Centre Director

Job overview

As Centre Director you are responsible for the overall effective, safe, and smooth running of every aspect of our summer programme. You ensure the academic, activity and welfare departments all meet our high standards.

You are the conduit between our Group Leaders, host school, students, and Dusemond Head Office and should ensure all communication channels are flowing smoothly and that any issues are identified and resolved effectively; all the time having a firm grip on the finances and ensuring the centre stays within budget.

A key part of your role is student welfare. Working closely with the wider management team, you are the primary welfare contact at the centre, ensuring students are safe and supported throughout their stay and that matters are escalated to Dusemond’s designated safeguarding lead when necessary.

Effective delivery of our summer programme requires proactivity, leadership, quick decision making and effective delegation and people management, especially with your Deputy Centre Director.

You are the face of the centre – setting the tone for the entire team and embodying our core values of Care, Honesty, Energy, Empathy, Respect, and Smiles (CHEERS!) in everything you do.

Centre Management

Staff stories

Working as a Centre Director in a summer school is perhaps one of the most challenging but rewarding ways to spend your summer! It can feel like spinning plates at times; in between making sure the academic and activity programmes are running, staying on top of any welfare concerns together with keeping our fantastic host school and group leaders happy, there is always something demanding your attention! But it is all worth it when a group is sad to leave and you know that they have had an amazing experience.

Job details

Full Board

Accommodation and meals provided throughout your contract. No deduction will be made for this.

Salary

£1,000* per week

30 paid hours prep time prior to arrival

Bonus subject to criteria and successful completion of contract

Holiday Pay

12.07% holiday pay will be added to your salary.

Expenses

You will be required to cover your travel to and from the centre and the start and end of your contract and to the training weekend.

Any movement between centres during your employment will be covered by Dusemond.

Unexpected expenses incurred during the course of your work will be reimbursed at Dusemond’s discretion.

Working Hours

Up to 48 hours per week based on 6 working days.

Reporting to

Operations Manager and Head Office staff

Locations

Rugby, Bedales, Royal Russell (London), University of Essex (Colchester), Cheltenham, London South Bank, University of Sussex (Brighton), Heriot Watt (Edinburgh)

Available Contract Dates

Temporary – April, July & August 2027

Pre-joining training dates

Management staff are required to attend a paid training weekend in advance of starting their contract.

An online safeguarding course will need to be completed prior to your arrival at the centre.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership

Everyone will look to you for guidance and support. You need to be a visible and confident presence across the campus.

You’ll be expected to:

Regularly check in with Dusemond staff, Group Leaders, students and the host school.
Lead the onsite management team and ensure clear communication between academic, activity, welfare and operational departments, regularly holding meetings
Delegate responsibilities appropriately, making effective use of your Deputy Centre Director and other members of the management team.
Monitor the overall quality of the programme and act quickly where standards are not being met.
Make informed decisions when issues arise and escalate matters to Head Office when appropriate.
Ensure the centre operates in accordance with Dusemond policies, procedures and CHEERS values.
Make sure all staff feel valued and supported

Arrivals and Departures

You will oversee arrival and departure days, ensuring that students, Group Leaders and staff receive a smooth and professional experience.

You’ll be expected to:

Welcome groups to campus – smooth rooming and first meals are key to a getting off to a good start
Manage the team of Activity Leaders as they collect groups from airports
Communicate effectively with the coach company, double checking bookings and ensure flight delays and other unexpected issues are accommodated
Liaise with the host school to resolve any issues
Ensure departures are organised and communicated clearly
Deal promptly with concerns raised by Group Leaders

Key Performance Indicators

High levels of student, Group Leader and host school satisfaction
Strong staff morale, engagement and retention throughout the contract
Effective management of student welfare and safeguarding
Accurate student numbers and programme information
Activities and excursions delivered safely and successfully
Strong relationships with Group Leaders, host school and Dusemond Head Office
Financial performance maintained in line with company targets
Clear, timely and accurate communication across the centre
Effective delegation and collaboration within the management team
Problems are identified early and resolved proactively

Finances

You are responsible for the financial management of your centre. While Dusemond Head Office will sign off on major expenses, you must ensure all operations run efficiently and within agreed budgets.
You’ll be expected to:
Monitor budgets and ensure resources are used effectively.
Monitor costs associated with coaches, attractions and catering – student numbers can often fluctuate
Ensure groups reimburse Dusemond for damage or additional charges when appropriate
Identify opportunities to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
Communicate significant financial issues to Head Office.

