This is a great opportunity to play a pivotal role in the development and delivery of a centrally administered teacher training programme in Birmingham that will build confidence and action in teachers.

Part of the Naturally Connected Communities Birmingham project - a Green Recovery Challenge funded initiative - the Birmingham Teacher Training Officer will support teachers to deliver more and more impactful activity for pupils from diverse social backgrounds, that deepens their connection to nature and helps them take action to protect and enhance it.

**Please note we are also currently recruiting for a Birmingham Teacher Training Officer - Primary Education Specialist.

What’s the role about

This role is part of a team led by the Birmingham Community Project Manager and will work alongside education specialists from RSPB Headquarters and the RSPB Birmingham Teacher Training Officer - Primary Education Specialist, a new role which we are currently recruiting for alongside this opportunity.  

This role is about the development and delivery of a new teacher CPD offer to cohorts of teachers in a way that is effective, impactful, and inspiring. This pilot project in Birmingham will test and trial ways to effectively engage and empower teachers to change their pedagogy so that their curriculum-based lessons develop an emotional connection and feelings of compassion for nature in children.  You will work with the primary education specialist to deliver online and face to face training sessions and provide ongoing support, modelling effective outdoor learning practice and exploring new ways for teachers to take their curriculum-based learning outdoors so that they improve children’s connection to nature. 

You will ensure the programme meets curricula and teacher needs, using research & insight to effectively engage teachers to recruit them into the programme and working alongside them to help co-create content to ensure it is relevant and supportive, whilst ensuring the creativity and hands on experiences of outdoor learning and the need to connect children to nature is not lost.

The outdoor education specialist will play a key role in supporting teachers and developing their confidence in teaching in, through and for nature. This could be by modelling techniques, relieving concerns by busting myths, or by increasing teachers’ understanding of how learning outdoors in, for and about nature can occur with a strong emphasis on curriculum outcomes.

What we need from you

The successful candidate should have experience of delivering outdoor learning and an understanding of how curriculum outcomes are assessed for quality in the outdoors. You will have training skills and experience with adults through delivering webinars as well as face to face training and will understand how coaching models can be used to support an adult’s individual development. Through an understanding of behaviour change, these skills will be focused on developing teachers who are more likely to implement and use the training and will explore how barriers relating to outdoor education can be overcome.

Highly proficient in MS Office systems with experience in delivering projects effectively and making strategic links with local partners who will add value to what we deliver, you will be able to work independently and as part of a team, inspiring others and building strong working relationships.

We are looking for a candidate who understands the needs, pressures and structures that teachers operate within, as well as understanding the school and national curricula frameworks and the reasons why outdoor education is often over-looked and undervalued. One of the reasons for this is to improve marketing of the offers to this audience.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of delivering outdoor learning with National Curriculum outcomes and assessing against these in the outdoors
• Experience of delivering online and face to face training for adults and using coaching models to support adult’s development
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Proficiency in MS Office systems

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of working within formal education
• Experience of managing and working with volunteers

This role is based in Birmingham, with the option for the successful candidate to be either dual located working between home and the RSPB’s central Birmingham office as the business need requires or fully based in the Birmingham office if preferred. Occasional travel within the Birmingham area will also be required.

We are committed to making our organisation diverse and inclusive, and as such are keen to encourage applications from people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with disabilities.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on the 29th or 30th September on Microsoft Teams, with a view of the most suitable candidate beginning the role as soon as possible afterwards.

Please note that you will be required to only complete an online application form.

Before applying to this role we would encourage you to read through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

Should you have any queries about this vacancy, please contact Emma Knight, England Education, Families and Youth Manager  - emma.knight@rspb.org.uk