Skills & Learning Coordinator

Job Description

About the Trust 

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?  

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Working hours: 22.5 hours per week. There are no preferred working days, and some weekend/evening working will be required.

Salary: £33,861 per annum

Location: The preferred base for meetings is Gloucester, however, we are flexible and alternative base location can be discussed at interview stage.

We are recruiting for a passionate and experienced Skills and Learning Coordinator to deliver the Trust’s learning programmes in Wales & South West.

Working as part of a Community Engagement Team, the Skills & Learning Coordinator will lead on the delivery of the Trust's educational programmes, including the recruitment, management and development of a team of education volunteers. The role is ideal for someone who is passionate about education, thrives in a dynamic environment, and is committed to making a positive impact on young people through learning and connection with nature, inspiring a new generation of waterway enthusiasts.

You will work alongside another Skills & Learning Coordinator and Engagement Coordinators as part of our Community Engagement Team in Wales & South West. You'll also be collaborating with our national education team. We have eight waterways within Wales & South West, however you will be working primarily in Worcester (River Severn), south Wales (Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal) and along the Kennet & Avon to begin with. The locations may change over time as our education programme continues to evolve so the ability to work flexibly and be able to travel is a must.

You will manage and grow a team of volunteers to deliver our learning programme as well as working closely with community partners and organisations, ensuring a high-quality experiences for participants. Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills are essential, along with a passion for education and community engagement.

Our learning programme provides a variety of opportunities for children and young people to develop their skills and knowledge, as well as inspire them to use our waterways, and stimulate a lifelong positive engagement with our canals and rivers. Our programmes range from 'Explorers' for key stage 2, to STEM learning, and Let's Go Outdoors, as well as placed-based education projects. You can find out more about our charity's learning programmes here: Learning & youth development | Canal & River Trust.

Key Accountabilities:

• Deliver the Trust's learning programmes across Wales & South West, working to qualitative and quantitative targets.
• Develop and implement rewarding volunteering opportunities to deliver our learning programmes, ensuring volunteers are safely recruited, trained and supported to ensure an inspirational experience for children, young people and families. Plan programmes for volunteer training, mentoring and celebration to ensure increasing skill levels, confidence and motivation within the team.
• Develop and promote quality learning resources aimed at children, young people, their teachers, families, carers and group leaders to be delivered by education volunteers, by monitoring current thinking to ensure the latest best practice is recognised and adopted.
• Work with our local teams, museums and attractions to ensure safe and quality learning which is responsive to place at locations suitable for our target audience (children, young people, schools, FE colleges and universities) and the STEM agenda.
• Contribute to the Canal & Rivers Explorers website as an accessible medium to deliver learning and communicate with our target audience.
• Develop creative, innovative and inspiring informal learning opportunities for family visitors to our waterways, museums and attractions, which engage people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Ensure all our learning activity conforms to Trust and other relevant policies including health & safety, safeguarding children, environmental and heritage policies.
• Develop interpretation focused on our waterway environment and museum collections to help people experience the past, to motivate, to provoke inquiry and to advance knowledge, understanding and a passion for our waterway heritage.
• Collect and collate data relating to child and community engagement KPIs and dissemination of results including feedback to the organisation and our volunteers.
• Provide support to colleagues and partner organisations in the development and delivery of externally funded learning programmes.
• Responsible for carrying out DBS Checks and renewals (every three years) at the appropriate level for all Education Volunteers supervised by the role and ensuring that no activities which are eligible for an Enhanced DBS Check or Enhanced DBS Check with barred list are carried out without the appropriate check in place.
• Display the Trust values and behaviours at all times
• Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values

Knowledge, Experience & Skills:

• Degree or equivalent experience in relevant discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in education, interpretation, volunteer management or heritage management is desirable, but not essential.
• Experience in developing and managing volunteer and learning projects for heritage attractions, countryside sites, museums or galleries.
• Direct experience of volunteer management, including training and mentoring.
• Teaching, community engagement or interpretive experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children, their teachers, families, carers and group leaders.
• Thorough understanding of the principles and methodology involved in delivering volunteer and learning programmes, including volunteer and education policies and practice.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with teachers, colleagues and partners at all levels within the Trust, external consultancies and contractors.
• Ability to speak the Welsh language is highly desirable, but not essential.
• Good understanding of Health and Safety and Safeguarding issues in a public setting.
• IT proficiency including Microsoft Office.
• Previous budgetary responsibility preferred.
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
• Effective time and resource management.
• Full UK Driving Licence
• DBS check required

What we offer:

In addition to your annual salary of £33,861,we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found all of which can be found https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us

Internal applicants will be offered the position in line with our secondment policy. Further information can be found by contacting the recruitment team.

Other benefits include:  

• 25 days paid holiday, plus paid Bank Holidays, increasing to 27 days plus Bank Holidays after 3 years.
• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues – health; financial; lifestyle; well-being; domestic & neighbourly matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including – store discounts; boating holiday discounts; holiday purchase scheme.
• Expansive maternity/paternity provisions.
• Progressive access to learning tools and CPD.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave, volunteering for local community project work.

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. All roles are considered on a flexible working arrangement basis, and we welcome requests for reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment. If you require any adjustments or have specific needs, please let us know — we’re here to support you.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

At the Trust, we empower our people to flow and thrive both on and off the water. Our colleagues enjoy a variety of benefits that enhance their lives while working in a place that positively impacts others. We take pride in our people, protecting heritage and preserving wildlife, and we’re all about the future of our colleagues and the future generations who love and use our network. Inspired by people, we harness the different ways of working and thinking, ensuring our teams grow and reach their full potential.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us 

Job Details

• Pay Type
• Salary

• Hiring Min Rate
• 33,861 GBP

• Hiring Max Rate
• 33,861 GBP