Senior Schools Engagement Manager in Woking

Join us at WWF-UK as a Senior Schools Engagement Manager. This role is based at the Living Planet Centre, Woking, Surrey, on a permanent, full-time contract (35 hours) with hybrid working options. The salary is £45,167 plus excellent benefits.

About the role:

We’re excited to be recruiting a Senior Schools Engagement Manager to help shape and deliver WWF-UK’s growing education and schools engagement work, connecting more young people with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to help create a more sustainable future. This is an exciting new role created to support the delivery of WWF-UK’s strategy, recognising the vital role education, learning and youth engagement play in tackling climate change, restoring nature and inspiring action across society.

Building on WWF-UK’s existing education programmes, you will lead the development and delivery of an ambitious schools engagement programme that connects young people directly with real-world environmental challenges, practical action and future opportunities. Working across WWF-UK and with external partners, you’ll help create engaging and evidence-led experiences that support teachers, inspire students and strengthen connections between education, conservation, climate action and sustainable careers.

This is a highly collaborative role sitting at the intersection of education, engagement and impact. You’ll work closely with colleagues across communications, fundraising, engagement, brand and stories & content to create joined-up and measurable programmes that reach schools at scale, and grow love and support for WWF-UK.

We’re looking for someone who combines strong programme leadership with creativity, partnership-building and a deep understanding of how to engage and inspire young people through education.

Skills and experience:

• Significant experience developing, delivering or commissioning large-scale education or youth engagement programmes with measurable impact.
• Strong understanding of education, learning or youth engagement approaches, including relevant pedagogical and evaluation methodologies.
• Experience designing and delivering programmes that engage schools, teachers and young people at scale.
• Experience developing content, resources or engagement journeys across a range of channels and formats, including digital and in-person experiences.
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple teams and stakeholders to deliver integrated programmes or campaigns.
• Strong project and programme management skills, including experience leading matrix teams and managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience developing and managing external partnerships and collaborations, ideally across education, charity, community or youth sectors.
• Experience using insight, evidence and evaluation to inform programme development and improve impact.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence using data, reporting and KPIs to monitor performance and support decision-making.
• Experience managing budgets, reporting and programme delivery requirements.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage confidently with a wide range of stakeholders including educators, partners and internal teams.
• Strong understanding of inclusive engagement approaches and a commitment to developing equitable, diverse and accessible programmes.
• Ability to work proactively and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, bringing creativity, resilience and a solutions-focused mindset.
• Understanding of safeguarding and how this applies within education and youth engagement work.
• Experience working within the education, environmental, charity or youth engagement sectors.
• Experience developing teacher engagement or professional development programmes.
• Experience commissioning research, evaluation or audience insight projects.
• Experience working with funders and managing grant-funded programmes.
• Understanding of sustainable careers, climate education or environmental learning.
• Experience working across communications, fundraising or digital engagement functions.
• Experience building partnerships with schools, education networks or sector organisations.

What we offer:

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working options, to support your work-life balance.
• 7.5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
• Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness.

This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey. You are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About WWF-UK:

We’re a global conservation charity with millions of supporters and hundreds of projects around the world. At WWF-UK, we’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left isn’t enough. We’re racing to restore nature and prevent catastrophic climate change. And it’s a race we can win with everyone’s help. We’re courageous, passionate, and driven by science. For more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world. We work with integrity, collaboration and deep respect for those we partner with.

Our Diversity Promise to You:

At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you - in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself. We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity. We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout at recruitment@wwf.org.uk.

Safeguarding Commitment:

Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter. Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent. We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting. If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.