Climate Action Officer (Education)

Live Here Love Here

Salary: £27,444 per annum

Hours: 4-day working week

Contract: Permanent, subject to funding

Location: Hybrid – Home working, Belfast office and delivery locations across Northern Ireland

Charity Jobs NI is delighted to be working in partnership with Live Here Love Here, formerly Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, to recruit an enthusiastic and engaging Climate Action Officer (Education).

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified teacher or experienced education professional to use their skills beyond the traditional classroom, helping schools, teachers and pupils across Northern Ireland build their understanding of climate change and take practical action towards a more sustainable future.

The role may particularly appeal to candidates currently working as a Teacher, Environmental Education Officer, Climate Education Officer, Sustainability Education Officer, Schools Engagement Officer, Eco-Schools Officer or Education Programme Officer.

This position is funded by DAERA through the Carrier Bag Levy.

About the Role

The Climate Action Officer will lead the promotion and delivery of the Climate Ready Classroom Award, a suite of training and learning opportunities for teachers and pupils that is fully integrated with the Eco-Schools Green Flag programme.

Working within the Live Here Love Here Education team, you will build relationships across primary schools, post-primary schools and colleges, encouraging greater awareness and uptake of the Climate Ready Classroom Award.

You will deliver engaging, school-based sustainability training to teachers and pupils, support schools through the award criteria and certification process, and help celebrate and promote their achievements.

The wider Climate Ready project provides training and support across the education, community and youth sectors, helping people understand climate change, adopt more sustainable behaviours and contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation. The role will therefore also involve delivering training to community and youth groups where required.

This is a varied and highly rewarding position combining teaching, training delivery, resource development, partnership building and programme coordination. It would suit someone who understands how schools work, can communicate complex information clearly and wants to make environmental learning relevant, practical and inspiring.

Key Responsibilities

Climate Ready Classroom Delivery

Drive awareness and uptake of the Climate Ready Classroom Award across Northern Ireland.
Deliver sustainability and climate education training to teachers, pupils and students.
Support schools through the award criteria, certification process and achievement of the Climate Ready Classroom Award.
Align training programmes and educational resources with the Northern Ireland curriculum.
Embed Climate Ready Classroom activities within the Eco-Schools Green Flag programme.
Develop and deliver events connected to the award and wider environmental education initiatives.

Education Partnerships and Engagement

Build and maintain a strong network of contacts across primary schools, post-primary schools, colleges and universities.
Develop high-quality partnerships with education organisations and other sector stakeholders.
Spend time in schools across Northern Ireland, delivering programmes and supporting funded project targets.
Engage confidently with teachers, school leaders, pupils and external partners.
Work with the Communications team to develop and oversee a publicity strategy supporting the growth of the programme.

Training and Resource Development

Deliver climate change and sustainability training to education, youth and community audiences.
Contribute to the development of new learning resources, training materials and programme frameworks.
Adapt training content and delivery methods to meet the needs of different audiences.
Provide professional, balanced and well-informed climate action guidance.
Maintain an accessible and engaging Climate Ready Classroom presence on the myEARTH platform.

Programme Coordination and Reporting

Work closely with the line manager to oversee programme delivery across Northern Ireland’s education sector.
Establish effective administrative systems to support project delivery.
Monitor activity and produce accurate internal and funder reports.
Keep informed about local, national and international climate change and sustainability policy.
Collaborate with colleagues across departments to improve programme quality and efficiency.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

A teaching qualification with at least two years’ school-based teaching experience.
A relevant degree-level qualification or at least two years’ demonstrable equivalent experience.
At least two years’ experience communicating complex information in different formats within the education sector.
At least two years’ experience establishing and maintaining effective relationships with partners, stakeholders and external organisations.
At least two years’ experience developing and delivering projects or programmes.
Full current driving licence and access to suitable transport to undertake travel across Northern Ireland.
Ability and motivation to work creatively and proactively.

Desirable

Experience developing and delivering training programmes in different formats for a range of audiences.
Considerable experience collaborating with the community sector.
Experience delivering climate change or sustainability-focused training or projects.
Experience working with environmentally focused community initiatives.

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

Experience-based knowledge of school learning systems and the Northern Ireland curriculum.
Strong understanding of teaching processes and programme design and delivery.
Ability to adapt training content and delivery to different groups.
Ability to reflect on and continually improve your practice.
Reasonable knowledge of climate change issues within Northern Ireland and globally.
Genuine commitment to supporting individuals and communities to respond to climate and nature challenges.

Desirable

An established network of school contacts.
Significant knowledge of current climate change issues within Northern Ireland.

Personal Qualities

Essential

Ability to contribute effectively as part of a team while independently driving initiatives forward.
Excellent people skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Confidence leading discussions and debates in a professional and constructive way.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to organise work effectively and meet project deadlines.
Creative, proactive and adaptable approach.

Why Join Live Here Love Here

Meaningful impact: Help teachers, pupils and schools build the knowledge and confidence to respond to climate change.
4-day working week: Enjoy full-time pay while working 30 hours over 4 days, with a paid non-working day every week. Staff are contracted to 37.5 hours per week but benefit from this enhanced working pattern.
Use your teaching skills differently: Move beyond a single classroom and influence environmental education across schools and communities throughout Northern Ireland.
Flexible working: Combine home working and a minimum of 2 days per week in the Belfast office with travel to schools and delivery locations across Northern Ireland.
Professional development: Access Carbon Literacy training and develop your expertise in climate education, sustainability and behaviour change.
Supportive culture: Join a collaborative and purpose-led team, with IT equipment provided and mileage paid in line with the organisation’s policy.

How to Apply

If you are a qualified teacher or experienced education professional who wants to inspire climate action and support schools to create a more sustainable future, we would love to hear from you.

Simply apply now with your CV to register your interest. A member of the Charity Jobs NI team will be in touch to discuss your application and guide you through the next steps of the process.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with suitable candidates invited to interview on a rolling basis. Early application is strongly encouraged, as the vacancy may close once a suitable candidate has been identified.

If you have any questions about the role or the application process, please contact the Charity Jobs NI team. We’re here to help.

Charity Jobs NI is proud to be the exclusive recruitment partner for this vacancy.

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Climate Action Officer (Education)