer site.