Assistant Education Officer - Catering & Hospitality
Temporary Contract – Belfast Zoo
Main purpose of job
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.
Summary of responsibilities and personal duties
Assist the Education Officer in developing,
implementing and monitoring Belfast Zoo’s education strategy in line with
relevant legislation, industry standards and curriculum requirements. Assist
with driving income generation through delivering the education programme in
line with agreed budgets and targets.
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 artifacts 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 and keep appropriate
records.
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.
Essential criteria
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 by providing personal and specific examples, at least
one year’s relevant work experience in each of the following areas:
- a
teaching or education officer role or similar, teaching a broad range of
people from pre-school children to adults;
- the
organisation of events, exhibitions or education programmes; and
- 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
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 and talks.
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, breeding programmes and scientific study.
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.
Short-listing criterion
In addition to the above qualifications and experience, Belfast City
Council reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants who possess, at
the closing date for receipt of application forms, either a recognised teaching
qualification or a relevant third level qualification in zoology, biology,
environmental studies or equivalent.
If you
would like to apply for this role, please
send us your updated CV via the link provided and one of the
team will be in touch with you. Or if you would like to discuss this position,
please contact our office to speak to one of our consultants.
We
are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably
qualified persons.