Group Leaders

Group Leaders are our clients, and the Centre Director is their principal onsite contact.

You’ll be expected to:

Build strong, professional relationships with Group Leaders throughout their stay.
Hold regular Group Leader meetings and ensure they understand the programme and logistics for each day.
Listen to feedback and take action where necessary.
Host Group Leader social events and create opportunities to build positive relationships.

Activity & Excursion Oversight

You are ultimately responsible for ensuring the activity and excursion programme is delivered to our usual high standards.

Your Deputy Centre Director will undertake much of the preparation, allowing you to maintain a general oversight.

You’ll be expected to:

Review excursion and activity plans prepared by the Deputy Centre Director, double checking any facility bookings, coaches and entrances.
Ensure activities are appropriate for student numbers, ages, abilities and programme expectations.
Monitor the quality and safety of the programme ensuring that risk assessments are adhered to.
Support the Deputy Centre Director in resolving operational issues.
Step in and make decisions when changes or problems arise.

Student Welfare & Safeguarding

Student welfare is one of your key responsibilities. You need to ensure safeguarding procedures and risk assessments are followed at all times.

You’ll be expected to:

Act as a key welfare contact for everyone on campus and ensure matters and responded to and recorded effectively
Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed consistently across the centre
Support staff in recognising and responding to student welfare concerns
Monitor the dietary requirements of the students and ensure these are met by the host school,
Ensure appropriate communication with Group Leaders when issues arise.
Maintain oversight of student behaviour, attendance and general wellbeing, ensuring an inclusive environment for all students.

Programme, Numbers & Bookings

The Centre Director will retain overall responsibility for ensuring the centre has the correct numbers, bookings and programme arrangements in place.

You’ll be expected to:

Maintain an accurate overview of student numbers, group movements and programme requirements
Ensure coach, attraction, restaurant and other external bookings are correct and aligned with current numbers.
Communicate with Head Office when necessary regarding student number and programme changes
Work closely with the Deputy Centre Director to ensure the activity and excursion programme is delivered effectively
Ensure communication flows effectively between the centre, Group Leaders and Head Office

Use of your Deputy Centre Director is key in this area – they should have practical oversight of activity plans and resources and should be identifying potential operational issues before they become problems.

Host School & Site Relationships

You will maintain a strong, professional relationship with the host school and ensure that Dusemond operates respectfully within the site and wider community.

You’ll be expected to:

Maintain regular communication with key host school contacts.
Address facilities, accommodation or operational concerns promptly.
Have a firm overview of rooming lists and accommodation requirements
Ensure Dusemond staff and students respect the school site and local community.
Work with the Deputy Centre Director to ensure facilities, rooms and activity spaces are ready and suitable for use.

Community & Pastoral Care

You will help create a positive community in which students and staff feel safe, welcome and supported.

You’ll be expected to:

Promote a positive centre culture.
Ensure staff and students understand expectations around behaviour and respect.
Support students who are struggling socially or emotionally.
Work with the Director of Studies and wider management team to address pastoral concerns.
Ensure staff understand their responsibilities towards student welfare and safeguarding.

Your eligibility

You must:

be over 18 years of age
be eligible to work in the UK
have appropriate safeguarding training*
get an enhanced DBS check**

You should:

have significant people management experience
have financial management experience
proven record of customer relations and satisfaction
adaptable and quick to solve operational issues

It's a plus if:

you are a first aider
you have existing safeguarding training
you have experience working with our centres or locations

* will be provided if necessary

** Dusemond will assist applicants in obtaining an enhanced DBS check and cover the cost.

Working for Dusemond means:

Lasting Friendships

Our staff build close friendships and camaraderie that often lasts well beyond the end of our programmes, with the chance to be re-united the next season!

Career progression

If you thrive in the amazing environments we work so hard to create, you’ll want to grow with us. Many first year staff return to become supervisors and managers.

References Provided

The broad range of skillsets required, make Dusemond centres excellent places to develop and substantiate your abilities for future roles.