Overview

Green Schools Project is looking for a new Programme Manager to drive us forward at an exciting stage of our growth. This is an opportunity for someone to be at the heart of a start-up social enterprise that is helping schools to develop an adequate response to the climate crisis and get young people involved in protecting the living planet.

We believe that tackling the climate and ecological crises is the most urgent issue facing society and that schools need to educate young people about the situation they face. Young people have the greatest stake in protecting our living planet yet they bear no responsibility for causing the problems that they will have to live through. We believe that, given the opportunity, they have the energy, enthusiasm, and determination to change attitudes and behaviour on a local and global scale.

Our values that we do our best to embody at all times are to be enthusiastic, innovative, environmentally responsible, ethical and fun.

We exist to help young people to learn about and get actively involved with the natural world. We support schools to provide opportunities for their students to learn about the individual actions and systemic responses required to address the climate and ecological crises. We do this by providing staff training to include these issues in the curriculum to enrich and give purpose to the learning experience of the students. We also support them to run a student-led Eco-Team which takes on projects such as energy saving, food growing and encouraging wildlife.

What you’ll do:

• Carry out visits to schools to deliver assemblies, meet key staff and help with their projects.
• Deliver continuous professional development sessions for teachers.
• Manage and train university volunteers who visit schools weekly.
• Ensure that the programme is run effectively with high quality outcomes.
• Support the development of new resources and initiatives to improve the programme.
• Create half termly newsletters that showcase the outcomes of the programme.
• Coordinate the impact measurement process of the programme.
• Recruit new schools. This will involve keeping up to date records, emailing and calling.
• Research corporate sponsorship opportunities and make initial contact with potential partners.
• Research grant funding opportunities and support writing applications.

We need you to have:

• A passion for environmental issues and a strong commitment to helping to tackle the climate and ecological crises.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working in or with schools, working with young people and a strong belief in their potential.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to motivate and enthuse adults and young people.
• Strong organisational skills with an ability to prioritise while working on a variety of tasks.
• A growth mindset and a willingness to learn.
• A resilient attitude that sees setbacks as a chance to learn and thrives in challenging situations.

It would be useful if you have:

• Teaching experience in primary schools. (This is preferable, but not essential)
• A clear understanding of how teachers work and how school decision-making works.
• Experience of and an enthusiasm for selling, communicating the benefits of the programme to schools, to potential sponsors and to grant funders.
• An enthusiasm for creating engaging resources that are suitable for young people in schools.
• Experience of managing volunteers.
• A full current DBS check, though we will arrange one if you don’t.

What you’ll get from us:

• An opportunity to shape and grow an award-winning social enterprise that aims to transform the education system so that it works for rather than against the natural world.
• A chance to have a significant say in shaping the role and growing your career as the organisation grows.
• We operate a four day working week policy.
• A supportive and encouraging environment in which to grow your skills and knowledge.
• £28,000 per year.
• Flexible working hours and arrangements.
• 25 days annual leave per year.

Location:
Unit 307, Colourworks, Abbot Street, London, E8 3DL

To apply, please send your CV and a one page covering letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job to Elena Pearce, elena@greenschoolsproject.org.uk. Please mention in your application where you heard about this position.

Timeline:
Deadline for applications: 14th July
First interview (over the phone): Week beginning 15th July
Second interview (in person): Week beginning 22nd July
Notification of decision: 29th July
Job start date: 9th September

If you would like to have an informal chat about this role before applying, please feel free to email any questions to Elena (current programme manager) on the email address above or Henry Greenwood, henry@greenschoolsproject.org.uk or call Henry on 07760381493.