Education Officer

We're Hiring: Education Officer (Part-Time, Permanent)
Hours: Approximately 22.5 per week (with flexibility) - Term time only (38 weeks)
Location: The Ecology Centre, Kinghorn Loch, Fife, KY3 9YG
PVG registration is required for this role

An exciting opportunity has opened up for a permanent, part-time Education Officer to join our small and supportive team at The Ecology Centre.

We’re looking for someone enthusiastic, compassionate, and confident in working outdoors with a wide range of people—particularly young people and adults with additional support needs. The role is based at our beautiful, purpose-built Centre on the banks of Kinghorn Loch.

As Education Officer, you’ll plan and deliver engaging, hands-on environmental education sessions that make a real difference to the lives of individuals and the wider community. You’ll be working alongside people from a range of backgrounds, engaging and connecting them with nature in meaningful and life enhancing ways.

We understand that everyone brings different skills, experiences, and perspectives. Whether you’ve worked in education, community work, youth services, outdoor learning, or have other relevant experience, we want to hear from you.

We are open to discussing working patterns and offer the possibility of hours during some school holidays.

About The Ecology Centre

The Ecology Centre is an established, award-winning charity and social enterprise founded in 1998. In 2015, we moved into our eco-friendly Centre on the shores of Kinghorn Loch.

Our team is small, friendly, and works closely together. We value collaboration, respect, and the contributions of every individual. The variety of work we do and the people we work with makes the Ecology centre a rewarding and engaging place of work.

The Ecology Centre’s Education programme is well established and respected. It includes delivery of outdoor and environmental education at The Ecology Centre site and throughout Fife; Forest School sessions; Forest and Outdoor Leadership Awards (FOLA); supported volunteering; nature nurture sessions; outdoor play projects and CPD sessions. We deliver to a wide range of school and community groups from pre-school age to teenagers and adults.

Normal working days will be between Mondays and Fridays, with some occasional evening and weekend work required under The Ecology Centre’s Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) system.

This role is currently term-time only with the possibility of overtime through the school holidays.

To apply for this post, please complete the application form. CV and covering letters will not be accepted. Please email your completed application form and Equality and Diversity monitoring form to [email protected]

Interviews will be held in person on Monday 24th November at The Ecology Centre. You may also be invited back to deliver a practical session with a group of young people (age 5-12) on Wednesday the 26th of November. If this is likely to be difficult please let us know when applying and we will try to accommodate you. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. Please contact the Education Manager, Liz on [email protected]. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

The education team is very supportive and flexible. We try our very best to accommodate and adapt wherever possible but this is a physical job and requires walking to site, carrying equipment. We also work in a busy open plan office which can be noisy. While there are core delivery needs for our customers we aim to be as flexible as possible around these. For example, you may need to deliver a group 9-3 one day and 9-12 another day but other hours could be worked flexibly.

Recruitment Timeline:

• Application Closing Date: Monday 17th November midday
• Email inviting you to interview or saying you were unsuccessful: By Thursday 20th Nov
• Interviews: Monday 24th Nov
• Invitation to practical session: End of day 24th of Nov
• Practical Session delivery: Wednesday 26th Nov
• Final Outcome Communicated: No later than Friday 28th November

Job Description 

Salary: £25,700 pro rata term time only (38 weeks per annum)
Hours: Around 22.5 hours per week
Pension: 3% employer pension contribution for earnings over the pension threshold
Holiday: This role is term time only (38 weeks) so no holiday allowance but lots of flexibility. Additional holiday pay for 38 weeks work at 12.07% with pro rata salary - paid evenly over 12 months.

Job Purpose

• To develop, plan and organise outdoor learning & play experiences.
• To deliver inspirational, inclusive education sessions.
• To carry out relevant administration tasks.
• To monitor and evaluate the work carried out.

Major Tasks

• Development, planning and organisation 20%
• Environmental Education preparation and provision 70%
• Administration 5%
• Monitoring and recording 5%

Job Activities

Development and planning

Working alongside the Education Manager to develop inspirational, progressive and engaging outdoor learning experiences. Working in partnership with schools and community groups.

Environmental education preparation and provision

Providing environmental education to groups and individuals at The Ecology Centre and in various locations around Fife. Working inclusively with children from nursery to secondary age including those with additional support needs. Working with adults with support needs. Being prepared to deliver person-centred sessions and meeting the needs of the group. Delivering and assessing FOLA level 2-5 and preparing for internal verification. Responsible for health & safety of participants and carrying out risk assessments. Liaising with customers and the general public.

Administration

Updating records. Corresponding with interested organisations and schools when necessary. Attending internal and external meetings.

Monitoring and recording

Collecting and evaluating feedback from participants, gathering and collating evidence for FOLA qualifications, contributing to funding applications and reports where necessary.

Supervision Received

Supervised by the Education Manager.

Special Conditions

Working in adverse weather conditions. Working occasional weekends and evenings. Working with children, young people and adults with support needs.