To help illustrate Educator roles, here are three job descriptions that represent (real) entry level Educator jobs. Pay particular attention to the selection criteria (specifications) to learn more about what conservation employers are looking for when they hire Educators.

Wilder Learning Officer | Essex Wildlife Trust | Essex, UK

As Wilder Learning Officer you will be delivering wildlife and nature-based programmes to a diverse range of audiences to foster a deeper relation with the natural world and promote the work of Essex Wildlife Trust.

Based at our Grange Farm Centre at Roding Valley Meadows, the post holder will plan and deliver an engaging and inclusive programme of activities for children attending our Nature Babies, Nature Tots, Forest School, after school clubs, birthday parties and weekend and school holiday events. The role provides an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a real difference to wildlife and young people, joining a team that is the go-to organisation in Essex for formal and informal outdoor learning and helping to build our profile as the largest provider of county-based outdoor education.

You will work alongside our Wilder Learning colleagues at the Trust in a dynamic, inclusive, and inspiring environment. You will have highly developed organisational and relational skills, experience of leading groups in education-related activities, and an infectious, driven energy for our work. You will also have the same passion as us for widening access to nature.

Essex Wildlife Trust are the county’s leading conservation charity, committed to protecting wildlife and inspiring a lifelong love of nature; and we would love you to join our committed and enthusiastic team. Our values are Inspiring, Collaborative, United and Professional.

Key tasks 

1. Plan and deliver activities for the Trust’s Wilder Learning provision, including Nature Babies, Nature Tots, the Wilder Schools Programme, Forest School, after school clubs, birthday parties, weekend and school holiday activities for children and families, and the Wild Living Programme.
2. Develop strong links with local schools and community groups to promote the Trust to the local community, promoting Essex Wildlife Trust as the go-to organisation for highquality outdoor learning experiences.
3. Ensure that budgets are maintained and managed, and income and delivery targets are met or exceeded.
4. Ensure that provision is developed across all age groups, targeted according to the Trust’s priority audiences, with ‘Wildlife for all’ at the heart of delivery.
5. Ensure that all activities run in accordance with the appropriate policies, procedures, and practices, ensuring that all activities are risk assessed and health and safety compliant, demonstrating the highest levels of professionalism.
6. Carry out any necessary administrative aspects of operations, including managing resources and general housekeeping.
7. At all times be a reflective practitioner, evaluating your work in the spirit of continuous improvement, ensuring that the needs of participants and partners are met or exceeded.
8. Demonstrate and develop skills, attitudes, and behaviours in line with the Trust’s Competencies Framework.
9. Continue to develop as an expert in outdoor education and nature connectedness, building action and impact into everything you do. 
10. Support the development and delivery of programmes across all age groups, targeted according to the Trust’s priority audiences, with ‘Wildlife for all’ at the heart of delivery.
11. As appropriate, lead on projects within the Trust’s growing portfolio of county-wide education-focused engagement projects.
12. Work collaboratively and build strong relationships with colleagues across the Trust to create maximum impact across all areas.
13. Work effectively with colleagues across the Trust and demonstrate the values of being Inspiring, Collaborative, United and Professional.
14. Work closely with colleagues and counterparts across the Wildlife Trusts movement, sharing ideas and best practice, in the spirit of cooperation and continual improvement to create maximum impact across all areas.
15. Promote and protect the Essex Wildlife Trust brand.
16. Undertake any other duties assigned by the Wilder Learning Manager that are deemed to be within the scope of the role and the contract of employment.

Person specification

1. Has experience in wildlife conservation, environmental science, and/or horticulture.
2. Has experience of formal and informal education.
3. Holds a Level 3 Forest School qualification
4. Has highly developed problem-solving and analytical skills.
5. Has a high level of proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite.
6. Can collaborate with other teams and departments to deliver greater impact.
7. Follows current affairs, particularly in the environmental and education sectors.
8. Is flexible and willing to support out-of-hours demands as and when required.
9. Has the ability to work under pressure.
10. Has experience of developing successful programmes of education delivery.
11. Can demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills.
12. Has excellent attention to detail.
13. Possesses good organisational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects.
14. Is proactive and enthusiastic.

