The role of Education Officer is a core position within the IPCC and is essential to deliver IPCC’s vision of conserving a representative sample of the peatlands of Ireland for people to enjoy now and in the future. This post includes in house and outreach education programmes.
The duties of the Education Officer will be as follows:
- To organise, promote and deliver nature studies programmes focusing on bogs and other habitats at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre to visiting primary and secondary school groups.
- To organise, promote and deliver awareness-raising visitor programmes to groups and individual visitors to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
- To fundraise for and develop a nature studies classroom with wildlife exhibits at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre that provides a wildlife experience for visiting school groups
- To maintain the resource library at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and to facilitate its use
- To deliver outreach education programmes with IPCC educational partners
- To develop new educational and awareness-raising resources for the IPCC in liaison with sponsors
- To develop and deliver training courses focusing on nature and wildlife for the general public
- To attract meetings and conferences to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
- To attract funding and sponsorship to help deliver new garden projects.
- To maintain and develop the website and social media sites of the IPCC
- To contribute to IPCC’s publications for supporters including Action for Bogs and Peatland News
- To maintain records of visitors numbers and visiting groups to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
- Reception duties which will include dealing with telephone and face to face enquiries and operating audio-visual and other equipment
- To maintain all education exhibits in the gardens, museum and visitor centre
- To maintain all educational resources and equipment used in the nature centre
- Any other duties considered relevant to the position or to be undertaken as part of the IPCC team.
IPCC Education Officer Person Specificiation
1. Education
Essential
- Full, clean category B driving licence
- Fluent English
- Basic computer skills (MS Office suite and social media)
- Higher qualification: preferably in a relevant third level discipline (e.g. environmental science, ecology, botany, geology)
Desirable
- Knowledge of Irish peatlands
- Conversational Irish
- Graphic design work
- First Aid
2. Relevant Work Experience And Heritage Knowledge
Essential
- Proven ability to work as part of a team
- Previous experience in working with children
- Knowledge of school curriculum
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Desirable
- Knowledge of bog wildlife and peatland habitat and environs
- A good knowledge of local tourism and hospitality sites
- Previous fundraising experience
- Previous supervisory experience
- Previous retail sales and customer service experience
- Previous experience as a tour guide
- Experience working with education groups, leading school groups on nature tours
- Database experience
3. Personal Attributes
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Excellent organisational skills
- Calm and responsible under pressure
- An enthusiastic, friendly and outgoing personality
- Flexibility in working hours
- The ability to forge links with agencies and schools
- The ability to identify new opportunities in promoting learning at the nature centre
Please note that successful candidate will be subject to vetting by the
National Vetting Bureau.
The Education Officer will work from the IPCC headquarters at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare R51 V293 but will be required to work on site in schools, community venues and at our reserves in Kildare, Meath, Kerry and Waterford. Full time to include annual leave entitlement. Contract value for 24 months: €48,000.
Please write a cover letter and complete an application form and send to:
Dr Catherine O’Connell, Chief Executive, Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare R51 V293. E: bogs@ipcc.ie Please put education officer post in the subject line.
Closing date for applications 15th October 2018.