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.

What's the role about 

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.

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

• Creation and rollout of a citizen science programme established to lead and deliver agreed citizen science activities through 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.
• Creation of an education forum within LELP that will meet the needs of each partner whilst championing the needs of the LELP area.
• 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.

What we need from you 

As Environmental Education Officer you will 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 an educational qualification and experience of working with volunteers