Freelancer positions available

Qualifications:

Essential

1. CWI / RCI or higher
2. Proven experience in the Climbing industry/ Outdoor industry

Desirable Skills

1. NICAS / NIBAS teaching experience
2. Coaching qualification and experience
3. Route setting qualification and experience
4. Archery GB
5. Mountain Bike Qualification

You must also hold a current first aid certificate and your own public liability insurance.

Personal Qualities

1. Flexible, proactive and enthusiastic work  approach
2. Trustworthy
3. Punctual and reliable worker

If you are interested in joining our books as a freelancer please send your CV and qualifications to jobs@oakwoodclimbingcentre.com with the reference “Freelancer Position”

Reporting To: Outdoor Activity Manager

Salary: On application, based on qualifications / experience

Term: Permanent, subject to 3 month and 12 month review

Working Hours: 40 hours a week

Additional Benefits: Paid holiday & option to join pension scheme

About Oakwood

Located between Bracknell and Wokingham, Oakwood Youth Challenge is a Christian charity, comprising of Oakwood Outdoors, a residential activity centre, and Oakwood Climbing Centre. Our aim is to provide an environment where individuals of all abilities can progress and be challenged physically, socially and spiritually.

Job Summary

Oakwood Youth Challenge is a Christian outdoor pursuits centre registered as a charity. The aim of our centre is to make a significant impact on local youth, challenging them holistically. We achieve this by working with schools and running our own youth clubs.

We offer a broad range of activities including a High Ropes course, Mountain Biking (on site and off site), Archery, Mountain Boarding, Climbing, Low Ropes, Team Building and more high elements such as the Flying Kiwi and Leap of Faith. Our activities are offered mostly on site, with the intention to bring back some off site sessions including Mountain Biking which takes place in the popular Swinley Forest and the occasional single pitch climbing excursion further afield. We offer full residential experiences as well as short activity sessions to a wide variety of returning customers.

At Oakwood Youth Challenge we aim to provide action packed activity sessions to optimise value for money for clients. We aim to be ahead of the game by innovation, flexibility and an understanding of our customer’s requirements. One of our most recent developments is a purpose built, state of the art indoor climbing and bouldering wall.

Oakwood Youth Challenge is situated within 15 minutes’ drive of over 30 schools which regularly visit our centre. Activities are offered throughout the year with an average of 100 000 visits per annum for both the outdoor and indoor centres. The successful candidate will be required to work in the climbing centre during the quieter outdoor months on a shift basis.

Key Responsibilities

· Organising and delivering technical staff training and assessments

· Overseeing and carrying out kit checks and purchasing of new equipment

· Undertaking operational inspections of high ropes activity structures

· Planning and implementing complex activity programs for up to 70 participants over multiple days in collaboration with the activity manager

· Supporting the activity manager in welcoming, hosting and organising activity groups

· Supporting the activity manager in setting the example and standards for activity sessions

· Ensuring that Oakwood sessions meet the required learning outcomes using reflective practice.

· Confidently, calmly and professionally dealing with behavioural and physical issues of visiting groups

Qualification / Experience

Requirements:

Experience in running bushcraft, orienteering and archery as a minimum

A minimum of 2 years of instructing experience in a supervisory role

SPA / RCI

MBL (or equivalent plus navigational proficiency)

Ideally with:

ML

ERCA High Ropes Instructor and Rescuer

GNAS / Archery GB Archery Leader

Personal Attributes

· Highly motivated and energetic, with a positive attitude and excellent work ethic

· Able to lead a team in an inspirational and motivated way

· Supportive of Oakwood’s ethos and keeping this represented through the team.

How To Apply

Please send your CV along with a covering letter to mark@oakwoodyouth.co.uk

Closing date for Applications: Sunday 15th May 2022

Interview Date: Wednesday 18th May 2022

If you would like to find out more about Oakwood, please visit www.oakwoodyouth.co.uk for our outdoor centre, and www.oakwoodclimbingcentre.com for our climbing centre.

Reporting To: Climbing Centre Manager

Salary: On application, based on qualifications / experience

Term: Permanent, subject to 3 month and 12 month review

Working Hours: 40 hours a week

Additional Benefits: Paid holiday & option to join pension scheme

About Oakwood

Located between Bracknell and Wokingham, Oakwood Youth Challenge is a Christian charity, comprising of Oakwood Outdoors, a residential activity centre, and Oakwood Climbing Centre. Our aim is to provide an environment where individuals of all abilities can progress and be challenged physically, socially and spiritually.

Job Summary

This is a key position in leading the Coaching team at Oakwood. Oakwood runs sessions for a wide variety of people from all walks of life so the successful candidate will lead and develop our team to facilitate this as well as grow and develop our Coaching standards and offerings. This role will be the main point of contact for our coaching team, writing personal performance plans for our coaches, developing the team via in house training, demonstrating excellence in their own coaching work and setting the standards that represent Oakwood. This role will also be the main lead for our NICAS and NIBAS as the course director.

Key Responsibilities

· NICAS and NIBAS course director

· Ensuring that our instructing and coaching meets the technical needs and demands of our climbing community from all ages and abilities, and it is consistently delivered by the team.

· Managing and identifying required training for instructors / coaches and to facilitate or arrange external training where required

· Facilitate the induction and training of new coaches in line with the Oakwood standards and expectations

· Ensuring that the centre’s reputation for high standards is maintained and developed, and that the ‘Oakwood ethos’ is upheld within the coaching team

· Working with the centre manager to develop coaching syllabuses for new sessions

· Support the wider management team with developing sessions in a way that facilitates Oakwood’s charitable aims and objectives

· Work with head setter to ensure setting is appropriate for a wide variety of sessions and customers.

Qualification / Experience

· Experience of managing a team

· CWDI, SPA/RCI, coaching qualifications (ideally Dev coach trained or above)

· Capable of writing and implementing personal development plans for coaches

· Knowledge of health and safety within a climbing wall

Personal Attributes

· Highly motivated and energetic, with a positive attitude and excellent work ethic

· Able to lead a team in an inspirational and motivated way

· Supportive of Oakwood’s ethos and keeping this represented through the team.

How To Apply

Please send your CV along with a covering letter to pete@oakwoodclimbingcentre.com

Closing date for Applications: Sunday 15th May 2022

Interview Date: Wednesday 18th May 2022

If you would like to find out more about Oakwood, please visit www.oakwoodyouth.co.uk for our outdoor centre, and www.oakwoodclimbingcentre.com for our climbing centre.