Assistant Programme Manager - Darfield

sKids, the after-school programme arm of Junior Adventures Group, creates playful, structured experiences for children across New Zealand. They welcome more than 3,800 kids every day at over 170 school sites, and the network is still growing. The Assistant Programme Manager role is based onsite at the Darfield site in Christchurch, NZ, and would suit someone who enjoys guiding children, running engaging activities, and working as part of a friendly team.

You'll be juggling mornings and afternoons, Monday to Friday, with a minimum commitment of six hours per week. The shifts run from 7am to 8:30am and 2:30pm to 6:00pm, with availability from 2:30pm essential; there may also be hours during school holidays (7am–6pm). You’ll need reliable transport to reach the Darfield site and the right to work in New Zealand. All successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check as part of safeguarding.

Mornings and afternoons in Darfield

In this role, you’ll support the Programme Manager in the day-to-day running of the sKids programme, helping sessions stay well organised and safe.

When needed you’ll step into the 2IC role, confidently leading sessions and taking charge when the Programme Manager is away, while supervising large groups of tamariki to maintain an inclusive and engaging environment.

You’ll assist in planning and delivering structured activities including arts and crafts, sports, games and offsite trips. You’ll support with managing challenging behaviour using positive guidance and maintaining consistency across the team, and you’ll guide Programme Assistants on shift to keep activities running smoothly. Building positive relationships with parents, caregivers and school staff through clear, friendly communication is part of the job, as is helping with set-up, pack-down and resource preparation so each session runs seamlessly.

What you need to bring to the role

• Have the legal right to work in New Zealand (valid visa or citizenship)
• Have reliable transport to reach the Darfield site
• Have experience working with groups of children (e.g. OSCAR, childcare, coaching, teaching, camps, or similar)
• Are confident stepping into a leadership role when needed, with the ability to take initiative and make decisions
• Have exposure to managing behaviour in group settings and can remain calm, firm, and supportive
• Are a team player who can both support and lead others when required
• Communicate well with both children and adults, including parents and school staff
• Are over the age of 20 years old (as per Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004)

Pay, benefits and practical details

The role is onsite at the Darfield site with shifts Monday to Friday, including mornings and after-school hours, and a minimum of six hours per week. If you’re drawn to the mix of supervision, activity planning and leadership, this could be a good fit.

Perks include a 50% discount on selected sKids programmes for your own children, a referral bonus of up to $250 per successful referral, and a strong emphasis on work–life balance with no weekend work and a mid‑day break for your own time. There is an Employee Assistance Programme to support wellbeing, and you’ll join a friendly, supportive crew that celebrates each other’s wins.

Safeguarding is a core value, with all successful applicants expected to undergo a Police Record Check, and you must hold the right to work in New Zealand.

Advice for applicants

Lead with your most relevant experience and put it up top on your resume, highlight leadership roles and work with groups of children, including OSCAR, childcare, coaching, teaching or camps. Make sure to show you meet the right-to-work requirement and that you can travel to the Darfield site.

When you describe your must-have skills, use concrete examples: a time you led a session in the absence of a manager, how you kept a group engaged, and how you used positive guidance to handle challenging behaviour while keeping the team on track.

In interviews, be ready to walk through how you’d plan and deliver a session, how you’d handle setup and pack-down, and how you’d coordinate with parents and school staff to keep everyone informed and included.

Ask a thoughtful question about the role’s leadership layer, for example: how responsibilities are allocated when the Programme Manager is away, and what support exists during school holidays or holiday programme periods.