Centre Director
Equal Opportunities
Concorde International is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, marital status, disability, age, part-time or fixed term contract status, sexual orientation or religion in the allocation of duties between employees employed at any level with comparable job descriptions.
Due to the physical requirements and nature of this position and venue limitations all applicants must be able to climb stairs, walk long distances and use a computer without assistance.
If you are applying from outside Europe, please note that Concorde International is unable to assist in any way with work permits or visas.
Minimum Essential Requirements:
- Must have management experience in EFL / Education
- EFL / education background
- Must be eligible to live and work in the UK
- Native or minimum near-native competency in English
- Effective management skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Experience of student welfare / boarding school environment
- Able to work with computers
- Must be organised and efficient
- Effective communicator
- Flexible attitude
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Desirable Requirements:
- First degree
- CELTA / Recognised EFL qualification
- Previous teaching experience with teenagers and young learners
- Interested and able to organise activities such as Drama, Arts & Crafts, Talent Shows, etc. or sports activities.
- Able to speak a second language
- Some local knowledge of the location(s) you are applying for
- Current first aid or RLSS lifesaving certificate
- Recent CRB check
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Job Description
Managerial duties
- You will report in the first instance to the Director of Vacation Courses and secondly to the Assistant Director of Vacation Courses. You will act as principal, facility manager and liaison officer for all non-academic issues at your centre. The Academic Director is directly responsible for all academic issues and will also report directly to the Director of Vacation Courses. The Activity Manager will report to you and assist you in this role. It is vital that all managers in the centre work together and cooperate in order to ensure the smooth running of the summer school.
- You will need to read and familiarise yourself with the Centre Director’s Handbook before the start of the summer programme and adhere to Concorde International operational procedures.
- You will need to read, understand and adhere to Concorde International’s Under 18’s policy and Child Protection policy. You must report any incidents, however small to the Director of Vacation Courses as soon as possible. You should also inform all staff of their responsibilities while working with children.
- You will be required to teach (if you hold a relevant qualification) in the event of staff sickness or absence if appropriate cover is unavailable. You will also assist the Academic Director with preparations for performances and certificate presentation ceremony.
- You will attend an induction with the Director and Assistant Director of Vacation Courses at Head Office in Canterbury before the centre opens and you will need to be prepared to induct your team once they arrive at the centre.
- You will ensure that the Activity Manager performs their managerial duties in a professional and efficient manner and that all activities and excursions have been organised properly.
- You and the Academic Director and Activity Manager will be required to hold and keep minutes of at least three staff meetings each week (preferably daily) to discuss the following administrative matters:
- Rotas for duties and activities
- Staff supervision
- Student performance and welfare
- Discipline
- Student arrivals and departures
- Number of classrooms required (for the following week)
- Accommodation / room allocations (Residential centres)
- Any other matter which supports the smooth running of the centre and the academic programme
- You are to ensure that Activity Leaders and Teachers fulfil their contractual duties and complete their assigned number of activities each week.
- You are reminded that your role is a managerial one and there may be times when you have to take decisions which are unpopular with Teachers and Activity Leaders.
- You should familiarise yourself with the risk assessments prepared for each activity and excursion and also while on site and in the accommodation. If you notice any potential risks you should immediately report them to the site manager and also to the Director of Vacation Courses.
- You need be familiar with the staff to student ratios and ensure that students are appropriately supervised at all times. This information is in the Centre Director’s Handbook. You will also need to be aware of all emergency procedures in place and of those specific to the centre location.
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Administration
- You will hold the petty cash for the centre, and be responsible to the accountant in Head Office for keeping accurate accounts and maintaining the correct balance.
- You will ensure there is a procedure for issuing and keeping a check on student pocket money.
- You are to collect correct pay claim sheets from staff and to e-mail or fax a salary summary sheet to head office on the prescribed day. You will also post pay claim sheets on the prescribed day.
- You are responsible for all student intakes: checking in/assigning dorm rooms/collecting documents/giving out itineraries/etc.
- You should keep up to date reports of all accidents and near misses and where first aid has been administered. You should use the Accident Book provided and all recorded incidents and action taken must be reported to Head Office at the earliest opportunity.
