Senior Learning & Community Officer

ASVA; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff membership with free entry to RZ

Job summary

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is seeking a senior professional to lead the Discovery and Learning programme at Highland Wildlife Park. You will connect schools, communities and volunteers with wildlife and conservation, while guiding a small, dedicated team to create engaging experiences that spark curiosity.

You will shape and deliver programmes, collaborate with education bodies and ensure accessibility and inclusivity across initiatives, contributing to a vibrant visitor experience

Qualifications

• Proven, extensive, relevant experience gained through professional and or educational development.
• Significant experience of delivery or working in a teaching-related environment with emphasis on out-of-school learning and teamwork.
• Experience developing, working with and delivering community programmes.
• Ability to tailor complex messages to a wide range of audiences.
• Knowledge of scientific and conservation elements in education beyond formal learning centres.

Responsibilities

• First point of contact for audiences and stakeholders joining the park community and learning programmes.
• Contribute to, develop and deliver the activity and evaluation plan for Discovery, community and Learning programmes.
• Line manage the Discovery and learning officers and discovery rangers at the park and their day-to-day operations to ensure first-class visitor experience.
• Support, develop and deliver the Highland Wildlife Park volunteer programme.
• Collaborate in the development of the discovery and learning programme.

Job description

Organisation: The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

Location: Edinburgh Zo

Who we are

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved. Our 2030 strategy includes three ambitious pledges: to reverse the decline of 50 species; to create deeper connections with nature for more than one million people; and to enable more than 100 communities to better connect with nature.

Who are Discovery and Learning

We spark curiosity, create connection and inspire action. Through learning, experiences, community partnerships, interpretation, volunteering and engagement, we bring people closer to nature, science and the incredible work happening across RZSS.

We believe a great experience can do more than teach someone something new. It can make them stop, wonder, care and see the natural world differently. That is what drives us.

We are a creative, ambitious and passionate team, always looking for new ways to reach people, open doors and help more people feel that nature is for them.

The senior community and learning role

Love people, learning and nature? This could be the role for you.

You’ll help shape and deliver the Discovery and Learning programme at Highland Wildlife Park, connecting schools, communities and volunteers with the amazing world of wildlife and conservation. You’ll lead a small, passionate team, build strong partnerships and create experiences that spark curiosity, inspire connection and leave people wanting to know more.

It’s a hands‑on role with real scope to bring your ideas to life and help shape the future of learning and engagement at the Park.

The Role

• To act as first point of contact for audiences and stakeholders joining the park community and learning programmes
• To contribute to, develop and deliver the activity and evaluation plan for Discovery, community and Learning programmes
• To line manage the Discovery and learning officers and discovery rangers at the park and their day-to-day operations ensuring the programmes and engagement provides first-class visitor experience

Some of the things you’ll be doing

• First point of contact for the community and learning programmes
• Support, develop and deliver the HWP volunteer programme
• Collaborate in the development of the discovery and learning programme

Collaborate in the development of the discovery and learning programme

• Collaborate in the development of the discovery and learning programme
• Work with the Discovery and Learning Programme Manager to liaise with appropriate education bodies to ensure the primary and secondary school delivery continues to meet the needs of the school curriculum and conditions of any funding received
• Line manage the Discovery and Learning Officer and discovery rangers based at Highland Wildlife Park (x4)
• Research, input into the development of and deliver content for activity plan programmes including the creation of resource materials
• Ensure that developed programmes are accessible, inclusive and representational to the communities we’re supporting, working with the Accessibility and Inclusion Manager where necessary.

What we are looking for

• Proven, extensive, relevant experience gained through professional and or educational development
• Significant experience of delivery or working in a teaching‑related environment with particular emphasis upon out‑of‑school learning and working as part of a team.
• Experience of developing, working with and delivering community programmes
• Ability to tailor often complex messages to a wide range of audiences
• Knowledge and understanding the relevant scientific and conservation elements, in primary, secondary and tertiary education, outside of formal learning centres

Please see the role profile for further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria.

What you’ll get in return:

• Starting salary of £34,526 – £35,389 with the opportunity to progress to £38,483 per annum.
• 34 days annual leave (annual will be prorated for part time hours worked)
• Discount in both retail/catering
• Access to a healthcare plan
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), that provide 24-hour counselling and support, including health, legal, finance, wellbeing and family advice
• Employer contributory pension scheme
• You will receive a staff membership which will give you (and family/friends) free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo as well as a number of other Zoo’s across the UK.

If this role excites you and aligns with your career aspirations,

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate’s right to work in the UK and a PVG check.

Please note that shortlisting of applications and interviews for this position will take place while the advert is live. The advert will close once a successful candidate has been found.

Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications, as soon as possible.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act 2010.

Please see the role profile for further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria.