Vacancy title:
Play Center Manager

Jobs at:
Mbarara Kids Planet (MKP)

Deadline of this Job:
between 6th and 17th March 2017

Duty Station:
Mbarara

Job details:
Mbarara Kids Planet (MKP) is an outdoor and indoor Adventure and soft play Centre for children and adults alike. Specifically designed for toddlers at the indoor play land, MKP provides a multi-cultured safe, secure and healthier soft play center and a stimulating play environment for Children. MKP has partnered with other stakeholders including Primary Schools, Child Development Bodies and other NGOs in providing leisure and play facility specially designed for children’s indoor amusement. With the growing needs of child development, MKP will be providing Nursery School Education to compliment the Play center. MPK now seeks to recruit a dynamic, innovative and self-driven Ugandan to fill the position below:

Position: Play Centre Manager (PcM)
Reporting to: Board of Trustees

Location: (Mbarara Kids Planet Ruharo, with frequent field visits within and outside Mbarara District) Job purpose and Context: The Play Centre Manager will help to build The for reputation of MKP by creating truly inclusive services and striving excellence by creating and retaining a happy and committed staff team to deliver high quality play services that promote the children's health and well-being and assist in growing MKP through fundraising and income generation. As an experienced play practitioner, the PCM will work effectively with stakeholders and develop positive relationships with parents/careers.

Main purpose of the job:

• To support and lead a team in developing a childcare service that will work in partnership with parents and professionals to deliver socially inclusive play that facilitates children's participation, wellbeing and happiness.
  
• To support the Management in fundraising and to grow MKP in accordance with its ethos and philosophy.
  
• To ensure that children have the opportunity to explore a wide range of positive activities and experiences, develop friendships and have fun.
  
• Promote awareness of, and uphold children's rights to access play spaces and leisure services.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead the team to plan and deliver a programme of fun and varied play activities and outings that are appropriately resourced and truly inclusive.
  
• Ensure that staff and volunteers work respectfully with the children and their families and respond positively to diversity.
  
• Ensure that the staff team, volunteers and stakeholders understand the benefits of natural play environments and maximise the opportunities for children to access green spaces and gain an appreciation of nature.
  
• Marketing of the MKP activities and promotion of activities that drive its mission and vision
  
• Ensure that safeguarding, health and safety procedures are properly implemented and that the site and equipment are regularly inspected for purpose and maintained to high standard.
  
• Management of MKP Inventory and putting in place an Assets Register
  
• Challenging inappropriate practice and make recommendations for service improvement.
  
• Manage the Centre’s budget, collect fees and charges and ensure income and expenditure is recorded in accordance with the financial procedures and policies.
  
• Assist the Board of Trustees to grow the organization and assist with income generation and fundraising.
  
• Undertake any other duties as may be appropriate and required from time to time.

Person Specification:

• An appropriate early years, childcare, education, Nursery teaching or play work qualification at Diploma or Advanced certificate level.
  
• Experience of managing staff and leading teams in delivering high quality, inclusive play or childcare service.
  
• Significant experience of working with disabled children, young people and parents/careers and of facilitating an inclusive child centered service.
  
• Experience of working in partnership with other agencies and organizations.
  
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures and experience of partnership working.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to maintain the health, safety and security of others
  
• Ability to design and develop play environments and programmes that reconnect children to nature and the benefits of natural play
  
• Flexibility, initiative and the ability to respond appropriately to child and family need
  
• Good observational skills and the experience to support staff in knowing when and how best to intervene to support children’s play and social interactions.
  
• Ability to communicate with people in a form and manner that is consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.
  
• Ability and skills to assist with fundraising and income generation.
  
• Excellent active listening skills.
  
• Must be a team player with strong leadership skills and ability to work with other to achieve shared objectives.
  
• IT skills to fulfill administrative requirements of the post.

Job application procedure
How to apply: interested persons who meet the above criteria should address their applications (handwritten application, CV, testimonials, academic documents and two passport size photos) to: The Chairman Board of Trustees, Mbarara Kids Planet, P. 0. Box 1962, Mbarara and Hand delivered to Mbarara Kids Planet Office in Ruharo (off Kamomo Stage), Next to Palm World Hotel during working hours between 6th and 17th March 2017 or email it to; info@mbararakidsplanet.com.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

For inquiries and clarifications call: +256701554114 I +256101053874