Camp Leaders

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£30,701 - £36,359 (based 36.25 hours, 52 weeks). The salary will be pro-rated to contracted hours.

Location:

Edinburgh

Department:

Operational/Professional Services

Region / Division:

George Watson's College

Job Role:

Operational/Professional Services

Package Description

Location: George Watson's College, Edinburgh

Contract Type: Casual, Short term contracts

Working weeks: Camps will run during all key school holidays in 2026 and beyond: February, April, July, August, and October

Salary: The salary for this position will be in the Grade 3 range of £30,701 - £36,359 (based 36.25 hours, 52 weeks). The salary will be pro-rated for contracted hours.

The Role

Join our holiday camp team!

Are you passionate about inspiring young minds through creative and innovative programmes? George Watson's College is developing an exciting, non-sport focused holiday camp programme, and we are seeking experienced and creative Camp Leaders to design and deliver engaging courses for children and young people aged 9 - 16.

About the role
We are looking for self-starting and experienced Camp Leaders to design, develop and lead high quality and stimulating holiday programmes. This role requires strong team leadership, overseeing a dedicated team while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people throughout the camp.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our camp programmes to complement our highly successful multisport camps.

• Experience in camp or programme design
• Experience in working with children and young people is essential.

We are particularly interested in candidates with qualifications and proven experience in one or more of the following specialist areas:

• Drama and theatre
• Art and design
• Culinary arts (cooking and baking)
• Film making and/or animation
• Creative writing

Or do you have a brilliant idea not listed above? We would love to hear from you. Pitch us the innovative camp idea that you can bring to life!

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please click the Apply for this job button. Please include your CV and a covering letter.

Please note that all candidates selected for an interview will be required to complete a pre interview task.

Main Responsibilities

Programme design and development

• Using their skills and knowledge to develop and implement educational, engaging and age-appropriate daily and weekly programme schedules, activities and themes in line with the camp's objectives and participant needs.
• Create an effective, fun learning environment that develops children's skills and nurtures their achievement by ensuring engagement and building confidence in a low-stress setting.
• Create detailed activity plans, considering learning outcomes, resource requirements and safety protocols.
• Plan and source, through the School and within a set budget, any necessary materials and equipment for planned activities.
• Continuously evaluate programme effectiveness and analyse surveys and feedback, make adjustments as needed to enhance participant engagement and learning.

Programme delivery and facilitation

• Lead and facilitate a wide range of camp activities, ensuring they are delivered in a fun, safe and engaging manner with responsibility for all children attending the camp.
• Adapt activities to meet the diverse needs and abilities of participants, ensuring every child feels included and challenged.
• Be the main point of contact for parents and carers during the camp, communicating effectively both in person and on the phone. This includes providing positive feedback, addressing concerns, and promptly resolving any issues that may arise.
• Ensure the supervision of all children during activities, breaks and meal times, ensuring adherence to the camp's safety protocols and behavioural guidelines.
• Actively participate alongside participants, fostering a positive and inclusive group dynamic
• Ensure the smooth and timely execution of the daily programme
• Lead, mentor and motivate a team of 1 - 2 camp practitioners and 1 - 2 assistants.
• Responsible for up to 40 children per camp.
• Prior to the start of the camp, undertake administration and preparation, communicating with team, organising resources.
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities effectively, providing clear guidance and support
• Conduct regular team meetings to communicate information, address concerns and foster teamwork
• Ensure team members adhere to all camp and school policies, procedures, safeguarding and health and safety polices.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Responsible for upholding the School's safeguarding procedures and polices and ensure the welfare of all pupils at all times throughout the camp.

Ensuring that camp staff are familiar with procedures and policies and ensuring that all concerns are reported to the Camp Leader in the first instance.

Passing on any concerns about any participants to the School's Child Protection Officer.

Health and Safety

• To familiarise yourself with Health & Safety policies and procedures, including risk assessments and safe methods of work specific to your department
• Maintain accurate records of incidents including Accidents and Near Miss reports ensuring.
• Work with the Enterprise Team and HR to ensure that all Camp Practitioners and Camp Assistants have completed all mandatory training prior to the start of the camp.
• Ensure that you are aware of all children and young people attending the camp with medical needs, medication requirements, allergies and conditions and that you adjust activities as required to ensure their safety.

Administrative Tasks

• Manage all administrative duties during the camp, including sign in and sign out procedures, staff rotas and changes to the timetable.
• Liaise with the Enterprise Team throughout the camp with any updates to timings, participants and issues during the camp.
• Contribute to end of camp reports and evaluations.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience in working with children and young people in a leadership or activity-based role
• Experience in designing and delivering engaging programmes or activities
• Degree qualification in area of specialism and/or teaching or childcare (or related qualification) with relevant subject specific experience
• Knowledge and experience of Child Protection and Safeguarding
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Team player with excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Passion for education and working with young learners
• Commitment to creating an inclusive and encouraging learning environment
• IT skills including Google / Microsoft
• Experience working in summer camps or extracurricular programmes
• First Aid Qualification

About the school/organisation

George Watson'sCollege sits in the heart of Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, providing a world-class education for children and young people from Preschool to Senior 6.

We encourage our pupils to develop a love of learning through an inspiring curriculum and an extensive and inclusive enrichment programme, which are underpinned by the four values we live by: aim high, be kind, join in and respect all.

Our school is a place where pupils have the freedom to thrive, succeed, explore, perform, and grow, giving them the opportunity to discover their own limitless potential.

Preschool, junior and senior pupils all learn and play on the same 52-acre campus, where our sports facilities, music school, art department, technology building and drama studios are within walking distance.

We offer our pupils one of the widest extra-curricular programmes you will find anywhere, plus the opportunity to travel internationally during their time with us, and a broad range of learning experiences outside the classroom.

Digital technology supports and enhances learning, with every pupil encouraged to use their device where it adds real value to developing skills and critical thinking.

Our school has an enviable reputation for the breadth of opportunities pupils have to get active, with around 25 different sports available to both girls and boys. Participation, excellence, professionalism and equality are the four cornerstones of our physical education and sport department here at Watson's.

When it comes to music and drama, our pupils are given the opportunity to co-produce stunning shows, delivering memorable performances that live long beyond school days.

Most importantly, the wellbeing of our pupils matters to us more than anything else. There are various ways we support pupils to proactively manage their mental health, while a range of peer-led programmes has created a culture in which we can all play our part.

All this means that when the sun shines we celebrate the happy moments, and when it doesn't we're there to protect and support, just as our motto says: ex corde caritas - love from the heart.