Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST DETAILS

Job Title:

Head of Mountaineering

Directly Responsible To:

Director of Outdoor Training and Education

Contract:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

Full-time

Salary:

43,000

Scope of the Job

The Head of Mountaineering is responsible for leading Plas y Brenin's mountaineering instructional programme, ensuring innovation, quality, and safety standards are met while contributing to wider programme delivery, including outreach projects and Embark programmes.

The postholder will be a highly qualified (WMCI minimum) and experienced practitioner, with safeguarding qualification and experience. They will act as a role model within the centre and wider community, ensuring excellence in mountaineering instruction and course directing for Mountain Training qualifications.

A key focus of the role is people management. The postholder will lead, develop, and motivate the mountaineering instructional team, working closely with other Heads of Department, Director of Outdoor Training and Education and HR to proactively manage performance, coaching, mentoring, appraisals, and any people-related issues. They will create a high performing, engaged, and resilient team while ensuring adherence to organisational policies, values, and standards.

The role also includes financial accountability for the department, including managing budgets to ensure resources are used efficiently. Ensure collaborative working with the Director of Instructional Function, tracking performance/spend/budgets etc. through regular reviews alongside Finance. Departments Heads are expected to work closely with the Finance Director and relevant Directors in developing their annual budgets. Budget holders are responsible for ongoing adherence to approved budgets, proactively identifying and escalating any variances or risks that may move spend outside agreed parameters.

Heads of Department must also maintain effective systems for recruiting, retaining, developing and motivating employees, ensuring that managers with people-management responsibilities understand and fulfil their obligations. In addition, each department is required to maintain an accessible archive of its financial activities for audit and reporting purposes.

Regular reporting to Directors is essential. Departments must prepare and submit accurate and timely financial and administrative reports for inclusion in quarterly Director reviews

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

Lead and manage your direct reports according to the organisation chart, ensuring delivery excellence and development of staff. Support staff in the effective management and development of their own teams. Drive talent development, succession planning, and performance management, partnering closely with HR. Provide coaching, mentoring, appraisals, and conflict resolution to direct reports. Resolve complex staffing and operational challenges at a departmental level, ensuring decisions align with organisational values and objectives.

Strategic & Departmental Oversight

Define and implement the strategic vision for the mountaineering programme, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long-term goals. Oversee departmental planning, resource allocation, and operational budgets to deliver financial sustainability and maximise organisational impact. Monitor departmental performance through KPIs, financial reporting, and operational metrics, driving continuous improvement. Ensure the mountaineering function maintains sector-leading standards in safety, quality, and governance.

Finance & Resource Management

Own the departmental budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and alignment with strategic priorities, partnering closely with Finance. Approve significant departmental expenditures and resource investments to support programme growth and sustainability. Optimise staffing, recruitment, and workforce planning within budgetary constraints. Assist with the Develop of the annual departmental budget in conjunction with the Finance Directors & Directors
Provide monthly budget updates; submit quarterly financial & administrative reports to Directors

Budget holders ensure the ongoing adherence and management of budgets, highlighting issues that may cause budgets to move outside agreed parameters highlighting any issues of concern to the Director.

Maintain the archive of departmental financial activity.

Maintain systems for the recruitment, retention, development, motivation and management of employees, ensuring those with people management responsibility are aware of their responsibilities.

Authority to approve overtime, travel expenses; authority to approve training spend within budget

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

Represent Plas y Brenin externally with Mountain Training, national governing bodies, funders, professional associations, and key partners. Build and maintain strategic relationships to enhance the centre's reputation, influence sector policy, and identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and partnerships. Provide expert advice to the Director of Outdoor Activities and Senior Leadership Team on departmental performance, risk, and strategic opportunities. Ensure the department adheres to governance, regulatory, health and safety, and risk management requirements. Lead on safeguarding and organisational risk within the department, fostering a culture of accountability, professional excellence, and continuous improvement.

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

WMCI qualification. First Aid qualification. Safeguarding qualification. Course Director for Mountain Training qualifications, including WMCI and MCI. Substantial experience in instructional delivery and programme leadership in mountaineering. Extensive people management experience, including appraisals, performance management, mentoring, coaching, and conflict resolution. Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to a leadership role in a National Centre. Strong knowledge of safety management procedures and industry standards. Operational experience and demonstrable financial acumen, including managing departmental budgets and working effectively with Finance. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Meets DVLA minimum requirements for driving a minibus, holds a full driving licence for at least 2 years and aged 21 or over.

Desirable

BMG qualification or working towards. IML Course directing experience across a broader range of Mountain Training qualifications (e.g., RCI, Lowland Leader, IML, Mountain Leader). ILM or other Business Management qualification. D1 entitlement on driving licence (able to drive minibus up to 16 passengers). D1+E entitlement (for towing trailers, if required). Safeguarding Level 3. Welsh language skills.

Join Us: Our Commitment to Inclusion and Your Next Step

We believe that the best teams are the most diverse teams.

We are wholeheartedly committed to building an inclusive and supportive environment where adventurers, coaches, and leaders from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the outdoor sector.

Equal Opportunity: We are an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process, please let us know - we want to hear from you. Informal Chat: To discuss the role informally or submit an application in an alternative format, please contact Sam Deacon-Murray on 01690 720214. Safeguarding: This role involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and is therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 under the Exceptions Order 1975. An DBS check will be required for the successful candidate, which will be funded by the employer. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from employment, as each case will be considered on an individual basis.
We are actively recruiting for this role elsewhere and encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. We are recruiting urgently and reserve the right to withdraw this advert without notice.

What's in it for you?

Professional Development: Guaranteed 25 days of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) for you and your team annually. Free Lunch when working, plus staff discounts on food and drink. Free use of on-site sporting facilities (gym, climbing wall, pump track, and more) - your daily playground. Access to free or discounted training courses. Generous staff discounts on outdoor clothing, equipment, and kit. We will provide your instructor paddle kit. Wellbeing benefits, including discounted physio, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and Life Assurance 28 days holiday.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 43,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person