Junior Education & Engagement Officer

Westcountry Rivers Trust are looking for a highly motivated, organised and enthusiastic Junior
Education and Engagement Officer with a focus on assisting with the development and delivery of
the WRT Education programme.

This is a permanent contract, following a successful 6-month probation period.

The starting salary for this role is £23,000 to £25,000 per annum (dependent on experience).

The role is 37.5 hours per week.

Benefits while working for Westcountry Rivers Trust

• 25 days Annual Leave per annum, with a reward for long service – an additional 1 day per
  year for each year worked over 5 years, up to a maximum of 30 days for employees serving 10
  years.
• An additional 3 days leave for the Christmas Closure period.
• 9% Employer Pension, plus Life Assurance cover.
• Hybrid and Flexible Working.

Apply by midnight on Sunday 4th August 2024 by CV and
Covering Letter to: hr.breathehr.com/v/junior-education-and-engagement-36452

Interviews will be held in person at our offices in Stoke Climsland on Monday
19th August 2024.

For queries about this role or the application process please contact [email protected]

About Westcountry Rivers Trust

Formed in 1994, the trust was established to restore Westcountry rivers and everything we do is
informed by the best available science.

Our work is driven by an ‘ecosystems approach,’ considering the function of the entire
catchment, not just the rivers that flow within them.

We work with a wide range of stakeholders from landowners to local communities, businesses,
farmers and water companies to restore and protect the rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal
areas for the benefit of people, wildlife and the local economy. Measures to protect rivers can
help to save money for farmers, lower costs for water companies, boost tourism, reduce the need
to dredge estuaries and benefit human health.

There has never been a more important time to work for the rivers of the Westcountry as the
impacts of the climate emergency and the ecological crisis forces society to invest in building
catchment resilience.

Spurred by a shared love of rivers, the Westcountry Rivers Trust is very much a grassroots
organisation, brought into existence from the bottom up. In the early 90s, a group of
individuals, passionate – but concerned – about the waterways around them, began to stitch
together their ambitions for restoring Westcountry rivers, laying the foundations for the trust
we know today.

The Role

Education and Engagement are two of the most important activities Westcountry Rivers Trust
deliver. We have a substantial history of successfully developing and delivering a programme of
school activities that meet the needs of teachers, learners and the national curriculum, as
well as communicating with communities and businesses across the region, highlighting rivers as
a key habitat and landscape feature that are central in building climate resilient landscapes
and communities of the future.

This is an exciting time for education at WRT as we develop and expand our current education
offering. This role will assist the development and delivery of our education programme, as
well contributing to community engagement activities through other trust wide projects,
including the Rapid Response Catchments project.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and competent candidate who is passionate about the
environment and building opportunities for children and wider communities to engage with river
conservation.

Proactive engagement with schools and communities across the southwest will form the bedrock of
much of this work, including activities such as school sessions, community engagement events,
co-creation workshops and community meetings. Working with the Senior Education and Engagement
Officer, you will contribute to the development of a suite of interactive and inspiring
education packages, including tailored resources, for both children and adults alike. These
will be designed to promote understanding of local environments, the risks they are faced with
in a changing climate and, most importantly, how we can work together to plan and deliver
actions that will protect them in the future.

Training, support and a career pathway will be provided to the right candidate to enable
development into this role.

Key responsibilities include:

• Contribute to the development of an exciting and diverse range of engagement and education
  activities.
• Contribute to the development of environmental education packages that align with and
  support relevant areas of the current National Curriculum.
• Contribute to the development of education and community engagement activities across a
  range of Trust projects, including our citizen science programme and the Rapid Response
  Catchments project.
• Deliver school and community-based education and engagement events, including, but not
  limited to, school sessions, farmer workshops, co-creation workshops, litter picks, river
  festivals, guided walks, art and digital media projects.
• Public speaking at educational events, workshops and meetings.
• Data collation, analysis and reporting to ensure project activities are evidenced.
• Assist in the delivery of project activities and key milestones to achieve project
  objectives.
• Assist in the planning, and attend, and deliver meetings with internal and external
  stakeholders.
• Other administrative tasks required by the Trust including meeting health and safety
  requirements; time sheeting and expenses; attendance at training, CPD and team away days;
  attendance at project inception meetings etc.
• You may be asked to take on other duties as appropriate.

Person specification.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• A good knowledge of, or background in, the environmental or conservation sectors.
• A degree, or comparable qualification or experience in Environmental
  Science/Ecology/Geography or Education, or a related discipline.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both face-to-face and in online meetings.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills for a wide range of audiences.
• Good organisational and admin skills, with good attention to detail in order to maintain a
  filing system, keep appropriate records of work undertaken and outcomes, and file expenses in
  line with funders requirements.
• Good IT skills including Microsoft Office 365.
• Ability to manage workload and time effectively.
• Good knowledge of requirements for data protection and confidentiality.
• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Be willing and able to travel across the area of operations as required by the role.

Desirable

• A postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience of working with communities or in an informal education setting.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding.
• Knowledge and experience of environmental issues, preferably river conservation.
• Knowledge of the rivers and catchments across the southwest and river catchment function.
• Experience of co-design, co-production and/or co-creation activities.

Notes

Westcountry Rivers Trust’s office is in Stoke Climsland and whilst we have adopted hybrid
working there is an expectation to work from the office on a regular basis and to travel to
sites across the delivery area. During the probation period there will be a requirement to work
from the office a minimum of 2 days a week, unless by prior agreement.

Westcountry Rivers Trust is committed to equal opportunities and maintaining a safe and secure
environment for the children and young people we engage with. As part of our safer recruitment
process successful candidates will be subject to thorough background checks, including
reference checks, employment history verification and an enhanced Disclosure and Baring Service
(DBS) check as well as proof of identify and qualifications.