WORK WITH US
We are an AALS-registered Approved Activity Provider for DofE Bronze, Silver and Gold Award expeditions, seeking to expand our Expedition Leadership team. We are a group of people who enjoy working with youngsters and also appreciate the outdoor life (rather than macho types who begrudgingly instruct kids so they don’t have to work indoors!) Our founder is a former teacher and Scout Leader, so while we’re a business we’ve very much emerged from a volunteer ethos and the quality of the young people’s experience is a priority.
Current Vacancies
Operations Officer - progressing onto - Deputy Operations Manager
Outspark is growing, and we’re looking for an enthusiastic and organised Operations Officer to join our small, friendly team. We’re looking for someone who is keen to learn and grow with our company on a long-term basis, developing their skills and taking on increasing responsibility as they progress.
This is a varied role combining hands-on DofE expedition leadership with operations and planning behind the scenes. You’ll spend much of the spring, summer and early autumn leading expeditions, working with experienced staff and helping ensure everything runs safely and smoothly. During the quieter winter months, you’ll work alongside our Operations Manager on planning, bookings, communications and the wider running of the business.
Within 12 months, you’ll progress onto Deputy Operations Manager, with increasing responsibility and pay as your experience and skills develop. You’ll take on a greater role in the day-to-day running of Outspark and help shape the future of the company.
A great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, thrives on being outdoors, and is looking for a long-term opportunity to grow with a company.
Job Description and Person Specification
Essential: Walking qualification, experience of leading DofE expeditions, the ability to work efficiently through laptop-based admin, and someone who genuinely enjoys working with young people. You’ll be an encouraging and supportive leader who brings people with you, rather than simply telling them what to do. You’ll be able to manage a wide-ranging workload and actively seek out what needs to be done. You’ll enjoy being part of a small, friendly and flexible team who have each other’s backs and take pride in running great expeditions.
Hours: Full-time with a 6 month probationary period, 225 days per year - (roughly 50/50 split between expedition delivery and school visits and home-based admin but this may change slightly with the development of your role).
Location: Remote working (UK-based) with travel to expedition sites, school visits and meetings; storage for kit at home between expeditions. The majority of our expeditions are in the South and East of England so being located in this area would be a significant advantage.
Salary: £28,000 - £30,000pa for the Expeditions Officer Role and then £33,000 - £35,000pa Deputy Operations Manager + 35 days annual leave with either role
Reporting to: Operations Manager and Managing Director
Closing date: 5pm, Thursday 22nd October 2026 Applicants will be notified as soon as they are shortlisted to allow for preparation for interview.
Interviews: In person, Thursday 29th October 2026
Start date: Mid January 2027, ideally Monday 11th but we can be a little flexible with this depending on your notice period.
How to Apply
To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter (or personal statement) to expeditions@outspark.co.uk
explaining your relevant experience, skills, and why you’re a great fit for this role. If you’d like an informal conversation about the role before applying, you’re very welcome to email us to arrange a call.
You can find further information about us at www.outspark.co.uk. We are part of an alliance of education companies that help develop young people’s confidence, collaboration and communication - find out more at www.oracyforschools.co.uk We’re humans hiring humans, all applications will be read personally, not by AI!
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Season Expedition Leaders
We are looking for enthusiastic and hard-working individuals to join our small team of Expedition Leaders to help us develop, grow and work with our customers with greater continuity. You will be supporting the Operations Manager and Deputy Operations Manager to deliver a successful year of bookings. You will be primarily leading expeditions but also working as an instructor on expeditions lead by others.
As the expedition leader, you will be responsible for receiving the expedition paperwork and kit, preparing accordingly and delivering the planned expedition with a team of instructors.
Download the full Job Description and Person Specification HERE
Freelance Instructors
Instructors typically work between four and twelve weekends with us each year. Our expeditions are led by staff who have worked with us many times, supported by instructors who are a mixture of full-time outdoor freelancers, teachers who have often run DofE in their own schools, and Scout Leaders and others with outdoor and youth work experience who enjoy passing on their enthusiasm for the outdoors. Our founder is a former teacher and Scout Leader, so while we’re a business we’ve very much emerged from a volunteer ethos and the quality of the young people’s experience takes priority over commercial considerations.
For youth organisation leaders and those who have a current DofE role at their own school, it’s also an opportunity to pick up new ideas for running successful expeditions. Many of our instructors choose only to work for us in this context as they feel valued and enjoy working with like-minded people. We usually eat a good communal dinner on the Saturday of expeditions.
You need to be able to work independently, training a group of young people at Bronze or Silver standard in all aspects of expedition skills and contributing to the remote supervision of expeditions (checkpointing, troubleshooting etc.), under the overall direction of one of our highly experienced leaders. You’ll have good rapport with young people as well as strong navigation skills that you are able to share effectively with novices.
Pay is £160/day + expenses for lowland work or £170 for ML remit. We work mainly in the Chilterns, Ashdown Forest, Dorset, South Downs and Essex with occasional expeditions in South Wales, Forest of Dean and further afield.
Please email CV and contacts of 2 references to our Operations Manager alex@outspark.co.uk, or ring our founder Jason Buckley on 07843 555355 if you have any questions. If there’s a good fit both ways, we’ll arrange to meet over Zoom, do the requisite checks, and then there will be an opportunity for some inductions early in the season, paid at the normal lowland rate, where you’ll be able to work with some young people on their Bronze DofE.
We are looking for people who anticipate being able to commit at least four expeditions during the year for the dates we need staff.