This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire a generation of children at RSPB Leighton Moss. Connecting children to nature through environmental education is a core part of the RSPB's work and we are looking for a passional and inspirational educator with good general knowledge of ecology and natural history to join our friendly and supportive team.

Leighton Moss is a flagship RSPB reserve, attracting around 100’000 visitor a year. The site is located in Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Lancashire/Cumbria border. The reserve is a wetland, home to some fantastic wildlife including marsh harriers, bittern, and otters amongst many other things.

What's the role about?

This post offers 22.5 hours per week split across three days. Your role will be to deliver the RSPB's curriculum-linked programs to early years, primary, secondary and tertiary students that encourage meaningful connections to nature. This will be achieved with the support of seasonal staff and a volunteer team that you will lead and develop. You will actively promote the program to schools and education authorities, leading to an agreed minimum number of pupils experiencing our learning outside of the classroom offer each academic year.

You will work with the broader education, families and youth team to support the administration of school visits and share best practice amongst your peers.

You will work with the reserve's visitor experience team and wider reserve team to ensure educational resources and infrastructure are maintained to a high standard and that educational visits are integrated into the workstreams on the reserve.

You will be the safeguarding lead for the reserve.

What we need from you

Essentials:

• Excellent communication skills and a confident educator, able to teach young people of a wide range of ages and abilities.
• Strong organisational and planning ability to facilitate the delivery of the education programme.
• Able to interpret national programmes to ensure inspiring sessions maximise the potential of the local reserve/site.
• Confident at networking with educational stakeholders.
• Experience of the delivery of environmental education at a nature reserve or similar.
• Experience of working through the National Curriculum to deliver environmental education.
• Experience of managing seasonal staff and developing education volunteers in environmental educational delivery on nature reserves or similar.

Desirables

• Degree, PGCE, or equivalent.
• An ability to enthuse others about the natural world.

Additional Information

This role is on an annualised contract, which means that the Learning Officer may work more hours during the busier summer months, and then take additional time off during the quieter winter months. The pay remains the same throughout the year. The arrangement is something that can be discussed to ensure it works for the learning offer at Leighton Moss and for the successful candidate.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 5th December 2022. For further information please contact beki.williams@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process, you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above

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

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