Social Programme Manager

Summer Boarding Courses; Merley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading summer education program in the UK is seeking a Social Programme Manager to coordinate and deliver engaging activities for students aged 11-15. This role includes managing logistics, resources, and staff to ensure vibrant and safe experiences. The ideal candidate will have prior summer school and management experience, strong leadership abilities, and excellent communication skills. This position offers a dynamic environment fostering student enjoyment and participation.

Qualifications

• Previous residential summer school experience.
• Experience managing welfare and behavioural issues effectively.
• Proven experience coordinating staff in events or activity programmes.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver the Summer School Social Programme.
• Coordinate activity and evening event programmes.
• Manage a team of staff and provide training and support.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Team management

Empathy

Administrative skills

Ability to work under pressure

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 Summer School Director or College Principal. The SBC Canford Summer School is set on the campus of Canford School, near Bournemouth. SBC Canford caters to students aged 11-15, with a weekly capacity of approximately 290 students.

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 (signage, materials, equipment) are prepared ahead of time; manage student sign-ups, data entry, and registers.
• Lead student Activity Meetings, ensuring all students are allocated to activities; brief staff for activities and events with clear roles and responsibilities; 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.
• 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 appraisals; welcome, train and support Activity Leaders during induction.
• Address performance issues and provide ongoing guidance in collaboration with the Course Leader and Head Office.
• Oversee 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 spaces are clean, safe and compliant with safety requirements.
• Ensure safeguarding and welfare policies are followed, maintaining appropriate student supervision and conducting risk assessments with findings documented and communicated to staff.
• Collaborate with Management and Head Office on necessary paperwork and updates; promote a culture of equality, respect, and diversity; manage behaviour in line with the Student Code of Conduct.
• Support the safe delivery of the programme, covering sessions, off-site activities and welfare duties as needed.
• Attend meetings, communicate clearly with students, staff, parents, agents, site hosts, and external stakeholders; contribute to hosting arrival and departure days as appropriate.

Safeguarding & Safety

• Be committed to safeguarding and welfare of students; complete online safeguarding training and attend on-site safeguarding training during induction week; read SBC safeguarding policy, staff handbook, operations policy handbook and Keeping Children Safe in Education (Part 1 and annexes A & B).
• Readiness to report concerns to the DSO and to act if a student discloses abuse or neglect; help students understand how to keep themselves safe while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (and equivalent if applicable) and be prepared to provide details of two referees; have official identification and certificates available for records; comply with GDPR and confidentiality policies.

General & Qualities

• Be approachable, empathetic, enthusiastic, engaging, diplomatic, responsible and motivated; flexible within the summer school environment; demonstrate strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure; manage discipline in a firm, constructive manner.
• Excellent administrative skills; proven experience coordinating staff in events or activity programmes; experience managing welfare and behavioural issues; previous residential summer school experience; first aid qualification desirable.

Requirements

• Previous residential summer school experience.
• Previous management experience with a confident and supportive approach.
• Proven experience coordinating staff in an events or activity programme capacity.
• Rigorously organised approach and excellent administrative skills.
• Experience of managing welfare and behavioural issues effectively; proven professional experience in a medical or pastoral role with young people.
• Good working knowledge of Excel.
• Desirable: First Aid qualification; experience of residential international summer schools.

Additional Context

All SBC staff will be expected to uphold the reputation of Summer Boarding Courses and the host venue, and the organisation may conduct online checks as part of safeguarding duties.