Overview

The role will include overall responsibility of the Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre, Oxon and the education provision at The Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham, Berks. The aim of the Community Learning Team is to promote connection to nature to broad audiences through a varied, hands-on and income generating Learning Programme.

The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic and motivating manager who will lead the team to deliver our inspiring programmes for schools, families, young people and adults. The ideal candidate will have a minimum three years’ experience developing and delivering learning opportunities to broad audiences including young people under 18 years of age and be a skilled communicator, experienced in leading teams of staff and volunteers.

JOB PURPOSE

• To lead the Community Learning Team in the west of our region (Oxfordshire and West Berkshire)
• To promote connection to local wildlife to broad audiences
• To enable audiences to recognise pathways to action for wildlife as a result of taking part in activity and increased nature connection
• Overall management of Education Centres in the west of our region

REPORTING LINE

• Reports directly to Community Engagement Director

EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT

• The Senior Learning Officer (Oxon), Senior Learning Officer (West Berks) and Learning Support Officer (West) report to the Learning Manager (West)

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for achieving agreed income targets and managing annual budget

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Management of formal education programme at Centres (SCEEC, NDC)
• Management and development of new initiatives for school engagement
• Management and development of informal learning opportunities to broad audience (at Education Centres and Visitor Centres)
• Scoping opportunities for new delivery partnerships and projects
• To develop and oversee new learning projects
• Ensuring culture of teamworking across teams
• Promoting Team Wilder agenda throughout the learning programme
• Coordination of BBOWT learning offer with Learning Manager (East), Community Wildlife Manager and NDC Visitor Centre Manager
• Effective line management of the Community Learning (West) team
• Adhere to all Trust policies, procedures and systems
• To represent the Trust in a professional manner and to act at all times in a manner which will not damage its reputation
• To ensure that all health and safety obligations are met in all aspects of the role (in particular, to ensure implementation of Child Welfare and Safety Code of Practice)
• To provide regular reports as required
• To engender a culture of membership recruitment within the team
• Any other duties as delegated by the line manager, Head of Department or Chief Executive

Personal Specification

• Minimum three years’ experience in developing and delivering  learning opportunities to broad audiences including young people under 18 years of age
• Experience of staff management and leading motivated teams
• Experience of budget management
• An understanding of the national curriculum
• A skilled communicator who can engage broad audiences
• Experience of managing volunteers
• Excellent presentation skills
• Understanding of appropriate health and safety issues
• Experience of partnership working
• Ability to work to a high standard
• First aid qualification
• A willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Well-developed IT skills with a working knowledge and understanding of MS Office functions such as Word, Excel, Outlook   and the internet
• Ability and willingness to demonstrate the BBOWT behaviours of Connect; Grow; Lead by Example; Positivity; and Conscious   Inclusion
• PGCE or equivalent experience  means that the certification must be achieved within 6 months of being appointed in post (if  not already qualified). In these instances, the candidate appointed will receive appropriate training and two opportunities to pass assessments to ensure that they do meet the criteria. The training and assessments will take place within the six month probationary period or a longer period if agreed by the Trust. A consistent failure to achieve an adequate standard in tests for ‘essential’ skills is likely to mean that the employment will be terminated.