Environmental Education Officer

Salary
Graduate: £17,000 - £18,500
Employee with 10-15 years in the role: £20,000 - £25,000
Senior Post: £35,000 - £45,000

Main Employers

• Voluntary sector organisations
• Environment agencies
• Large utility companies
• Local authorities
• Scientific and educational activity centres
• Schools
• Consultancies

Job Profile
Environmental education takes place in a variety of settings. Few people involved in this area of environmental work will have education as a specific part of their job description; more so as part of their overall remit. The work revolves around marketing the conservation of the environment to schools, businesses and community groups. In essence, the role focuses on supporting, sustaining and developing environmental issues within the community.

Role and Responsibilities
Jobs will vary according to each employer; however you could expect to be involved in:

• Promoting environmental projects via educational resources, talks and presentations
• Organising visits to places of special environmental interest, such as national nature reserves
• Producing learning materials for students in accordance with the National Curriculum
• Working on local projects such as creating and maintaining a pond
• Budgeting, fundraising and submitting financial bids
• Writing and distributing reports, marketing material and publications
• Recruiting, training and managing staff and volunteer groups

Qualifications
Relevant further education subjects include: Agricultural or Horticultural Science; Applied Science; Business Studies; Botany or Plant Science; Community or Youth Studies; Economics; Education; Environmental Science (physical and/or biological); Geography; Life Science; Urban and Land Studies; Zoology.

Applicants with a degree or HND are preferred, although some exceptional candidates with A-levels in environmental-based subjects and significant relevant experience could be accepted.

Experience of the educational sector is crucial but formal teaching qualifications may not be necessary. Qualifications in outdoor education, youth work, or community development may be equally appropriate. Voluntary work also counts.

Career Development
There are post-graduate courses run by higher educational institutions aimed at those wishing to pursue a career in environmental education. Some teacher training establishments have a strong environmental strand to their training, so it is worth enquiring before applying.

Public Sector: Although all levels of government support environmental education, most posts are found at local authorities. With the development of LA21 and community strategies, there are many opportunities to work in an educational context.

Private Sector: Many of the larger commercial sector organisations employ their own education staff. They are involved in the development of educational material or running projects with schools. Some companies, particularly the utilities, run their own centres since they have access to large amounts of land.

Non-Profit Sector: This is the largest sector employer. Although the voluntary sector has tended to be the poorest payer, there is recognition of the need for high-calibre candidates. Against this, the rise of lottery funding means that posts may be for a fixed period only. Also, the small size of many of these organisations may mean there is no clear career development path.

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