Outdoor Instructor / Teacher

Outdoor Instructor/ Teacher with Pastoral Care Background

Full-time, Permanent

Commencement: January 2027

Accommodation Provided On-Site

Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty

About us:

Epsom-based St Cuthbert's College is one of New Zealand's most distinctive schools for girls, a place where academic excellence, a purpose-built all-girls environment, and an extraordinary second campus come together to prepare every student for the life she chooses to create. Combined with outstanding academic outcomes, a breadth of co-curricular life, and a values-led community that walks alongside each girl from age five to eighteen, these elements create an education that shapes not just what a girl achieves, but who she becomes.

St Cuthbert’s has been educating and growing amazing young women for over a century. Kahunui is our residential outdoor centre and is at the core of this. It provides wonderful outdoor experiences alongside teaching valuable life skills to create well-rounded young women. Every Year 10 girl spends a month at our Bay of Plenty residential outdoor campus – a truly transformative experience she will remember forever.

We have the pleasure of seeking a passionate and experienced teacher/outdoor instructor who will work collaboratively with the Kahunui team, the girls, and other College leaders. St Cuthbert’s is the only New Zealand girls’ school currently to offer a residential life skills outdoor learning program on a separate campus, which is designed to advance girls' knowledge of the environment, interpersonal skills, self-management, and resilience. Our girls emerge with newfound resilience, self-confidence, and an understanding of their ability to succeed. 

About the role:

We are looking for a passionate Outdoor Teacher or Instructor who has worked in the pastoral space and has the skills to lead restorative PLD for staff and manage pastoral care in the centre, as well as working in the outdoors. Our small, dedicated team work together in all areas of the program, from preparing students for their 26 day experience full of outdoor excursions, teaching and/ or supporting our Environmental and Hauora programmes, and supporting students to take responsibility for self in an independent living environment. Our outdoor education includes tramping, sea kayaking, mountain biking, and overnight camps through to house tutor duties and supervision of some morning and night activities during each intake.

Our team live on campus together and work hard to provide a unique, student-centred, programme that caters to the individual needs of our students. This is more than just an outdoor instructing/teaching job. It involves a strong emphasis on pastoral care and a desire to build professional relationships with our students in order to see them learn and grow.

The role offers a competitive salary and includes provided accommodation, power, Wi-Fi, heating, as well as comprehensive staff insurance plan. It is expected that applicant lives onsite and is part of the staff community.

Key responsibilities:

• Deliver engaging academic, environmental, hauora and outdoor education programmes for Year 10 students.
• Provide pastoral care and support to students, helping them develop independent, resilience, self-management and strong interpersonal skills.
• Support the development of staff through restorative practice, coaching and professional learning opportunities.
• Lead and participate in outdoor activities including tramping, sea kayaking, mountain biking and overnight camps.
• Contribute to the residential programme, including house tutor responsibilities and student supervision.
• Monitor and support student progress, achievement and social development, maintaining accurate records and contributing to reporting.
• Promote environmental awareness, sustainability and kaitiakitanga throughout the Kahunui programme.

To be successful in this role, you need to: 

• Epitomise St Cuthbert's "By Love Serve" motto. Being yourself and having a can-do attitude in all you do are important factors for success in this role.
• Have a mature focus on leading and developing students and staff through restorative practices, coaching and other pastoral care requirements.
• It is essential you have relevant experience and the proven ability to mentor and guide young adolescence with a full New Zealand driver’s license or a valid overseas license and be flexible around work hours and patterns.
• Passionate about the environment and teaching students to be kaitiaki.
• You will be proactive, energetic, and pragmatic; able to demonstrate professional practice while sharing expertise in an educational and engaging way.
• Able to work independently with little or no supervision, and are well-organised, flexible and enjoy the challenges of supporting culturally diverse people.
• You may bring experience from secondary education, pastoral care or outdoor qualifications, preferably with qualifications in sea kayaking and/or tramping.
• Demonstrate health and safety knowledge and be able to adhere to and implement important safety and wellbeing practices.

How to Apply:

If you would like to apply, please click 'Apply now' and submit a cover letter and CV. Please refer to the job description for more information, or contact our Human Resources team on humanresources@stcuthberts.school.nz if you have any questions. Please note that we are unable to accept CVs or applications via email.

Applications may be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may be held on a rolling basis.

Closing Date: Friday 9th October 2026 at 3pm

Position description Apply now

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