Based at our Fingringhoe Nature Discovery Centre, as Education and Community Engagement Officer you will develop an education programme for school groups of all ages, including our popular KS4 and KS5 programme. You will also plan and deliver an engaging and inclusive programme of activities for children, families and young people as part of our successful informal learning programme. This may include Nature Tots and Babies, after school clubs, birthday parties and school holiday events.

The successful applicant will work alongside our colleagues at Essex Wildlife Trust in a dynamic, inclusive, and inspiring environment. You will have highly developed organisational and relational skills, experience of leading groups in education 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 has nine Nature Discovery Centres across Essex, each with its own programme of delivery overseen by our education and community engagement team. The post holder will work alongside the team in North Essex to share ideas and collaborate to ensure our planned activities and events continue to be an engaging experience for the people attending.

This role provides an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a difference to wildlife and people, joining a team that is helping to build our profile as one of the largest provider of county-based outdoor education in the UK.

This role is well suited to applicants with prior experience in wildlife conservation, environmental science, and/or horticulture together with formal or informal education delivery. A Level 3 Forest School qualification is desirable. It is essential that the successful person is passionate about wildlife, nature and providing age-appropriate engaging activities within a safe environment for a charity that protects wildlife for the future and people of Essex.

The position is a permanent role, working 37.5 hours per week (over five days) based at Fingringhoe Nature Discovery Centre. Delivery will be at Fingringhoe and other locations across our North-Essex cluster of Nature Discovery Centres. The salary is £27,173 per annum.

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 a safer recruitment process including vetting checks (Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with a barred list check).

How to apply: Please complete an application form via our website by Monday 09 June 2025. Interviews will be held on Friday 20 June 2025.  Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or successfully appoint a candidate before the advertised closing date.  Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Our values are Impactful, Collaborative, United and Proactive.

Annual leave entitlement starts at 26 days per annum increasing annually to 29 days plus Bank Holidays. We provide company sick pay increasing with length of service, an employee assistance programme, a combined 8% contribution pension scheme, staff social days, colleague nomination scheme and discounts in our Nature Discovery Centres.

Essex Wildlife Trust is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is welcome. As a conservation charity, we know how important diversity is, both in our natural world and amongst the people we employ. We want everyone to feel valued and empowered to contribute to our vision of “A county rich in wildlife with people connected to nature”.

As a Disability Confident employer, please make us aware you have a disability as we are committed to offering an interview that meets the minimum criteria for the post. If you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible, please make us aware.