Programme Director: Role Profile
Programme Directors provide senior-level leadership for each of the summer campuses, holding responsibility for the safety and welfare of approximately 75 to 200 young people and up to 25 staff at any one time.
The role is similar to that of a Deputy Head Teacher, with a strong pastoral element. The Programme Director is the main point of liaison with ORA’s Head Office and ultimately works to ensure that his or her team is delivering a programme which upholds ORA’s high standards of quality, safety and academic excellence.
Programme Directors must quickly bond their team and develop an understanding of their staff members’ strengths and weaknesses. Campus teams are, in the main, made up of current university students and recent graduates, many of whom may be venturing into a working environment for the first time. Harnessing the team’s enthusiasm, energy and considerable skills, whilst ensuring they feel supported and reassured that they have the backing of somebody more senior is key to creating a positive dynamic, within which the pro-active, energetic and incredibly committed staff team can thrive.
In addition to being approachable and nurturing to staff, Programme Directors must be highly skilled in communicating with and working alongside young people. They will at all times need to model appropriate and attentive care, managing any behavioural issues in a calm, timely and respectful manner and build a positive rapport with the students in their care. They will need a clear understanding of issues concerning the safeguarding of young people and be able to support staff in thinking about these issues.