Job Introduction
CHILDREN'S CLUB MANAGER
Location: Various Neilson Beach Clubs overseas
Season: April – November
Experience Required: Significant experience working with children and young people, alongside strong leadership experience
Eligibility: UK & EU passport holders
Salary: £950–£1,300 PCM gross, depending on resort, plus accommodation, meals, flights, and an excellent overall package.
As a UK-based business operating overseas, we’re able to arrange the required visas and work permits for UK and EU passport holders to work legally in our resorts.
As one of our management positions, priority will be given to candidates who are available for the full season.
In a Nutshell
- Lead one of the largest and most important teams within a Neilson Beach Club.
- Create brilliant holiday experiences for children and young people from 4 months to 17 years old – and give their parents the confidence to enjoy their holiday too.
- Take responsibility for safeguarding, programme delivery, team development and the day-to-day Children’s Club operation.
- Develop your leadership, safeguarding, operational and people-management experience in a fast-paced overseas environment.
- Spend your season leading a fantastic team while helping create unforgettable family holidays.
About Us
For almost 50 years, Neilson has been creating unforgettable active holidays in some incredible Beach Club destinations.
From sailing and watersports to tennis, fitness, biking and much more, our guests are at the centre of everything we do.
We’re looking for enthusiastic, adaptable people with great personalities, a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for creating brilliant holiday experiences.
Our Children’s Club is a huge part of the Neilson family holiday. When parents know their children are safe, happy and having an amazing time, they can relax and enjoy everything else their holiday has to offer.
As Children’s Club Manager, you’ll lead the team that makes that happen.
About You
You’re an experienced, confident and approachable leader who genuinely enjoys working with children, young people, families and teams.
You understand that running a brilliant Children’s Club is about much more than keeping everyone entertained.
Parents are trusting us with the most important people in their world, so you’ll take safeguarding, child welfare, safety and professional standards seriously while still making sure the experience is packed with fun.
You’ll be comfortable leading a large and varied team, supporting different personalities and experience levels, making decisions, solving problems and keeping plenty of moving parts organised.
You’re also great with parents. Whether you’re welcoming a family, answering questions, understanding an individual child’s needs or resolving a concern, you’ll communicate confidently, professionally and with genuine care and empathy.
You’ll be resilient, organised and calm under pressure, with the confidence to make sensible decisions when things don’t quite go to plan.
Most importantly, you’ll lead from the front and create an environment where children have an incredible holiday, parents feel completely comfortable and your team can thrive.
Role Overview
As Children’s Club Manager, you’ll take day-to-day ownership of one of the largest departments within resort, overseeing the delivery of our programme for children and young people aged 4 months to 17 years.
You’ll lead a diverse team that may include Children’s Activity Leaders, Early Years Qualified Practitioners and Children’s Club Supervisors, making sure everyone has the support, direction and confidence they need to do a brilliant job.
Safeguarding and child welfare will always come first, but you’ll also be responsible for programme delivery, team development, staffing, rotas, facilities, equipment, communication with families and the overall guest experience.
No two days will look quite the same.
You could be coaching a team member, speaking with parents, checking programme delivery, solving an operational challenge, organising staffing or helping bring a big family event to life.
It’s a role with genuine responsibility, but also a fantastic opportunity to develop your management experience while leading a team that can make an enormous difference to a family’s holiday.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead, motivate, support and develop the Children’s Club Team.
- Take day-to-day ownership of the Children’s Club operation and guest experience.
- Oversee safe, engaging and age-appropriate programmes for children and young people aged 4 months to 17 years.
- Maintain excellent standards of safeguarding, child welfare, safety and professional practice.
- Make sure individual needs, routines, welfare requirements and relevant guest information are understood and managed appropriately.
- Build positive relationships with children, young people, parents, carers and families.
- Support, coach and mentor team members throughout the season.
- Manage staffing, rotas, departmental planning and day-to-day operational requirements.
- Monitor team performance, provide constructive feedback and help team members develop their skills and confidence.
- Create a positive working environment where people feel supported, valued and motivated.
- Make sure Children’s Club facilities, toys, equipment and activity areas are safe, clean, organised and well maintained.
- Monitor stock and equipment requirements and communicate ordering or maintenance needs.
- Work closely with the wider resort management team and other departments to deliver an exceptional family holiday experience.
- Help organise and host family activities, guest briefings, social events and resort-wide experiences.
