Essex Outdoors is an outdoor education provider and part of Essex County Council. We are made up of four centres that all offer a different and exciting experience.
Bradwell
Our coastal sailing and powerboat centre. A season here could see you out on the water, leading sessions on the beach or biking around the peninsular. Bradwell also offers a residential package for our instructors
Danbury
A large multi-activity centre that will see you aerial trekking, caving, canoeing and quad biking to name but a few.
Harlow
Our urban day centre that specialises in Climbing and Paddling and is home to “The Lock†- a 14-metre high indoor climbing centre.
Mersea
A coastal location and our largest centre. Mersea offers a huge range of activities; zip wire, 'Giant swing', two obstacle courses and an aerial adventure course and new paddlesport lake, to name but a few. Mersea is also the place to enjoy a staff residential package.
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The job description
x2 Senior Instructors for Essex Outdoors (Harlow and Mersea): a typical day
Working closely with the Centre Manager and Assistant Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of high-quality outdoor education and National Governing Body (NGB) programmes. You will take a lead role in maintaining high standards of health and safety across all activity areas, ensuring equipment, facilities and resources are safe, compliant and well maintained.
This is a varied and rewarding position where you will supervise and support young people and adults both on and off-site, contribute to the delivery of residential programmes, and act as a positive role model. You will also play an important role in the training, development and assessment of staff, helping to maintain the excellent standards of delivery for which Essex Outdoors is known.
Who are we looking for?
what makes you the ideal candidate
We're looking for someone who is passionate about outdoor learning and committed to creating safe, engaging and memorable experiences for participants.
You will have:
At least two National Governing Body qualifications at coach level (three preferred), such as:
Paddle UK Core Coach / Paddle Leader
Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI)
Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI)
Mountain Leader (Summer)
ERCA qualifications
Significant experience delivering outdoor education and environmental programmes.
Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and engage both young people and adults.
Experience of maintaining safe activity environments and promoting best practice.
The ability to plan, develop, monitor and evaluate educational programmes.
Evidence of continuing professional development within the outdoor education sector.
A D1/D1E driving licence category is desirable.
What can we offer you?
why choose Essex Outdoors for your next adventure job
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
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