Additional information

• The role entails some evening and weekend working including Bank Holidays.
• The role requires an interest in working for a charity that is determined to protect wildlife for the future and for the people of Essex.
• The role requires the ability to drive, including a full driving licence and use of a vehicle, though pool vehicles may sometimes be available.
• The role is based at Grange Farm Centre at our Roding Valley Meadows Reserve, but may require regular travel across the county and beyond, with mileage paid for additional travel.
• The post holder has a responsibility to safeguard and promote the wellbeing of children and young people.

Essex Wildlife Trust is committed to equal opportunities and maintaining a safe and secure environment for all children and young people. Therefore, the successful applicant for this position will be subject to pre-employment checks including a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note, it is an offence to apply for this position if barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Education and Engagement Coordinator | National Wildlife Federation | Denver, USA

The primary roles of the Education and Engagement Coordinator are to collaborate with and support ECHO’s multi-disciplinary design and engagement team to foster greater engagement of children in outdoor learning through education, training, support, and communications. The Coordinator works closely with the Senior Education and Engagement Coordinator to develop, support, and implement training and professional development, create content and communications, strengthen existing relationships and create new partnerships, build local and regional expertise and capacity, and provide general administrative support for events and programming. The Coordinator reports to ECHO’s Deputy of Partnership and Development. This is a full-time, 1-year term position, with potential to become a permanent position.

Principal Duties (major areas of responsibility):

Collaborating with the ECHO Senior Education and Engagement Coordinator, the Education and Engagement Coordinator is responsible for:

• Developing content for and delivering community presentations, trainings, and professional development offerings for early childhood educators, caregivers, educators, early childhood coaches or directors, and other stakeholders.
• Supporting existing relationships with ECHO outdoor learning sites and local and national partners.
• Coordinating engagement and building new relationships with early childhood organizations and intermediaries, educators and caregivers, schools and universities, museums, libraries, parks, and community-centered organizations that elevate marginalized (e.g., Black, Indigenous, other People of Color, and/or lower income) communities.
• Assisting in building capacity for outdoor play and learning through training and coordination of professional cohorts, technical assistance networks, and collaboration with local and national ECHO partners.
• Collaborating with ECHO’s Communications staff to support ECHO’s education and engagement communications strategy, including developing and implementing systems for reporting, storytelling, and social media.
• Coordinating ECHO events including volunteer work days, annual ECHO Summit, regional symposia, and national conferences.
• Helping develop and coordinate ECHO’s evaluation and impact strategy to share ECHO’s range of professional development and its impact: gather data, support evaluation and analysis, and assist in reporting.
• Conducting site visits as needed and conduct evaluation measures including surveys, site assessments, photographs, and interviews.
• Regularly communicating with ECHO audiences and stakeholders to provide technical assistance with event registration, invoicing, and general inquiries.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience in education and/or early childhood education, project coordination, and community engagement required.
• Experience in developing content, presentations, trainings, and an understanding of adult learning.
• Experience with evaluation tools, tracking data, analysis, and reporting.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Microsoft Office proficiency. Adobe Creative Suite proficiency or willingness to learn.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines.
• Fluent and conversational English and Spanish language skills preferred. Capable of engaging and bolstering marginalized voices in your work.
• Ability to listen and respond with empathy to others’ lived experiences that may be very different than your own.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, both in-person and virtually.
• Shares the values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.

Conservation Educator | Colchester Zoo | UK

• Experience delivering education and communicating to large and small groups as well as individuals.
• Experience working in a team and contributing to team goals.
• Gathering and analysing data.

Desirable

• Booking administration.
• Planning and evaluating projects.
• Designing and delivering programmes for use by volunteers.
• Designing programmes that are inclusive and accessible i.e. developing and evaluating sessions and resources for students with SEND

General

Essential

• Ability to follow instructions.
• Dependable and ability to meet deadlines given.
• Be able to deliver sessions enthusiastically.
• Able to use initiative to problem solve. Warm, open-minded and professional.

Desirable

• Full driving license.
• A teaching qualification is helpful but not required.

WORKING HOURS