Job title: Casual Education Assistant

Salary: £12.69/hr

Hours: Casual throughout the year, including weekends

Contract: Casual, permanent

Location: Temple Newsam, Tropical World and Lotherton

As an Education Assistant you’ll thrive on inspiring school groups, families and the general public about the amazing animals and habitats found in our parks, green spaces, working farm and zoo collections. You’ll be a people person and a team player, and ready to share your enthusiasm for heritage and/or the natural world with others.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As an Education Assistant, you will bring to the role:

A broad knowledge of/interest in local history and heritage, and/or in wildlife and conservation.
Enthusiasm about the potential of parks, countryside estates and greenspaces for learning.
Experience in working with young people.
The ability to assist with the delivery of outdoor events and educational activities for school groups, clubs and members of the public.
The ability to work as part of a team or under your own initiative.

About the role

As one of our next Education Assistants you’ll join the team that delivers workshops and activities in Leeds City Council’s working farm and our two zoos, inspiring and engaging with people about animals, conservation, heritage and the environment. There is so much variety in this role! One day you could be leading a guided zoo tour at Wildlife World, the next you could be helping with an Anglo-Saxon re-enactment or Estate Explorers workshop at Temple Newsam! We also lead guided farm tours at Home Farm, deliver indoor and outdoor workshops in Roundhay Park as part of Tropical World’s conservation education programme, and support holiday/weekend activities across all three sites.

The role is integral to our Education team and to our attractions – our zoos (Wildlife World and Tropical World) have an important role to play in inspiring people about nature, climate and conservation, and our programme at Temple Newsam offers fascinating insights into the farming calendar, landscape history, wildlife and heritage. Having the right people on the team can ensure we’re giving people the best experiences possible.

Shifts are available year-round, although we are quieter in the winter months. Work is subject to bookings and/or funding. Midweek shifts during term time fall between 9.30-3pm; shift lengths vary according to the bookings that day. Visitor engagement shifts at Wildlife World run on weekends and during school holidays Feb-Oct, 10:30-3.15. Other shifts are available on all sites as part of our holiday activity programme – in particular working with Healthy Holidays groups during the major school holidays.

Some of our attractions are not easily accessible by public transport. Please assess whether you’d be able to get to Tropical World, Temple Newsam and Lotherton as this would impact on the work available to you.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

Fun, interesting and varied work – no two days are the same
The ability to work around other commitments – including shifts that can take place during the school day
Flexibility on where you work and when
The opportunity to develop your skills, knowledge and experience

How to apply

Please complete the online application form

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Jenny Rogers, Senior Ranger (Education). Call 0113 336 7548 or email jennifer.rogers@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose: To assist in the promotion of green spaces in Leeds through supporting Green Spaces staff with outdoor education, events and volunteer opportunities at locations throughout Leeds

Responsibilities

To assist the Education Officer, Countryside Rangers and Estate teams in the provision of events and education, such as family fun activities, school visits and guided tours.
To assist staff with practical volunteer activities.
To assist visitors with enquiries and provide information regarding the parks locations and estates as required.
To work with managers and other staff in achieving a co-ordinated customer service.
To participate in briefing sessions and training to develop skills and knowledge pertinent to the post.
To present a positive image of the service at all times and to assist in the promotion of the service through learning, promotional activities and events.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills required

The ability to communicate with a wide range of people, individually, in groups and at all appropriate levels.
Ability to assist with the delivery of outdoor events and educational activities for school groups, clubs and members of the public.
Ability to work as part of a team or own initiative.
Good interpersonal and customer service skills.
Ability to promote the service to visitors.
Ability to organise time effectively.
Ability to assist with the organisation of projects, events and activities.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Broad knowledge of/interest in local history and heritage.
Broad knowledge of/interest in wildlife and conservation.
Understanding of good practice in visitor services.

Experience

Experience in working with young people.
Experience of working with the general public in a customer service role.
Experience in public speaking or in giving presentations.

Behavioural and other Characteristics

Willing to work evenings and weekends as required.
Willing to work outdoors in all weathers.
Have a positive commitment to providing excellence in service provision.
Enthusiastic about the potential of parks, countryside estates and greenspaces for learning.
Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Skills required

Ability to demonstrate good ICT skills.
Ability to travel distances over undulating terrain on foot.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Broad knowledge of the work of the service in Leeds.
Knowledge of and familiarity with the National Curriculum.
Full, clean driving licence.

Experience

Experience in assisting with events such as guided walks or arts and crafts for the general public, playschemes, Scout and Guide movement and other community groups.
Experience in publicising and promoting events and activities.
Experience of working with volunteers.
Experience in an educational field.