Who we are
As a National Outdoor Centre, Plas y Brenin develops the people that develop the outdoor sector – from instructors to centre managers to expedition leaders to NGB officers to policymakers. This includes developing inspiring coaches, instructors and leaders in adventure sports, be they volunteers or working professionally in the sector, to better support people, from all backgrounds to get active in the outdoors.
By hosting conferences, symposiums and meetings, we bring together practitioners from across the UK (and beyond) to share learning, transfer good practice and raise standards. With a world-class reputation, this inspirational venue is also committed to helping individuals nurture their skills and confidence for independent adventures.
Current roles available:
POST DETAILS
Job Title: Head of Paddlesport
Directly Responsible To: Director of Outdoor Training and Education
Directly Responsible For: Paddlesport instructional team.
Contract: Permanent
Hours of Work: Full-time, 260 days per year.
Salary: £43,000
Scope of the Job
The Head of Paddlesport is responsible for leading Plas y Brenin’s paddlesport instructional programme, ensuring innovation, quality, and safety standards are met while contributing to wider programme delivery, including outreach projects and Embark expeditions.
The postholder will be a highly qualified BCAB (or equivalent) Coach and BCAB Tutor, with appropriate First Aid and safeguarding qualifications. They will act as a role model within the centre and wider community, ensuring excellence in paddlesport instruction and course directing.
A key focus of the role is people management. The postholder will lead, develop, and motivate the paddlesport instructional team, working closely with other Heads of Department, Director of Outdoor Training and Education and HR to proactively manage performance, coaching, mentoring, appraisals, and any people-related issues. They will create a high performing, engaged, and resilient team while ensuring adherence to organisational policies, values, and standards.
The role also includes financial accountability for the department, including managing budgets to ensure resources are used efficiently. Ensure collaborative working with the Director of Instructional Function, tracking performance/spend/budgets etc. through regular reviews alongside Finance. Departments Heads are expected to work closely with the Finance Director and relevant Directors in developing their annual budgets. Budget holders are responsible for ongoing adherence to approved budgets, proactively identifying and escalating any variances or risks that may move spend outside agreed parameters.
Heads of Department must also maintain effective systems for recruiting, retaining, developing and motivating employees, ensuring that managers with people-management responsibilities understand and fulfil their obligations. In addition, each department is required to maintain an accessible archive of its financial activities for audit and reporting purposes.
Regular reporting to Directors is essential. Departments must prepare and submit accurate and timely financial and administrative reports for inclusion in quarterly Director reviews.
Join Us: Our Commitment to Inclusion and Your Next Step
We believe that the best teams are the most diverse teams.
We are wholeheartedly committed to building an inclusive and supportive environment where adventurers, coaches, and leaders from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the outdoor sector.
- Equal Opportunity: We are an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process, please let us know – we want to hear from you.
- Informal Chat: To discuss the role informally or submit an application in an alternative format, please contact Sam Deacon-Murray on 01690 720214.
- Safeguarding: This role requires an Enhanced DBS check, funded by the employer.
APPLY NOW
We are actively recruiting for this role elsewhere and encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert without notice.
To apply, please send your CV directly to:
👉 sam.deacon-murray@pyb.co.uk 👈
Don’t just teach the adventure – be the leader of it.
