Role: Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator
Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden with travel to other campuses when required
Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £25,585 and £30,915 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, People’s Pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.
Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year
Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator to join our Outdoor Education department at The Bedford College Group.
As a Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
1. Programme Coordination & Delivery – Lead and coordinate the full delivery of the Duke of Edinburgh Award across the Group, ensuring effective planning, resourcing and scheduling of expeditions, volunteering, skills and physical activities.
2. Stakeholder Engagement & Promotion – Build strong relationships with staff, students and external activity providers, support recruitment and enrolment, deliver training/guidance to staff and promote the programme across campuses and events.
3. Student Monitoring, Support & Progression – Track student participation and completion through eDofE, meet regularly with learners, encourage engagement and take proactive steps to ensure strong retention and achievement.
4. Compliance, Risk & Quality Assurance – Maintain accurate records, ensure all programme activity aligns with DofE requirements, safeguarding and health & safety standards, and coordinate risk assessments for visits, expeditions and residentials.
5. Continuous Improvement & College Responsibilities – Identify opportunities to enhance delivery, accessibility and student experience, while supporting cross‑college duties such as meetings, invigilation, open days and statutory responsibilities (safeguarding, EDI, H&S, CPD).
About you:
6. Qualifications & Outdoor Competence – GCSE English and Maths (A–C or equivalent), relevant outdoor leadership qualification(s) for DofE expedition delivery, first aid certification and a full UK driving licence.
7. DofE & Outdoor Leadership Experience – Strong understanding of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme with experience leading groups outdoors, including overnight residentials, and managing behaviour in challenging environments.
8. Safety, Compliance & Professional Standards – Experienced in applying Health & Safety requirements for trips, visits and expeditions, with clear awareness of equality, diversity and safeguarding responsibilities.
9. Teamwork, Communication & Relationship Building – Effective communicator across all channels, able to motivate learners, build confidence, collaborate with diverse groups and contribute positively to team culture.
10. Flexibility, Organisation & Ongoing Development – Highly organised, able to work independently and travel across sites, maintain professional boundaries and committed to continuously updating skills and knowledge.
For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.
Interviews to be held: 18 March 2026
Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
11. Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
12. Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
13. Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
14. Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
15. Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
16. Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.
Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.
Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.