Assistant Education Officer in Belfast

Responsible to the Education Officer for providing public education in relation to Belfast Zoo and its role in wildlife conservation, breeding programmes and scientific study. Assist the Education Officer in carrying out an annual work programme of public education initiatives and community engagement activities, and subsequently delivering it to agreed quality, time and budget targets.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Education Officer in developing, implementing and monitoring Belfast Zoo's education strategy in line with relevant legislation, industry standards and curriculum requirements.
• Deliver Belfast Zoo's education programmes concerning wildlife, conservation and other curricular-based topics, and organise and deliver educational activities, talks, and tours for visitors.
• Assist the Education Officer in developing, maintaining and monitoring risk assessments, industry standards and health and safety requirements for all educational activities.
• Visit external organisations including schools, nursing homes, hospitals, etc., to deliver educational talks and generally promote Belfast Zoo and its conservation and education programmes.
• Participate in courses for teachers and other external organisations promoting the zoo as a facility for attaining targets set up by the national curriculum.
• Assist in the preparation, upgrading and distribution of all educational and booking material including registration packs, worksheets, on-site information signs, display materials for exhibitions and events.
• Assist in maintaining and expanding a library of relevant visual aids, including books, photographs and artefacts and assist in storing this material on computer.
• Help maintain a collection of small animals specifically for educational uses. Ensure high standards of animal welfare through educational activity following husbandry guidelines and protocols for animals used for educational purposes.
• Participate in media work including radio broadcasting and television in line with departmental and corporate guidelines.
• Assist and take part in the organisation of promotional events, activities and exhibitions. Attend such events as required.
• Keep detailed records of own work and time for budget and performance monitoring purposes.
• Develop, maintain and monitor an effective administration of the educational activities including booking and financial procedures for educational programmes and activities.
• Develop reports and performance data to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of education programmes and activities in achieving objectives and targets.
• Ensure high standards of service delivery and customer communications and deal with customer queries and complaints in line with departmental and Belfast City Council policies.
• Assist the Education Officer with coordination, implementation, monitoring and promotion of a volunteer scheme.
• Assist the Education Officer with coordinating research activities.
• Assist with developing a culture of conservation and environmental sustainability throughout the zoo.

Skills and Qualifications

Qualifications and experience: Applicants must, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:

• have a minimum of five GCSEs (grades A-C) including English, or equivalent qualifications; and
• be able to demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least one year's relevant work experience in each of the following areas:

• a. a teaching or education officer role or similar, teaching a broad range of people from pre-school children to adults;
• b. the organisation of events, exhibitions or education programmes; and
• c. the research and preparation of display materials for exhibitions and education projects.

Special skills and attributes: Applicants must be able to demonstrate evidence of the following skills and attributes which may be tested at interview:

• Communication skills: the ability to keep and maintain accurate records and possess effective oral and written communication skills and diplomacy in dealing with outside groups and organisations and the ability to deliver education programmes.
• Technical knowledge: the ability to maintain a collection of small animals ensuring high standards of animal welfare and the ability to educate effectively in relation to Belfast Zoo and its role in wildlife conservation and breeding programmes.
• Information technology skills: the ability to effectively use a range of Microsoft Office packages and other programmes in order to maintain relevant visual aids for training purposes, preparing educational materials, and so on.
• Customer care skills: the ability to deal effectively and positively with members of the public in a range of situations to promote the work of the Zoo.
• Team working skills: the ability to work effectively as part of a small team.
• Leadership and work planning skills: the ability to work unsupervised and use initiative and responsibility to ensure targets and objectives are met.
• Health and safety knowledge: knowledge and understanding of relevant health and safety issues and legislation.

Applicants must also be comfortable handling a wide range of animals, such as snakes and rabbits. This will be tested prior to any job offer being made.