Zoo education officer (maternity cover)

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Leeds City Council is seeking a Zoo Education Officer to coordinate the conservation education programme across two Leeds zoos, focusing on school sessions and home educator audiences, visitor engagement, and holiday provisions.

You will work with animal keeping and zoo management teams, Education Assistants and casual staff to deliver a varied programme. The role supports safeguarding and outreach across Temple Newsam, Tropical World, Wildlife World and Lotherton.

Qualifications

• Ability to interpret zoological/ecological information for educational purposes.
• Ability to devise and deliver environmental/zoo education workshops and events.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
• Ability to analyse data and produce effective reports and presentations.
• Ability to demonstrate good ICT skills (e.g. email; word processing; spreadsheets; database).
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Ability to organise time effectively.
• Knowledge of teaching principles in relation to the National Curriculum.
• An understanding of the role of education in zoo collections (and vice versa) and of zoo licensing requirements for education.
• A good understanding of ecological, biodiversity and broader environmental/conservation issues.
• Ability to access remote sites efficiently (including holding a full driving licence).
• Experience in environmental/zoo education and/or zoo/animal keeping and nature conservation.
• Experience of working with volunteers, children, young people and community groups, and the general public.
• Experience (minimum of 2 years) relevant in same / similar work.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and promote education programmes, information and resources themed around zoo collections for schools and community groups.
• Organise and deliver education programmes, public events and activities as necessary.
• Promote educational opportunities in zoo collections to schools and the public.
• Liaise with teachers, communities and partners on design and delivery of education projects.
• Recruit, train and manage casual education staff and volunteers to deliver the programme.
• Lead and process relevant funding applications.
• Promote safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all activities.
• Ensure effective consultation mechanisms to develop the education programme.
• Compile and provide performance information on request.
• Represent the service at internal and external meetings.
• Duties may include other responsibilities within the post’s scope.

Skills

Zoological knowledge

Education workshops

Effective communication

Data analysis & reporting

ICT skills

Teamwork & initiative

Time management

Curriculum knowledge

Zoo licensing awareness

Driving licence

Job description

Job title: Zoo Education Officer

Salary: C3 £33,119-£34,811

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Fixed term to cover maternity leave

Location: Temple Newsam, Tropical World/Roundhay Park, Lotherton and hybrid working

As a Zoo Education Officer you'll thrive on the opportunity to inspire people about the natural world by heading up our conservation education programme, developing and delivering workshops on subjects from 'Rainforests' and 'Habitats' and conservation careers, helping with interpretation and promotion of the zoo's conservation work and animal collection, and helping to coordinate the visitor engagement programme offered on weekends and during school holidays.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About you

As a Zoo Education Officer you will bring to the role:

• Enthusiasm to educate a wide range of audiences about the animals in our collections and conservation of the natural world
• Team spirit! You'll be working with our education assistants, keepers, zoo management teams and colleagues on the wider estates on a day-to-day basis, to the ability to work effectively with others is essential
• Creativity to make our educational sessions memorable, engaging and fun for children and their adults, while also meeting requirements of the National Curriculum, or of our home educator audiences.
• A good understanding of ecological, biodiversity and broader conservation issues
• Initiative and adaptability

About the role

Zoos like Tropical World and Wildlife World aim to inspire wonder and awe about the natural world, and this role plays a key part in this, overseeing a programme of engaging activities to inspire our audiences to value and conserve the natural world.

As our interim Zoo Education Officer you'll work closely with the animal keeping and zoo management teams at both Tropical World and Wildlife World, as well as other colleagues and site-based teams, in order to coordinate a rich and varied education programme. You will be part of a wider education team including another Education Officer based at Temple Newsam, Education Assistants and a pool of casual education staff who support the delivery of the programme.

The role is integral to our zoo teams, who are based within the Estates team within Climate, Energy and Green Spaces.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

against the Children's barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

The purpose of this role is to coordinate the conservation education programme across two Leeds zoos, with a focus on educational sessions for school groups and home educator audiences, visitor engagement, interpretation and holiday provisions.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop and promote education programmes, information and resources themed around our zoo collections for schools, community groups and the general public.
• Coordinate and/or undertake the organisation and practical delivery of education programmes, public events and activities as necessary.
• Plan and deliver the promotion of educational opportunities in zoo collections to schools, community groups and the public.
• Liaise with colleagues, teachers, young people and the community on the design and delivery of educational programmes and activities.
• Assist with recruitment, training and management of casual education staff and volunteers to deliver the education programme.
• To lead and process relevant funding applications.
• To promote a safeguarding approach to the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
• To ensure effective consultation mechanisms in order to develop the education programme.
• To compile and provide performance information that is accurate and timely as requested.
• To represent the service at all appropriate internal and external meetings.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

• Ability to interpret zoological/ecological information for educational purposes.
• Ability to devise and deliver environmental/zoo education workshops and events.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
• Ability to analyse data and produce effective reports and presentations.
• Ability to demonstrate good ICT skills (e.g. email; word processing; spreadsheets; database).
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Ability to organise time effectively.
• Knowledge of teaching principles in relation to the National Curriculum.
• An understanding of the role of education in zoo collections (and vice versa) and of zoo licensing requirements for education.
• A good understanding of ecological, biodiversity and broader environmental/conservation issues.
• Ability to access remote sites efficiently (including holding a full driving licence).
• Experience in environmental/zoo education and/or zoo/animal keeping and nature conservation.
• Experience of working with volunteers, children, young people and community groups, and the general public.
• Experience (minimum of 2 years) relevant in same / similar work.

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
• Carry out duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.