Activity Manager – Residential Job at Aberdeen Full Time

Programme dates for 2026:

Spring – 27/03/2026 – 14/04/2026

Summer – 29/06/2026- 12/08/2026

Summer – Edinburgh and Royal Holloway centres open on 16/06/2026

Senior Staff induction:

Spring – From 24/03/2026

Summer – From 23/06/2026

Overview

As an Activity Manager with Oxford International Junior Programmes, you will be client-facing, responsible for organising and deliver our exciting activity programme, providing engaging activity sessions and action-packed cultural excursions to world-famous cities in the UK.

All candidates need to be over 18 years old, eligible to work in the UK and willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS Disclosure Check and/or an Overseas Police Check.

Must-Haves

• Experience working in a residential camp setting or similar
• Experience managing a team
• Experience organising activities for young people
• The ability to motivate and lead a diverse workforce
• Strong organisational and planning skills
• A skill set that enables success in a fast-paced work environment
• A positive and flexible approach to work, along with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances
• A desire to work with students aged between 8-17
• The ability to demonstrate respect for equal opportunities and respect for race and diversity
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Strong work ethic, this is no ordinary job!

Key Responsibilities

Staff Management

Build an efficient and cohesive staff team by:

• Creating a positive environment, in which staff feel motivated and willing to work hard in conjunction with Oxford
• Internationals expectations.
• Making sure all activity staff undergo relevant on-site induction
• Holding daily meetings with the Activities Team, ensuring absolute clarity regarding the operational running of the programme
• Creating fair and efficient staff-rotas and providing them to staff in a timely manner
• Monitoring staff performance, ensuring high standards are maintained throughout
• Conducting Activity staff appraisals during the initial and latter stages

Client Management

Consistently provide outstanding customer service throughout the programme by:

• Holding daily meetings with Group Leaders regarding the activities programme
• Promptly answering all requests from Group Leaders. This may include tailoring the activities programme to ensure the best possible experience for students
• Collating and then acting upon any feedback received efficiently
• Maintaining a healthy working relationship with host centre staff by ensuring regular communication regarding facility usage
• Maintaining a good relationship with suppliers, keeping all parties up to date – coaches, entrances, bookings etc.

General

Further successfully perform your role by:

• Overseeing the organisation and execution of the on-site activities programme, ensuring the programme is inclusive, safe and suitable for all students
• Promoting the Activity Programme effectively to the student body, maintaining high levels of participation
• Ensuring all equipment is well-maintained and stocked, monitoring all out-going expenditure (if necessary) in-line with approved budgets
• Carefully planning excursion days, ensuring that they are delivered to a high standard
• Creating extensive and detailed excursion packs, which can be provided to Activity Leaders
• Supporting the Activity Leaders in their preparation, running development sessions to ensure standards are consistent
• Holding timely pre-excursion meetings with the Activities Leaders, ensuring absolute clarity regarding the operational running of excursion days
• Holding timely pre-excursion meetings with Group Leaders, providing absolute clarity and tailoring itineraries to ensure students and clients receive outstanding excursion days
• Diligently updating spreadsheets in a timely manner, keeping an accurate record of coach and attraction bookings
• Diligently updating facilities sheets, usage of meal cards, travel cards and keeping a clear line of communication with host centre staff throughout
• Providing all necessary documentation to Head Office via the Operations Manager by set deadlines
• Maintaining proper levels of student discipline, safety and welfare throughout, responding quickly to emergencies where necessary
• Monitoring staff welfare, offering support when needed
• Maintaining a great presence throughout, ensuring you are visible to students and easily contactable by clients
• Working with the Student Support Manager to conduct risk assessments for activities, sharing these with key stakeholders

Expectations

As a member of the Oxford International team, you will:

• Represent the organisation in a professional and approachable manner.
• Always uphold our safeguarding and welfare commitments.
• Actively engaging with students and ensuring their enjoyment.
• Adapt to the dynamic nature of working in a residential youth environment.

Why Work with Oxford International?

Oxford International is a trusted and respected organisation offering staff the opportunity to gain experience professionally while working with young people from around the world. We pride ourselves on our inclusive, supportive, and fun working environment.

This job description is provided as a guide to the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to periodic revision.

Oxford International is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. This role involves working with children and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Oxford International is an equal opportunity employer. Every applicant and employee has the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.