Length of role: Fifteen weeks

Dates: June to September 2012

We are looking for Residential Accommodation Managers to support the logistical delivery of The Challenge during our intensive summer programme, working both residentially and in the local community in London, West Midlands or the North West, over a period of fourteen weeks.

The Residential Accommodation Manager is responsible for logistical management of the programme: establishing good relationships with venues and partner organisations, dealing with transport and food arrangements, and tracking all medical issues and financial transactions. The Residential Accommodation Manager reports to the Programme Leader.

This role is suitable for an organised and efficient person with experience of multitasking, relationship management and experience of working in a demanding environment.

About the Organisation

The Challenge Network is a fast-growing social enterprise that connects and inspires people across Britain to strengthen their communities. The Challenge is a programme that brings together young people from different backgrounds, builds their confidence, and challenges them to make a difference in their local community. In 2012, 10,000 young people across London, the West Midlands and the North West will take part in The Challenge, for an intensive three-week summer programme followed by four weekends in the autumn.

The Challenge Programme

We bring together sixteen-year-olds from across a community and challenge them to connect with people from different backgrounds, learn key skills for the workplace, and make a difference in their community.  They achieve this by completing three challenges:

• The Personal Challenge: Socially mixed teams of young people bond through a week of challenging outdoor activities.
• The Team Challenge: Teams return home and use their skills to experience serving the local community.
• The Real Challenge: Teams work to design and organise activities that will bring the local community together. The Real Challenge Design takes part during the last part of the summer programme and the Real Challenge Action takes place over four weekends in September.

All young people who complete The Challenge graduate from our programme and are directed into year-round volunteering and social action opportunities through The Challenge Society.

About the Opportunity

The placement lasts for a period of fourteen weeks through July, August, September and early October.

The Residential Accommodation Managers will:

• Manage the Residential Accommodation site and ensure food, bedding, venues are all prepared for events and activities.
• Track financial transactions
• Provide support to the Team Leaders by helping with medical or other emergencies as necessary
• During September, help set up and run social action projects designed by young people during the summer.
• On very rare occasions stand-in to help facilitate delivery of sessions.

The Residential Accommodation Manager will live residentially for nine weeks of the role, assist the pastoral staff with bedtime management and be able to stand-in for facilitators where necessary. The final four weeks of the role will be based in The Challenge office, working in a non-residential role responsible for coordinating the Real Challenge Action

About You

Candidates must demonstrate the following skills and characteristics:

Essential:

• Exceptional organisational skills
• Belief in young people and in helping them take more active roles in their communities
• Passion/interest in building stronger communities and seeing change in society
• Experience of working in a fast paced and demanding environment

Beneficial:

• Experience of organising or managing events
• Experience working directly with young people either in voluntary or paid capacity
• Experience working with community groups (e.g., schools, charities, community groups, places of worship)

We also look for all employees to show The Challenge characteristics.  These are:

• Trust-building: Works hard to build trust with people. Brings people together in the community
• Responsibility-taking: Takes responsibility for actions and attitudes. Claims and solves problems in the community
• Understanding and Empathy: Works to understand others – their strengths, fears and needs. Ready to stand up for someone who is different

Training and Work Dates

All Residential Accommodation Managers receive three days of training from 18^th to 20^th June 2012.

The role then lasts from 1st July to 5^th October. The first part of the role is residential, from 1^st July until 29^th August. The second part of the role, from 4^th September to 5^th October, is based in The Challenge office.

In July and August, there is about one day off for every four days worked. There are 28 days’ holiday during this fourteen-week period. These are:

Days off: 3^rd, 8^th, 13^th, 18^th, 23^th, 27^th July

Days off: 2^nd, 7^th, 12^th, 17^th, 22^rd, 28^th August

There is then a break from 30^th August to 5^th September inclusive.

Days off: 6^th, 11^th, 12^th, 18^th, 19^th, 25^th, 26^th September, 2^nd and 3^rd October

In September the Residential Accommodation Manager works from Thursday to Monday each week, and has Tuesdays and Wednesdays off.

All meals and accommodation are provided during the nine-week residential part of the programme, but not during the community part of the programme.

Further details

This is an excellent opportunity to be involved with an exciting programme which has tangible results for the young people involved. The role is demanding and fast-paced but highly rewarding. The compensation for this contract role is £4,000 for fourteen weeks. This payment includes pay in lieu of annual leave and is subject to tax and National Insurance deductions. Staff will be paid through The Challenge payroll on a weekly basis.

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