Operations Manager

Mill On The Brue is a unique, award winning outdoor activity centre set over 25 beautiful acres in Bruton, Somerset. We provide bespoke activity programmes for schools attending for their residential trips, companies requesting team-building events and children attending summer camps during the school holidays. We have over 40 activities to choose from and a team of fully qualified, DBS checked staff to deliver learning beyond the classroom. We can accommodate 124 students over 4 buildings as well as on-site camping accommodation in the summer months.

Most of our valued customers are schools who return to us year after year due to our dedication to ensuring the children build confidence and learn new skills using the outdoors.

Our happy, conscientious team are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic professional to lead and inspire our instructor team to deliver high quality outdoor activities to a range of groups. We need someone with the knowledge and experience to oversee operations and collaborate with the wider team to further develop the potential of the centre.

Job Description

Operations Manager

Reports to: Kate Cravero (Sales Director)

Salary: £35,000 - £39,000 - depending on qualifications and experience + 5% pension contribution

Start Date: 1^st December 2026

Hours: 42 hours per week. Two days off per week. Holiday 31 days (including Christmas & New Year)

 Location: Mill on the Brue, Bruton, Somerset

 Contract: Full time, permanent, after a probationary period of 12 months

Essential:

·     Valid First Aid certificate (minimum 16 hours)

·     Valid driving licence

·     Expect to be within reasonable driving distance of the Centre for top cover calls or unexpected out of hours emergencies (shared with other members of the management team)

·     Enhanced DBS disclosure

·     Minimum of 3 years managerial experience

Qualifications: 

Essential:

Two or more of the following:

·     SPA/RCI Award

·     UKCC British Canoeing Level 2 (Core) Coach award

·     ML/WGL/Lowland leader award

Desirable

·     Archery GB

·     Bushcraft Level 2

·     MIA/MIC

·     BCU Coach/Assessor

Requirements

·      We are looking for a highly motivated individual who demonstrates a wide knowledge, experience and love of the outdoors, both professionally and individually.

·      We require a ‘people’ person, an excellent communicator, and someone who has significant experience of managing teams.

·      To be successful in this role you need to be conscientious, proactive, organised, trustworthy, reliable, responsible, have a sense of humour and be passionate about delivering your knowledge of the outdoors to others, especially children.

·      You must be IT literate and experienced in using spreadsheets and rotas.

·      You should be keen to learn more about our environmental practices and help educate and motivate our staff and customers.

·      We seek a team player who can engage with members of the management team as well as our wider team.

Key Responsibilities:

Personnel:

·     Manage the Senior Instructor team, Instructors, any freelance staff & group leaders

·     Assist in recruitment & interviewing Operations Team applicants

·     Oversee induction & training of all Ops staff

·     Maintain jobs lists for Senior Instructors

·     Oversee Ops staff, observing performance including recording of absences & any disciplinary process in conjunction with HR

·     Attend Senior Instructor meetings

·     Manage appraisals for Senior Instructors & Instructors

·     Attend management meetings

Customer Liaison

·     Welcome groups

·     Follow up any complaints or observations with the Operations team

·     Undertake evaluations with visiting groups

·     Informally liaise with visiting schools to ensure expectations are met

·     Be on duty overnight occasionally and part of top cover for the Centre

Health & Safety

·     Ensure awareness of current activity best practice. Regularly review & amend practice/procedure/training accordingly

·     Ensure Ops team are recording accidents, near misses & incidents accurately & thoroughly

·     Oversee the investigation of accidents, near misses, & incidents as required & implement action plans in response to accidents etc.

·     Be a point of call for first aid

·     Write/review activity risk assessments, operating procedures & handbooks

·     Individually risk assess SEN adaptations where required

·     Oversee the inventory of all specialist equipment

·     Manage activities in adverse weather

·     Liaise with the Technical Advisor (ropes) on staff training

·     Responsible for AALA & BAPA applications

Maintenance of equipment

·     Ensure all activity areas of MoB are kept to the required standard (safety & aesthetically)

·     Maintain any jobs lists & pass any technical jobs to appropriate teams

·     Liaise with Maintenance for the purchase of or use of maintenance equipment

·     Oversee weekly/monthly/annual equipment checks (known as R’s) & ensure logs are accurate & up to date.

·     Plan & book annual ropes & wires inspection

·     Ensure stock checks are carried out throughout the financial year

Other

·     Hold a budget for activity equipment

·     Develop new activities to enhance our programmes

·     Lead on developing an Outdoor Instructor Course for November 2027

·     Liaising with Sales & Training, HR & Programmes

Please see our website for further details www.millonthebrue.co.uk