Summer School Operations Programme Manager

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Join our winning team of global superstars in summer 2025

Embassy Summer, under its parent company EC English, offers award winning summer vacation programmes for young people across multiple locations in the UK, USA, Canada, Malta, UAE & South Africa. Students learn either English or French whilst immersing themselves in the local culture and surroundings. Our programmes are a combination of language classes, exciting excursions and fun-filled sporting, creative and social activities.

From its humble beginnings in Hastings over four decades ago, Embassy Summer has today evolved in to a globally recognised and trusted brand. Our vision is to help our students succeed in a global community. We love bringing our young learners from around the world together through a common language and building global connections.

Location: Brighton, UK

Reporting to: Global Operations Director

Fixed Term FT Contract: March - September 2025

Position Summary:

The primary responsibility of a Programme Manager is to deliver a successful operation in several nominated summer locations, through highest levels of pre summer preparation and coordination. Working alongside the Operations Manager, the Programme Manager supports the global YL team in achieving the business targets including centre profitability, effective cost management, ongoing attainment of NPS scores, and the safeguarding and welfare of students.

The role includes temporary line management of several seasonal centre management teams in a fast paced and, often, stressful environment. The Programme Manager is responsible for centre level compliance with applicable laws, accreditation requirements and company policy.

A Programme Manager aims to maximise client satisfaction by ensuring their summer school experience meets or exceeds expectations. As part of the successful preparation and delivery of the operation, the Programme Manager must manage and maintain relationships with a variety of key stakeholders. The Programme Manager contributes to centre profitability by ensuring the lean allocation of resource provision by frontline teams.

As required, the Programme Manager will be expected to work some unsociable and weekend hours in order to fulfil the role effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing and maintaining effective relationships with transport, attractions and host college or accommodation providers that maximise quality delivery, minimise service failures/adverse variations and minimise cost
• Ensuring that other ancillary services, centre facilities (including accommodation), agent
  programmes, stock and centre teams are secured, setup and organised appropriately
• Assisting in the delivery of the EC Young Learners' staff training programmes
• Maximising centre profitability through astute spending decisions, monitoring and recording all centre expenditure
• Ensuring the centre has the correct number of staff and liaising with Recruitment on extensions or curtailments of centre staff contracts
• As Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, there is responsibility and line management of the safeguarding and welfare of clients and staff through the implementation of clear safeguarding policies, procedures and risk assessments
• Appraising and developing the performance of core management positions and service delivery functions during the summer, taking ownership and developing action plans where necessary to improve standards
• Troubleshooting as required, with rapid responses, to ensure achievement of highest levels of customer satisfaction
• Assisting the management of centres on location where required
• Covering the emergency phone as part of a rota
• Completing comprehensive feedback on the centre management team to ensure they can be objectively appraised and developed
• Assisting, where required, with the checking and coding of invoices under the guidance of the Commercial Operations Manager

Organisational Compliance:

• The job holder will be expected to operate in accordance with EC Young Learners Code of Conduct, and any local policies and operating procedures relating to academic, welfare and safeguarding matters.

Education Required:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Experience Required:

• Experience of working in a summer school or similar environment
• Excellent project management and ability to work to deadlines

Experience Desired:

• Managing multisite operations
• Managing temporary staff
• Managing education programmes for young people
• Experience of implementing a culture of safeguarding and welfare and making strategic decisions with these factors in mind

Knowledge/Skills: (Desired)

• Microsoft Office skills including Excel / PowerPoint
• Strong Leadership
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Supply Chain Management
• Knowledge of British Council Accreditation criteria
• Ability to perform well under pressure
• Ability to prioritise
• Excellent communication skills

Job Specific Competencies:

• Integrating Information
• Taking Decisions
• Steering others
• Influencing
• Being Resilient

Disclosure and Barring Service:

If you do not have a valid Enhanced DBS and are not subscribed to the DBS update service, we will need to apply for a new Enhanced DBS for you. Please confirm this at the time of application.

Equality and Diversity:

Equality and diversity are at the heart of everything we do. Our learning opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of their background and circumstances, and we apply the same standards to the staff we employ.