- Follow all company operating procedures, safeguarding responsibilities and health and safety standards.
- Support resort set-up and close-down at the beginning and end of the season.
- Assist with airport transfers and wider resort operations when required.
- Lead by example and contribute to a positive, supportive and professional resort culture.
Skills & Experience
You’ll be great at this if you…
- Have significant experience working with children and young people in childcare, education, holiday clubs, camps, youth work, activity programmes or a similar environment.
- Have previous management, supervisory or senior leadership experience.
- Have experience leading, motivating, coaching and developing other people.
- Have a strong understanding of safeguarding and child welfare best practice.
- Are confident managing a busy operation involving multiple age groups, activities and priorities.
- Communicate brilliantly with children, young people, parents, carers and colleagues.
- Are organised, proactive and comfortable taking responsibility.
- Can make sensible decisions and remain calm when things don’t quite go to plan.
- Have the resilience and adaptability to lead a busy seasonal operation.
- Can balance high professional standards with creating a fun and welcoming environment.
- Are empathetic, considerate and able to deal sensitively with individual children, families and team members.
- Have a strong work ethic and lead by example.
- Genuinely enjoy helping other people develop and succeed.
- Have a genuine passion for creating exceptional experiences for children and families.
- Have a good standard of spoken English.
It’d be a bonus if you also have…
- Previous Children’s Club, Holiday Club, Camp or childcare management experience.
- An Early Years qualification at Level 3 or above, or recognised equivalent.
- Experience managing programmes covering multiple age groups.
- Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding, training and staff development.
- Experience managing departmental standards and operational performance.
- Previous overseas, resort, hospitality or seasonal work experience.
- Additional European language skills.
Qualifications & Experience
There is no single childcare qualification required for the Children’s Club Manager role.
We’re interested in experienced childcare and activity professionals who can demonstrate strong leadership, safeguarding knowledge, operational capability and a genuine passion for creating brilliant experiences for children and families.
An Early Years qualification at Level 3 or above, or recognised equivalent, is highly desirable but not essential.
We also welcome applications from candidates with relevant UK and internationally recognised childcare, education, activity, youth work and leadership qualifications.
If you’re currently working towards, booked onto or planning to complete a relevant qualification before your start date, please provide the details and expected completion date within your application.
For this role, your experience, leadership ability, safeguarding knowledge, judgement and suitability for managing a large Children’s Club operation are every bit as important as the qualifications on your CV.
For further guidance, please click here: Accepted Qualifications
First Aid Requirements
A full 12-hour Paediatric First Aid qualification is mandatory for the Children’s Club Manager role.
Your course must be completed in person, and your certificate must be in place by your start date and remain valid for the duration of your contract.
If you haven’t yet completed your Paediatric First Aid qualification but are booked onto or planning to complete the required course before your start date, you can still apply – just provide the details and expected completion date within your application.
ONLINE-ONLY FIRST AID COURSES ARE NOT ACCEPTED
For further information about Neilson’s First Aid requirements, please click here: First Aid Guidance
Commission
Alongside your monthly salary, you’ll have the opportunity to earn end-of-contract commission based on overall team income from selected extras.
What’s in it for you?
Joining Neilson is more than just a summer job. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, build confidence, experience incredible destinations, and become part of a close-knit team creating unforgettable holidays every day.
The experience, resilience, and people skills you’ll develop along the way will stay with you long after the season ends – wherever life takes you next.
Alongside the experience, you’ll get:
- A paid seasonal role in an incredible overseas destination.
- Your own room within staff accommodation, which may be within a shared apartment or staff block.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner while on duty, so your meals are taken care of.
- Travel to and from resort, subject to staff travel policy.
- Use of selected resort facilities in your spare time, so you can enjoy the destination too.
- Friends and family holiday discounts, giving the people at home the chance to experience Neilson for themselves.
- Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you settle in, develop your skills and make the most of your season.
- Opportunities to gain additional qualifications through the Neilson Academy.
- Career development opportunities through our Jump Up and Jump Higher programmes.
- Visa and work permit support where applicable.
- Role-specific uniform provided.
- One day off each week, plus accrued holiday.
- Emergency medical and dental insurance.
- 24/7 independent mental health support.
It’s a season that gives you more than a payslip – you’ll come home with new skills, new friends, incredible memories and an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left resort.
Please note: All Neilson Active employees are required to complete a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment process.
