Environmental Education Officer - Lough Erne Landscape Partnership (Fixed Term - Part-Time)

Job Description

This is a great opportunity to connect and engage people with the unique natural landscape of Lough Erne by developing skills, improving confidence, and providing opportunities to learn, change perceptions and influence its management.

We are interested in hearing from people who may meet some, but not all of the essential criteria, but can demonstrate a passion to learn.

About the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership

The Lough Erne Landscape Partnership (LELP) was formed in May 2015 to develop an exciting programme of work to conserve, enhance and celebrate the unique landscape and heritage of Upper and Lower Lough Erne.

The Partnership has created a vision of a vibrant and sustainable rural economy through a coordinated approach to the protection and enhancement of Lough Erne’s unique heritage. LELP has entered the delivery phase thanks to a £2.6m investment from the National Lottery, which runs until 2023. This is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Landscape Partnership Scheme and adds another iconic Northern Ireland location to the existing areas being enhanced through Heritage Lottery Funding.

About the Role

One of the key aims of LELP is to protect, promote and enhance the natural heritage of the Lough Erne region through an educational programme with local schools and the community.

The successful candidate will be a key member of the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership (LELP) team, with the opportunity to work flexibly from home or in our Enniskillen office.The Environmental Education Officer will promote and enhance the natural heritage of the Lough Erne region through an educational programme delivered in schools and in the community. The candidate will support Lough Erne Landscape Partnership Team in delivering various projects as well as providing training and support to colleagues and project partners.

Key activities will include

• Rollout of a citizen science programme established to lead and deliver agreed citizen science activities through primary & secondary schools in the LELP area.
• Develop, deliver, and monitor a schools engagement workplan, to connect more young people to nature and inspire teachers to engage with outdoor learning.
• Deliver training to build the capabilities of staff, visitors and volunteers, ensuring high quality delivery of education programmes and projects.
• Provide reports and analysis of schools engagement work in the region, through use of internal databases, to support evaluation, development, and funding applications.
• Publicise and promote our schools engagement work to external audiences, ensuring we grow our schools audience and connect more children to nature, and deliver a coherent supporter journey for schools in the region.
• Develop and maintain partnerships to support project partners and schools engagement across the region in order to maximise connections to nature.
• Manage project budgets in line with agreed outputs.
• Develop an environmental programme and training plan for staff, schools and visitors.
• Development of an education forum within LELP.
• Creation and review of an activity-based learning repository of learning activities resources.
• Work with the LELP teams to identify and apply for necessary funding to support ongoing and future environmental educational activities.
• Assist in the delivery of natural heritage activities and projects as necessary.
• Delivery of natural heritage awards scheme.
• Activity and event planning in line with project objectives.

What we need from you

As Environmental Education Officer you will ideally have:

• Knowledge of the education landscape in Northern Ireland especially around the principles and practice of outdoor learning and nature-based education.
• Knowledge of environmental and natural science
• Understanding of child safety and welfare, and key aspects of safeguarding.
• Excellent project management, planning & prioritising and communication skills
• Experience of delivering outdoor learning to children and young people in a formal setting
• Experience of delivering training to adults and engaging the local community with natural heritage.
• Although not essential, you would ideally have a relevant qualification in natural sciences, education, biodiversity etc and experience of working with volunteers

Additional Information

For all application/role enquiries please contact - Heather Gott (Community Connections and Volunteer Manager) - heather.gott@rspb.org.uk

This is a part-time role for 30 hours per week over a 4-day week, on a fixed-term contract. This role is currently funded until March 2024. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Please note that you will be required to only complete an online application form where you will be given the opportunity to tell us why you are best suited for this role.

We will be looking to conduct interviews around the 5th October.

Before applying for this role we would recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

This role will require the completion of an Access NI in addition to the standard pre-employment checks.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974