Assistant Centre Leader - Darfield

Junior Adventures Group; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff Fitness discounts

50% discount on sKids programmes

Referral bonus up to $250 per referral

Work-life balance – no weekend work

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

sKids in Canterbury region is seeking an Assistant Centre Leader to ensure mornings and afternoons are unforgettable for children. You’ll work a minimum of 6 contracted hours per week, rostered across Monday to Friday, with shifts from 7:00–8:30am and 2:30–6:00pm, and take on 2IC responsibilities when needed.

You’ll supervise groups of children, lead sessions, plan activities, support staff, and build strong relationships with parents and school staff.

Qualifications

• Have the legal right to work in New Zealand.
• Experience working with groups of children (e.g. OSCAR/out of school care, childcare, coaching, teaching, camps).
• Able to step into a leadership role when needed and take initiative.
• Experience managing behavior in group settings and remaining calm, firm and supportive.
• A team player who can support and lead others when required.
• Excellent communication with children, parents and school staff.
• Must be over 20 years old per regulations.

Responsibilities

• Support the Programme Manager in day-to-day running of the sKids programme.
• Lead sessions as 2IC when required and manage activities in absence of the Programme Manager.
• Supervise large groups of children and ensure a safe, inclusive, and fun environment.
• Assist in planning and delivering structured activities (arts/crafts, sports, games, trips).
• Guide and support Programme Assistants on shift to ensure smooth sessions.
• Build positive relationships with parents, caregivers and school staff.
• Assist with set-up and pack-down and resource preparation for each session.
• Take part in staff benefits and wellbeing programs offered by the company.

Skills

Leadership

Group management

Communication

Team player

Child care experience

Job description

At sKids, we believe childhood should be full of laughter, learning, and adventure! When you work with us, you get to unleash your inner child. Think: messy art, science experiments, sports showdowns, cooking classes, and plenty of silly games. No two days are the same and that’s how we like it!

Job Description

As an AssistantCentre Leader, you’ll be the friendly face that makes the mornings & afternoons unforgettable for children. You’ll be working a minimum of 6 contracted hoursper week, rostered across Monday to Friday

• Morning/ Before school shifts runs between 7am - 8.30am.
• Afternoon/ After School shifts runs between 2.30pm–6.00pm.Availability from 2.30pm is essential, though finish times may vary.

Here’s what you’ll be up to

• Support the Programme Manager in the day-to-day running of the sKids programme, helping ensure smooth, well-structured operations
• Step up as 2IC. Confidently lead sessions and take charge when the Programme Manager is away
• Supervise and engage large groups of tamariki, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and fun environment at all times
• Assist in planning and delivering structured activities including arts & crafts, sports, games, and offsite trips
• Support with managing challenging behaviour, using positive guidance strategies and maintaining consistency across the team
• Help guide and support Programme Assistants on shift, ensuring expectations are met and activities run smoothly
• Build positive relationships with parents, caregivers, and school staff through clear and friendly communication
• Assist with set-up, pack-down, and preparation of resources to ensure each session runs seamlessly
• Staff Fitness discounts of up to 50% via Wherefit
• 50% discount on selected sKids programmes, this is perfect for your own children!
• Referral bonus. Bring awesome people into our team and earn up to $250 per referral!
• Work-life balance – no weekend work and the middle of the day free for your own time
• Employee Assistance Programme – access wellbeing support when you need it
• A fun, supportive crew who love what they do and celebrate each other’s wins

Qualifications

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Have the legal rights to work in New Zealand
• Are located locally in Darfield would be a preference, otherwise close proximity to Darfield.
• Have prior experience working with groups of children (e.g. OSCAR/ out of school care, childcare, coaching, teaching, camps, or similar)
• Are confident stepping into a leadership role when needed, with the ability to take initiative and make decisions
• Have exposure to managing behaviour in group settings and can remain calm, firm, and supportive
• Are a team player who can both support and lead others when required
• Communicate well with both children and adults, including parents and school staff
• Are over the age of 20 years old (as per Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004) stepping in to any management/ leadership roles within childcare.

Safeguarding
sKids is committed to Child Protection and the safeguarding of children and young people in our care and we expect all staff to operate in a way that reflects this intent. All successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check. All applicants must hold the right to work in New Zealand.