For outdoor professionals, we offer a stunning environment to live and work.
The Jurassic Coastline offers a lifetime of climbing opportunities, and the sea is perfect for kayaking, swimming and diving. We have a small permanent staff team which is bolstered by a seasonal staff team. This seasonal team is recruited between August and December each year for the following season.
As well as our full time team we regularly use experienced and qualified freelance staff to support our work, many of whom have been working with us for multiple years.
Given the nature of the environments we work in we need staff who have a breadth and depth of experience as well as appropriate qualifications. We also need staff who model our hospitable approach ensuring that our customers are looked after for the duration of their stay not just on activities.
2027 Positions
Seasonal Outdoor Activity Instructors
Live, work and play on the Jurassic Coast
Fancy spending your 2027 season climbing on Portland limestone, coasteering around Portland Bill, paddling in Portland Harbour and finishing the day with a swim, BBQ or sauna?
Based on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, we are a 140-bed residential outdoor education centre surrounded by some of the best outdoor environments the south coast has to offer. From the cliffs and coves of Portland Bill to Chesil Beach, and the sheltered waters of Portland Harbour, our activities take place in real environments where groups can properly experience the outdoors.
We’re a small, close-knit team, and that’s something we’re proud of. We care about delivering high-quality experiences for our groups, but we also want our staff to have a great season. If you like getting out after work and taking advantage of the environment around you, you’ll fit right in.
What will you be doing?
No two days are the same.You could find yourself:
Coasteering at Portland Bill
Climbing and abseiling at one of a number of venues we use around Portland
Delivering MEGA SUP, kayaking and raft building in Portland Harbour
Journeying on the harbour in our Big Canoes
Delivering coastal bushcraft
Working across a range of other activities both on and off site.
A typical week might see you climbing on Portland’s famous limestone one day, coasteering the next and paddling in Portland Harbour later in the week.All instructors receive thorough centre-specific training and support to ensure you can deliver sessions safely and to the high standard we expect.
Life on Portland
We have a dedicated instructor house, located within walking distance of the centre and the beach. From the house you can reach Chesil Beach, local climbing and coasteering venues, swimming and paddling spots, as well as getting the necessities from Tesco/Lidl.Sharing the house with other instructors makes it easy to become part of the team and make the most of everything Portland has to offer outside of work.
We want you to leave Portland a better instructor than when you arrived.
You’ll have opportunities to develop your skills and qualifications through training, mentoring and support for personal development. Depending on your experience and interests, opportunities can include:
National Coasteering Charter (NCC) Guide training early in the season
Funding and support for personal training and development
Opportunities to work across our sister centres
Access to a wide range of facilities and environments across the organisation
Portland Outdoor Centre is part of a wider organisation that also includes New Forest Outdoor Centre and Brenscombe Outdoor Centre. Although Portland will be your main base, you’ll have opportunities to visit and work at the other centres, experience different activities and broaden your skill set.
£26,436 - £28,080 per annum pro rata (Increase due in April 2027)
April until September/October 2027
In return for your hard work, we offer:
Monthly salary & Paid holiday
Affordable accommodation in our instructor house
Predominantly Monday–Friday working pattern
Training and support throughout the season
Funding for personal development
Access to trade discounts on outdoor equipment
Access to facilities across the wider organisation, including a bunkhouse in North Wales
A friendly, active and supportive team environment
Qualities we are looking for:
We’re looking for people who are:
Reliable and hardworking
A team player
Enthusiastic about the outdoors and keen to get out to personally, paddle, coasteer, climb and most importantly have fun!
Confident working with young people
Keen to develop their own skills and qualifications
You don’t need to be the finished article. We’re particularly interested in people who are keen to learn, develop and become better instructors.
Essential qualifications:
16-hour First Aid certificate
Previous experience working with young people
Paddle UK Paddlesport Instructor
Desirable qualifications/skills:
Rock Climbing Instructor
Paddle UK Paddlesport Leader or above
Paddle UK Core Coach
Coasteering experience or National Coasteering Charter training/guide
ERCA Ropes Course Instructor
Lowland Leader Award or above
Bushcraft experience
Beach Lifeguard or similar award
Other relevant outdoor qualifications and experience
Ready for a season with Portland Outdoor Centre?
If you want to spend 2027 working in some of the UK’s best outdoor environments, develop your skills, gain new qualifications and be part of a team that genuinely enjoys being outside, we’d love to hear from you.
2027 seasonal contracts available until September/October 2027.
Portland Outdoor Centre is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of society.
Every group is unique and we tailor our activity programmes to suit your needs and what you’d like to get out of your experience with us. It all starts with a conversation, so please call or send us a message.