Education and Community Engagement Officer (Belfairs)

Essex Wildlife Trust Ltd; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex Wildlife Trust Ltd invites applications for an Education and Community Engagement Officer. The role is based at Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre and covers sites across South Essex, delivering school and community education programs that foster engagement with wildlife and nature.

You will lead KS4/KS5 school programmes and an inclusive activity schedule for children, families, and young people. A Level 3 Forest School is desirable; a passion for wildlife and public education is essential.

Qualifications

• This role requires experience delivering education activities to diverse audiences.
• It requires passion for engagement and ability to lead groups in learning activities.
• Forest School Level 3 qualification is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Deliver formal and informal nature-based learning for school groups (KS4/KS5).
• Plan and run activities for children, families and young people, including Nature Tots and holiday events.
• Collaborate with Wilder Learning colleagues to promote Essex Wildlife Trust and engage communities.

Skills

Education delivery

Community engagement

Organisational skills

Relationship building

Education

Forest School Level 3 (desirable)

Job description

As an Education and Community Engagement Officer, you will deliver formal and informal nature-based learning programmes to a diverse range of audiences, promoting the work of Essex Wildlife Trust. Whilst being based at Belfair's, this role will involve supporting delivery across our sites in South Essex.

You will deliver an education programme for school groups of all ages, including our popular KS4 and KS5 programme. You will also plan and deliver an engaging and inclusive programme of activities for children, families and young people as part of our successful informal learning programme. This may include Nature Tots and Babies, after school clubs, birthday parties and school holiday events.

The successful applicant will work alongside our Wilder Learning colleagues at Essex Wildlife Trust in a dynamic, inclusive, and inspiring environment. You will have a passion for engagement and enjoy delivering formal and informal sessions for a range of audiences. You will have highly developed organisational and relational skills, experience of leading groups in education activities and an infectious, driven energy for our work. You will also have the same passion as us for widening access to nature.

Essex Wildlife Trust has nine Nature Discovery Centres across Essex. The post holder will work alongside the team in South Essex to share ideas and collaborate to ensure our planned activities and events continue to be an engaging experience for the children and young people attending.

This role provides an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a difference to wildlife and people, helping to build our profile as one of the largest providers of county-based outdoor education.

This role is well suited to applicants with prior experience in wildlife conservation or environmental science, together with formal or informal education delivery. A Level 3 Forest School qualification is desirable but not essential.

It is essential that the successful person is passionate about wildlife, nature and providing age-appropriate engaging activities within a safe environment for a charity that protects wildlife for the future and people of Essex.

The position is a permanent role, working 37.5 hours per week and based at Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre near Leigh on Sea. The starting salary for this role is £27,444 per annum.