Senior Dinghy Instructor (Seasonal)

RYA Senior Instructor (Seasonal) – 2027

We're looking for an experienced and enthusiastic RYA Senior Instructor to join Keep Sailing for the March/April to October 2027 season.

Based across our West London and Surrey centres in Hampton, Surbiton and Guildford, with opportunities to support our North London and Shoreham centres, this is a varied, hands-on role combining sailing instruction with team leadership and daily centre operations.

You'll still spend plenty of time on the water delivering RYA courses, youth programmes and group sessions, but you'll also take responsibility for ensuring activities run safely, professionally and smoothly.
We're a friendly, growing organisation and are open to shaping the role around the right person.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver RYA dinghy sailing courses for adults and young people, from beginners through to advanced levels.
• Run daily centre operations, including session planning, boat allocation, staffing and briefings.
• Act as Senior Instructor on duty, supervising instructors and assistants on the water.
• Lead on safety, weather assessments, risk assessments and the implementation of operating procedures and emergency action plans.
• Mentor, support and develop Dinghy Instructors and Assistant Instructors through practical coaching and feedback.
• Carry out equipment, boat and safety boat checks, reporting maintenance requirements.
• Provide a friendly, professional point of contact for customers, parents, schools and groups.
• Support schools, youth programmes, holiday clubs, group bookings and corporate events.
• Travel to other Keep Sailing centres, including North London and Shoreham, when required.

Skills and Experience
We're looking for someone who has:

• Strong dinghy sailing, coaching and teaching skills.
• Experience working as a Senior Instructor at an RYA Recognised Training Centre.
• Experience running daily operations at a watersports centre.
• Confidence supervising instructors and managing safe water-based activities.
• Experience teaching sailing to a wide range of ages and abilities.
• Calm, clear decision-making skills, particularly around weather and safety.
• Good organisation and the ability to manage multiple sessions and activities.
• A friendly, approachable and professional manner with customers and colleagues.
• The ability to motivate, mentor and provide constructive feedback to instructors.
• Flexibility and reliability within a busy seasonal working environment.

Essential Qualifications

• RYA Senior Instructor (Dinghy)
• RYA Dinghy Instructor
• RYA Safety Boat
• Valid First Aid certificate

Desirable Qualifications

• RYA Powerboat Instructor, or willingness to undertake the qualification
• RYA Wingsurf / Wingfoiling Instructor
• RYA endorsements, including Racing, Keelboat or Multihull
• SUP Instructor

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, depending on experience, paid pro rata for the seasonal contract.
• Full-time seasonal employment, March/April to October 2027.
• 17 days' paid annual leave for the contract period, inclusive of bank holidays.
• Workplace pension with employer contributions, subject to eligibility and automatic enrolment requirements.
• Opportunities for further RYA training, professional development and career progression.
• A varied role combining sailing instruction, team leadership and centre operations.
• A supportive team and opportunities to work across multiple Keep Sailing centres.

About Keep SailingKeep Sailing is a growing, not-for-profit watersports organisation delivering RYA training, youth programmes, school activities, group experiences and instructor development across London, Surrey and the South East.
Our mission is to make watersports accessible, safe and enjoyable for everyone.
We're investing in our people, programmes and partnerships, creating opportunities for instructors to develop their careers and help shape the future of watersports.
How to ApplyIf you're an experienced Senior Instructor who enjoys teaching, leading teams and helping others develop, we'd love to hear from you.Please send your CV to Freddie Lovejoy at flovejoy@keepsailing.co.uk, or visit www.keepsailing.co.uk/join-the-team.
We're happy to have an informal conversation about the role and how it could work for you.