You will lead all of our work with children and young people, including our growing Youth programme, and our well-loved school visits programme. You will support our dynamic Learning and Youth Officers, and work with schools, community groups and external partners, to ensure initiatives are inclusive, impactful, financially sustainable and aligned with our strategic goals.

The ideal candidate will bring strong project management and people skills, a deep understanding of youth engagement and outdoor learning, and a commitment to fostering a lifelong love of nature in all children and young people.

Overall purpose of job

Develop and manage Avon Wildlife Trust’s (the Trust) Learning & Youth programmes, providing inspiring and inclusive opportunities for children and young people to connect with and learn about nature, and actively support nature’s recovery.

Main responsibilities

· Develop and maintain a thriving programme for children and young people at our sites and in the community, including planning and resourcing, budgeting, reporting, monitoring and evaluation.

· Manage the Trust’s Folly Farm learning programme – training and supporting tutors to provide inspiring, inclusive and safe residential and day visits for schools, liaising with visiting schools and the Folly Farm Centre team, and evaluating and improving programmes.

· Manage and develop our inclusive youth programme to ensure positive outcomes for young people from under-served communities in our region – supporting Youth Officers to plan and deliver a wide range of activities for ages 14-25, and leading the development of Green Shoots, our youth–led nature reserve alongside colleagues and partners.

· Support delivery of learning sessions at Folly Farm, Grow Wilder and other settings when required.

· Develop opportunities to extend the impact of our work with children & young people, including contributing to funding applications, working with colleagues across the Trust, partners and potential funders.

Avon Wildlife Trust is a charity dedicated to working with local people for local wildlife, covering the West of England region (former county of Avon). It is supported by more than 17,500 members, manages over 30 nature reserves and is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts in the UK. We want to see nature restored on a grand scale across the Avon region, with one in four people taking action for wildlife.

Avon Wildlife Trust is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse organisation where everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of seeing nature restored on a grand scale across the Avon region, we need talented and more diverse people on nature’s side. We have robust child safeguarding policies, and this role requires two references and an enhanced DBS check.

Benefits:

• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Life assurance
• Flexible and agile working
• Wellbeing support including Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Discounts and Cycle Scheme
• Wildlife Trusts Diversity networks
• Paid volunteering day
• Training and development
• One free AWT course day per year
• Minimum 33 days of holiday (25 annual leave + bank holidays) pro rata
• The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature