Environmental Education School Support Officer

About The Role

Are you passionate about connecting young people with nature? Do you believe nature is for everyone? Do you genuinely want to make a difference?

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone with the drive, skills and experience to support schools taking part in Generation Wild, our nature connection programme for primary schools, children and families in disadvantaged areas. This ground-breaking project uses story, music, art, performance and puppetry to create a sense of magic and adventure, engaging a wide range of children irrespective of their background or ability.

You will be joining us at an exciting moment, as we launch in-person support for the first time – bringing an inspiring programme of nature‑connection activities to school grounds and local nature spaces. 70,000 children have already taken part in Generation Wild and together they’ve completed over 270,000 nature activities. Your work will help us reach even more young people and take this work to the next level.

Generation Wild has been running for five years and is currently fully funded until August 2027. Join us as we inspire a new generation of nature lovers.

This is initially a one-year contract but we are currently in talks with our funder with a view to extending both the Generation Wild programme and this post. This post will be based at our Washington Wetland Centre but will require frequent travel to schools within a one-hour travel distance. Your travel costs for visits to schools will be reimbursed.

We have a passion for engaging disadvantaged communities with nature and have a strong track record of working with young people from these areas. We would welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds. If this is a role that excites you, we want to hear from you.

Appointment to this position is subject to the successful candidate receiving an enhanced disclosure and barred list check (child).

About You

You will need:

• Teaching qualification (or equivalent) or substantial relevant experience
• Current driving license as the post holder will need to travel regularly to schools within a one-hour travel distance of WWT Washington Wetland Centre
• A passion for connecting young people and families with nature and to opening up nature for all, irrespective of background
• Experience of working with children (ideally either in a school or informal learning setting)
• Ability to design and deliver inspiring nature-connection activities for primary age children and their families
• Ability to coordinate and enthuse volunteers in support of your work
• Ability to use IT (particularly Word/PowerPoint/Excel) effectively in support of your work
• A good understanding of the way schools work and the pressures teachers currently face

This will be a hybrid role. On days when you are travelling out to schools you will be able to work from home beforehand and afterwards.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.