Community Engagement Officer
We are Chester Zoo
We're not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that's home to 20,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We're not just the UK's most popular zoo. We're a major wildlife charity that's committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we're making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it's needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.
The Role
We now have an exciting new role for a Community Engagement Officer to join our Conservation Education and Engagement Directorate.
The Community Engagement Officer will enable Chester Zoo to deliver community engagement projects both in the UK and linked to Chester Zoo's Field Programmes around the world. With communities in the UK, the Community Engagement Officer's role will be to build relationships with new audiences and to co-develop a programme of activities to engage them in conservation-related activities and/or connection to nature activities. In relation to the Field Programme projects, the Community Engagement Officer will support the delivery of components of these projects as planned by the Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager. This may include resource development, monitoring of progress, support with evaluation, and capacity building training.
We're looking for someone who can:
1. Develop relationships with UK community partners including community groups, schools, universities, care homes, youth groups etc. to deliver a programme of audience tailored content related to conservation and connection to nature. The focus will be to reach new audiences and those which face barriers to engaging with Chester Zoo/conservation currently.
2. Maintain and develop partnerships with local conservation organisations, local councils, wildlife record centres etc. for effective collaborative working.
3. Maintain relationships with Field Programme partners and offer ongoing support and capacity building.
4. Develop and deliver capacity building training and develop resources to complement the support provided to all partners both UK and overseas.
5. Provide administrative support, monitor budget spend, collate evaluation data, and produce reports on project activity when requested. This includes ongoing monitoring and evaluation of progress against the Community Engagement tactical plan and Field Programme proposals.
What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?
We're a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.
As the UK's biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there's always lots going on here. We're an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of nearly 500 permanent and 500 seasonal team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.
Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office - where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?
The Package
1. Permanent contract
2. 40 hours per week
3. Salary of £28,898.96 per annum to include pay award active from January 2025
4. The postholder will work 5 days per week, with the flexibility to work evenings and weekends to meet the needs of the project. This may enable some homeworking fitting around community delivery.
5. 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days
6. Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
7. Cycle to work scheme
8. Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
9. Discounted gym membership
10. Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
11. Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%
Our Requirements
1. Experience coordinating and administering community programmes and projects, preferably within a zoo, aquarium or other environmental education or conservation focused organisation with high levels of participation/co-development.
2. Subject knowledge: The post holder requires a working knowledge of conservation and the key issues threatening the natural world today, including relevant knowledge of UK native species.
3. Experience working collaboratively with a wide range of community partners, including stakeholder engagement.
4. Experience of using learning programmes to bring about social change, ideally encouraging sustainable behaviours.
5. Relevant experience leading training and/or delivering workshops to young people and adult audiences from a wide variety of backgrounds.
6. Experience developing high-quality resources for learning, both paper-based and digitally.
7. Exceptional communication and presentation skills, demonstrated through a wide range of experience presenting to different audiences, teaching and delivering learning in different formats (workshops, presentations, talks, tours etc.)
8. Experience coordinating and administering projects with demonstrable project coordination skills and knowledge.
9. Attention to detail and proofreading skills are essential.
10. IT skills: Skilled in the use of all key Microsoft packages and use of digital technologies for public engagement.
11. Organisational skills: Excellent time management, administration and planning skills. Ability to coordinate multiple project activities, meeting deadlines and ensuring appropriate quality control.
12. Interpersonal skills: Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively under own initiative and as part of a team, to work under pressure with a positive attitude and also to enthuse and engage others. The role requires the post holder to work extensively across different departments and with external colleagues.
13. Full clean driving licence.
Although not essential, the following would be desirable:
1. Relevant degree as demonstration of high level of subject knowledge.
2. Experience of asset-based community development and understanding of Trauma-Informed Practices.
3. Experience of working with underserved audiences.
The closing date for applications is 19th January 2025
Interviews will take place on 29th January 2025 #J-18808-Ljbffr