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Location

Inverness, Highland | United Kingdom

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Job description

Sunday 28th January 2024 Deadline for applications

Àban is growing! We’re delighted to offer a full-time, permanent post in the Highlands working for our award-winning outdoor charity. You’ll take on a lead role in our friendly team with responsibility for two amazing - and totally different - outdoor programmes.

About the Role
This is a varied role, with two contrasting key tasks. For most of the year, you will plan & deliver our Adventurous Learning programmes from our base in the centre of Inverness.
For 6-8 weeks from April to June each year, you will be based Monday to Friday at the stunning Alladale Wilderness Reserve (1.5 hours north of Inverness), from where you will oversee our delivery of a truly unique schools programme. Supported by the European Nature Trust, these programmes operate from one of the most remote buildings in
Scotland. You’ll lead a team of 4 staff delivering 5-day camping residentials for groups of local S3 pupils, with a special emphasis on conservation, sustainable adventure & nature education.

Key Tasks
• Plan & deliver safe, high-quality residentials at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
• Plan & deliver a safe, high-quality programme of Adventurous Learning in Inverness
• Contribute to our social enterprise and wider charitable activity

Key Responsibilities
• Lead exemplary outdoor sessions in hillwalking, camping, climbing & mountain biking
• Plan, develop & monitor the work of our freelance staff & volunteers
• Review, learn and plan ahead for each activity
• Maintain & develop our safety policies, operating guidelines & risk assessments
• Build trusting relationships with participants, parents and our community partners
• Contribute to wider organisational planning

This role will contribute to the following outcomes for our participants:
• Increased confidence and improved peer relationships
• Increased awareness and love of nature
• Improved physical and mental wellbeing
• Increased participation in outdoor activities

Working Relationships
You will be supported directly by the Chief Executive, and work alongside our existing Outdoor Programme Leader. The two Outdoor Programme Leaders share responsibility for the work of the freelance & volunteer teams. In the office, you will also be supported by our Social Enterprise & Events Lead.

About You
Your attitude and personality are vital. We’re looking for someone who is highly organised, trustworthy, and who strongly identifies with our Ten Principles. All Àban’s staff are great at building relationships, exemplify our values on a daily basis and thrive on high-quality work. As
part of a small and dynamic team, you will really make an impact on our organisation and the young people we serve.

Your Experience
We are seeking a committed outdoor professional with substantial experience at Senior Instructor level, including:
• wide experience and love of the outdoors, both professionally and personally
• in-depth experience of running U18 residentials
• proven experience planning programmes and leading a team of freelance staff
• IT literate, comfortable working with spreadsheets, email and rotas

In other words…
• Can you hold the group space, inspiring sometimes reluctant teenagers to join in?
• Could you calmly resolve a pastoral care situation at a campsite in the middle of the night?
• Can you demonstrate consistent & safe practice that inspires respect from your peers?
• Are you good at handling the nitty-gritty detail of a complex outdoor programme?

Outdoor Competency Requirements
Essential - incl. logged currency
MTUK Summer Mountain Leader
MTUK Rock Climbing Instructor
BC Level 2 MTB Leadership Award
Outdoor Emergency First Aid
Desirable
Environmental knowledge well beyond Summer ML standard
Advanced / Wilderness First Aid qualification
Gorge scrambling / canyoning qualification
MTUK Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor
Any British Canoeing qualification, esp. Sea Kayak
IOL Bushcraft or equivalent
Interest in, or qualification in open water swimming
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award experience

About Àban
Founded in 2020, Àban is a thriving community outdoor education charity. We run outdoor youth clubs which are based in the city of Inverness and venture all over the Highlands. Our mission is to create authentic, long-lasting connections between young people and their natural environment. We achieve this through our Adventurous Learning ethos and our Ten
Principles. Our work is made possible through a mixture of grant funding and our social enterprise activities. In October 2023 we were awarded ‘One to Watch’ winners at the Social Enterprise Scotland Awards at the Scottish Parliament, and ‘Highly Commended’ at the Social Enterprise UK Awards in London.

We are licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority. We are also a Highland Council Approved Activity Provider and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Directly Licensed Centre.

Why work for us?
• 35 days’ annual leave
• Access to NEST pension scheme, 3% employer contribution
• Regular supervision, training & generous CPD policy
• Annual equipment allowance
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Bike parking, shower & change facilities at our base

We pride ourselves on a culture of hard work, well supported within healthy boundaries. You will work a 35-hour week with flexible hours, including work in evenings & weekends as we deliver our youth club programme out of school hours. A standard working day is 7 hours with
a 1 hour lunch break.
We want all our staff to enjoy a healthy personal life outside of work, so
we positively discourage emails or phone messages out of hours. Very occasional work from home is possible, but our success is built on strong face-to-face working relationships.

If you have caring responsibilities, we will strive to accommodate these within the demands of the role. Please note that 6-8 weeks per year are spent at Alladale Wilderness Reserve, working Monday-Friday (with weekends off), 1.5 hours away from the normal place of work in
Inverness.

Everyone is very positive & approachable…one of the most
supportive employers I have seen in the outdoor industry…the staff
team go above & beyond…(three quotes from our Dec 2023 staff
survey)

Safe Recruitment Policy
The post entails work with children and is subject to our safe recruitment process. This includes criminal record checks through the PVG membership scheme. We follow up on all references prior to recruitment. During the six-month probation period, training and supervision will be provided to ensure compliance with our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy.

How to Apply
Please send a CV and covering letter to [email protected] . You must supply contact details for two referees, including their job title and organisation. NB we will only contact these referees for the successful candidate after interview. The covering letter should be no more than a single page of A4 and explain why you are the ideal candidate for this post. Your application will not be judged on the quality of your written English.

Key Recruitment Dates
Thursday 4th January 2024Vacancy published
Midnight, Sunday 28th January 2024 Deadline for applications
Week commencing 5th February 2024Interviews (in person in Inverness, travel costs reimbursed if required)
Mid-March 2024 at the latest Start date

Enquiries
We welcome informal enquiries ahead of the application deadline. If you have any questions at all please email [email protected] or call 01463 718989 / 07896 823537.

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Salary