Assistant Programme Manager - Wellington

Junior Adventures Group, the team behind the sKids out-of-school programme, is expanding its Wellington crew. This is a hands-on, onsite role that fits someone who enjoys guiding children through mornings and afternoons and doesn’t mind a shift-based schedule across weekdays. If you’re drawn to playful learning, steady leadership, and a supportive team, this could be a great match. The company has been creating adventures for kids since 1996 and now serves more than 3,800 tamariki daily at over 170 school sites, so you’ll be part of a well-established network that values fun and learning in equal measure

In this role, you’ll help run the sKids programme each day, balancing structure with flexible, kid-focused activities. You’ll work a minimum of 10 hours per week and be rostered from Monday to Friday, with morning and afternoon blocks that keep the day moving smoothly for children and families alike. On site in Wellington, you’ll find opportunities to lead, learn, and contribute to a team that aims to make every session enjoyable and safe for everyone involved

If you like the idea of stepping into a leadership role to keep sessions on track, and you value clear communication with parents and school staff, this is a position worth considering. The role combines hands-on activity planning with supervision and a bit of hustle to keep things running well from start to finish.

A day in the life on the school site

On a typical day you’ll support the Programme Manager in keeping operations smooth and well organised, ensuring each session runs in a safe, inclusive way. You’ll step up as 2IC and take charge when the Programme Manager is away, confidently leading activities and supervising large groups of tamariki. You’ll be part of creating a positive, engaging environment through a mix of arts and crafts, games, sports, and offsite trips, while you help manage behaviour with constructive guidance and consistent expectations across the team. You’ll also mentor and support Programme Assistants on shift, build straightforward relationships with parents and school staff, and take care of set-up, pack-down and resource preparation so sessions flow without a hitch

The role emphasises collaboration and hands-on leadership, so you’ll be coordinating with colleagues to plan activities, ensuring everything is ready before sessions start and that resources are tidied away afterward. Clear, friendly communication is key, whether you’re speaking with families, teachers, or other staff, and you’ll help keep the day moving by maintaining a calm and proactive approach when challenges arise

Must-have requirements

• You have the legal right to work in New Zealand, whether by visa or citizenship
• You can reliably travel to the Thordon site(s)
• You’ve previously worked with groups of children in settings like OSCAR, childcare, coaching, teaching, camps, or similar
• You’re confident stepping into a leadership role when needed and can take initiative and make decisions
• You’ve got exposure to managing behaviour in group environments and can stay calm, firm and supportive
• You’re a team player who can both support others and lead when required
• You communicate well with children and with adults, including parents and school staff
• You’re over 20 years old, as required by the Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004

Nice-to-haves

There aren’t any additional preferences listed beyond the must-haves.

Pay, benefits and practical details

The role is part-time, with a minimum of 10 hours per week and shifts scheduled Monday to Friday. Mornings run from 7am to 8.30am and afternoons from 2.30pm to 6.00pm, with availability from 2.30pm essential and finish times potentially varying. There may be school holiday programme hours available, running between 7am and 6pm. Perks include a 50% discount on selected sKids programmes, a referral bonus of up to $250 per referral, and a no-weekend-work arrangement that frees up the middle of the day for your own time. The role also offers an Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing support, and you’ll join a friendly, supportive crew that celebrates each other’s wins

Appointments are generally handled through standard internal processes, and the company highlights safeguarding and child protection as a priority. All successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check, and holding the right to work in New Zealand is a must.

Advice for applicants

Place leadership and hands-on child-care experience at the top of your resume, especially any roles in OSCAR, childcare, coaching, teaching, camps or similar settings where you led activities or supervised groups

When you describe the must-have skills, back them up with concrete examples. Show how you’ve led sessions as a 2IC, how you managed behavioural challenges, and how you maintained clear, positive communication with parents or school staff

Be prepared to be asked about scenarios that test your approach to positive guidance and conflict resolution in a group setting, and have a calm, practical explanation ready for how you’d handle a busy afternoon with multiple activities and participants

Consider a question that demonstrates your curiosity about the role, for example asking how the day-to-day duties change when the Programme Manager is away, or what success looks like for the 2IC in the Wellington team