- At the end of the season you will submit a report covering the success or failure of any particular activity and suggesting alternatives where possible.
- You are responsible for all non-academic resources (e.g. IT, stationery, sports equipment etc.). You must ensure the resources are returned in the same manner they were delivered (clearly labelled boxes) to the centre and checked against the inventory provided from Head Office. The Academic Director will be responsible for all academic materials.
- All computer data should be well organised and stored safely for downloading at Head Office at the end of the summer course. The Centre Director’s Handbook provides more information and guidance about this.
- You are required to complete a staff appraisal form for all Activity Leaders and Activity Managers. You will also be required to give your appraisal of the Teachers performance when on the activities. You will need to work closely with the Academic Director and Activity Manager to complete this form. This form must be faxed / sent to Head Office as soon as the member of staff has finished their contract. For those whose contract finishes at the end of the summer, this form must be completed one week prior to the centre closing.
- You must distribute feedback forms to all staff towards the end of their contracts and send all completed forms to the Director of Vacation Courses.
- You will administer weekly student evaluation forms and collate statistics using the format provided by Head Office. An Activity Leader can be used to assist you. You should read each form carefully to identify any areas of concern and take action accordingly. Any areas of concern and action taken must be recorded.
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General
- You will need to arrive at your centre punctually, at times agreed with the Activity Manager and Academic Director as applicable. You will also need to dress suitably for your status, since Concorde International aims to project a professional image. In addition, you will behave appropriately at all times when on site, setting an example of sobriety and treating all staff and students fairly, with due attention to propriety.
- You are expected to introduce yourself to any member of staff who may have been appointed by the school or college on-site coordinator. It is extremely important that you liaise daily with this individual about student damages, health and safety requirements / issues, tidiness of facilities, fire alarms and drills, and in the case of residential centres, number of occupied beds, bedding and laundry.
- You are to meet with group leaders on a time-tabled daily basis. This is to keep them informed as to the daily programme and their students’ progress. It is also to remind them of Concorde International’s expectations of student behaviour and their own duties in helping to maintain discipline both during the day and also at night. You are to foster an atmosphere which is supportive and encouraging for staff and students alike so should they require help or advice they will be unafraid to seek it.
- You are to familiarise yourself with the building, staff accommodation, students’ accommodation, dining room and sports facilities, classrooms and the furniture and facilities available to teachers (whiteboards or blackboards, power points, lighting and student capacity).
- You are to ensure that there are clear professional signs displayed on campus and in the buildings so that students, group leaders and visitors can find their way about. You must use Concorde International branding throughout the centre and on your signs and notices.
- If your centre is residential, you are expected to liaise with the catering staff on the number of meals (including packed lunches) required each week and on the activities planned for the week so they can prepare accordingly.
- In residential centres you are required to allocate new arrivals to their accommodation. This will be done for you in Week One. You will need to check and consider specific requirements before allocating students, which Head Office will provide you with. Additional support will be provided by Head Office. The Homestay Organiser will allocate all Homestay students to their accommodation.
- You are to liaise with the Homestay Organiser on a regular basis to ensure that students are satisfied with their accommodation.
- You are to ensure that students are obeying the rules of the centre and Homestay accommodation.
- You are to make certain that no alcohol and drugs are consumed on site.
- You are required to be aware of any local, cultural, world and political events which may have an impact on the running of the centre and react according to the information that you have.
- Summer centres are very busy places and there may be additional duties to perform in addition to those detailed above. Flexibility and common sense are fundamental attributes for this position. As this is a managerial position, you will be required to sign a waiver form which confirms that you are willing to work more than 48 hours per week if required to do so.
Remuneration for this position is £500 per week + holiday pay. Returning staff may receive an additional payment as agreed by the Director of Vacation Courses. Payment will be made weekly into your bank account a week in arrears or through our Pre-Paid card system if you do not have a UK bank account. Accommodation and food are provided in residential centres only unless otherwise approved by the Director of Vacation Courses.
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Please familiarise yourself with the following Job Descriptions:
The Director of Vacation Courses and the Assistant Director of Vacation Courses will both visit the centres on a regular basis and be available to you 24 hours a day throughout the summer. [See Organogram]
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