Social Programme Manager

Contract Dates 03/07/ /07/2026

The Role

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 College Principal 

The Site

Appealing to ambitious students wishing to prepare for future success and to gain an the opportunity to spend the summer in the beautiful historic city of Cambridge. Dukes Cambridge students undertake academic courses, exploring their chosen subject through a series of engaging lectures, tutorials, and industry workshops. Their academic programme sits next to their social programme allowing them to explore Cambridge, take part in college events, wellbeing activities and the greatly enjoyed excursion to London.

Dukes Cambridge replicates a city university model based at dedicated university student accommodation giving student a true taste of university living.  Students on the college programme are 14-17 and the capacity is 140 students each week.

Ways we support our Social Programme Managers:

• We will cover the full cost of a new DBS (if required) for your first contract working with SBC. We encourage all staff to sign up for the Update Service

• Extensive, paid, on-site training prior to student arrival

• Accommodation included

• CPD and Appraisals

• Staff Wellbeing Initiative

• Access to Employee Assist Programme (EAP)

• Continual support for all staff from the Head Office Team, both on the ground and via phone/email

• Online safeguarding and prevent training

• Professional, fun and supportive environment

Additional Role Specific Support

Paid attendance to pre-course Management Training

Paid attendance of a certified First Aid Course

Remuneration: The salary for the Social Programme Manager role is £1010 per week (subject to tax and national insurance), paid weekly in arrears (for the avoidance of doubt this sum includes a holiday allowance at 12.07% of basic pay in the sum of £108.78), plus  accommodation at the summer site.

Main Duties:  

Programme Delivery

• 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 (e.g., signage, materials, equipment) are prepared ahead of time.

• Manage student sign-ups, including resource creation, data entry, and registers.

• Lead student Activity Meetings, ensuring all students are allocated to activities 

• Brief staff for activities and events, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities are outlined.

• 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

Team Management

• 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 manage appraisals.

• Welcome, train and support Activity Leaders during the staff induction week.

• Address performance issues and provide ongoing guidance in collaboration with the Course Leader and Head Office.

Resource, Facilities, Safety & Compliance

• Oversee the 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 social programme spaces are clean, organised, and meet safety requirements

• Ensure staff are briefed and carry out equipment setup and pack-down efficiently.

• Ensure the safe delivery of all activities and events, adhering to safety protocols and conducting risk assessments, with findings documented and communicated to staff.

• Ensure all activities and events align with safeguarding and welfare policies, maintaining appropriate student supervision.

General Managerial Duties:

Teamwork & Communication

• Collaborate with the Management Team, attending meetings and maintaining open and proactive communication. 

• Communicate clearly and professionally with students, staff, parents, agents, site hosts, and external stakeholders.

• Work with SBC Head Office to complete necessary paperwork and share updates.

Student Experience

• Encourage student engagement in the programme, promoting communication, confidence, and social skills.

• Promote a culture of equality, respect, and diversity, ensuring students adhere to the Student Code of Conduct and assisting staff in managing behaviour.

• Encourage student feedback and promptly address concerns or complaints.

• Contribute to hosting arrival and departure days, ensuring a welcoming and professional experience for students and parents

• Support the safe delivery of the programme, covering sessions, attending off-site activities & supporting breaks, meals, and welfare duties where needed.

Safety & Compliance 

• Implement Health and Safety procedures, ensuring incidents are reported and risk assessments are followed.

• Keep staff informed of student welfare needs and maintain required welfare records.

• Ensure staff and students understand Emergency and Fire Evacuation procedures.

• Securely manage summer camp data, following GDPR and confidentiality policies.

General

• Attend SBC Management Training prior to arriving at the school to familiarise with all aspects of the programme, roles, and responsibilities

• Assist with Induction Week, preparing the site and inducting staff

• Demonstrate flexibility and assist in emergency situations, whether on duty or not.

• Provide feedback to the Head Office team throughout and at the end of the summer

• Uphold the reputation of Summer Boarding Courses and the host venue

Safeguarding Duties

• Be committed to the safeguarding and welfare of students in your care
• Complete online safeguarding training and attend on-site safeguarding training during induction week
• To read and understand SBC's Safeguarding Policy, Staff Handbook, Operations Policy Handbook and Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (including annexes A & B)
• To be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and report any concerns to the DSO immediately (including low level concerns)
• To know what to do if a student tells a member of staff they are being abused, exploited or neglected
• To help students understand how to keep themselves safe and manage risk; earning their trust while maintaining professional boundaries

Please see the attached Job description for a more complete list of the duties associated with this Management role.

About You

SBC PERSON SPECIFICATION

All members of staff employed by SBC will be expected to bring certain key qualities to the operation. There must be a professional interest in working with young people and particularly international children. Safety and welfare of the students is of paramount importance at SBC and a practical enforcing of this belief should be a quality exhibited by all staff.

We look for staff who are:

• Approachable & empathic to the needs of students
• Enthusiastic & engaging
• Diplomatic, responsible & motivated
• Flexible within the summer school environment

We expect all SBC staff to be able to communicate effectively with our students, using an appropriate level of language to suit the group. SBC staff must demonstrate patience, empathy and an emotional awareness towards students both individually and in within a group setting. We expect all staff to take control of students and to manage discipline and behavioural issues in a firm, positive and constructive manner.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential

• Strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, flexibility

• Previous residential summer school experience 

• Previous management experience with a confident and supportive approach

• Proven experience of coordinating staff in an events or activity programme capacity

• Rigorously organised approach & excellent administrative skills 

• Experience of managing welfare & behavioural issues effectively

• Proven professional experience of working in a medical or pastoral role with young people

• Good working knowledge of Excel.

• An empathic manner

Desirable 

• First Aid qualification

• Experience of residential international summer schools

About Us

Founded in 2008, Summer Boarding Courses have united students from around the world through education. Delivering award-winning, future-focused courses that strike the perfect balance between academic and social enrichment.

Our courses unlock potential and ignite a spark for long-term success.

Our residential summer courses take place at some of the UK's top boarding schools and university college campuses, including Eton College, Oxford University Colleges and Headington School. We carefully select our campuses to ensure that they provide the perfect environment for our students to live and study.

Over 15,800 students from 152 nationalities have been welcomed to study with us to date.

Whether it's preparing for future studies, developing 21st–century skills or building confidence, the knowledge gained on an SBC course allows students to go forward and apply what they have learnt to other areas of their education and beyond; giving them the necessary skills to achieve their future goals.

The EL Gazette publishes a league table based on British Council inspections, and SBC have been ranked Number 1 from 2018 to 2023. We are very proud of this achievement and will continue to grow and develop our courses to offer students extraordinary experiences.

SBC is the only multi-campus summer school provider in the UK to have achieved a perfect 15/15 areas of strength by the British Council. A true hallmark of educational quality.

TO APPLY 

We want to make sure we do all we can to set candidates up for success in this process. If you require any adjustments to help you at interview and/or you have any questions at all, please contact us at: [email protected] 

Please note, as this post involves direct contact with vulnerable children, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order and 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.

SHOULD YOU BE SUCCESSFUL

• Any gaps in your CV will be enquired about and must be explained satisfactorily
• You will have to prove your Right to Work in the UK
• You will provide the details of two recent and relevant referees who we will contact and specifically ask about your suitability to work with children and any concerns.
• You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), and equivalent if you live, or have lived, outside of the UK
• You will be asked to state that you have no known reason why you cannot work with children
• Official identification and certificates will be required for our records

Please be aware that SBC may conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of our legal duty to meet out safeguarding duties.

SBC SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Summer Boarding Courses is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures in place which all employees, volunteers and contractors are expected to adhere to.

SBC EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT

We operate a policy of equal opportunities and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or disability.

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