Youth Engagement Coordinator

The Ocean Conservation Trust is a charity focussed on habitat restoration and behaviour change, that owns and runs the National Marine Aquarium, the UK’s largest aquarium. Our vision is of a world supporting a healthy ocean to sustain all life. We have been connecting people with the ocean for over 20 years.

This is a new role that provides an exciting opportunity to develop and expand the Youth Engagement offering of the Ocean Conservation Trust. Part of this role is funded by The Ernest Cook Trust and the #iwill Fund, acting as a Blue Mentor and supporting Blue Influencers (10-14 year olds) from a diverse range of the local community in Plymouth. The remaining time will be spent planning, developing and delivering the Youth Engagement programme at the Ocean Conservation Trust, particularly our Ocean Squad offering for young people from 5-15 years old.

The Blue Influencers Scheme is a match-funded programme for environmental youth social action, funded by The Ernest Cook Trust and the #iwill Fund. The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £66 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high-quality social action opportunities. The Ernest Cook Trust is acting as a match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund. Our vision at The Ernest Cook Trust is for an environmentally engaged society with increased connections to nature. The mission of the Blue Influencers Scheme is to assist young people (target age 10-14 year olds) from coastal river and estuarine communities to create deep, lasting and meaningful connections with the natural environment and with their local communities and to embed a culture where youth social action becomes the norm.

You will be the main point of contact for the Ocean Discovery Ranger team to coordinate daily, weekly, monthly and annual activity. You will have a background in working extensively with the public in an informal environmental education setting and will have broad experience of designing and delivering public and community activities. It is essential that you have a strong customer service background, with evidence of ability to manage staff, organise your own workload and be a motivated self starter who can work to deadlines and complete tasks to a professional and high standard. We are also looking for someone with a background in working with young people and engaging them in nature-based activities.

This is a fixed term contract for 3 years, working 37.5 hours over 7 days per week. The salary for this role is £25,300 per annum.

If you wish to have an informal chat about the role, please get in touch with Freyja Thomson-Alberts via email or by calling 01752 275212.

For further information about the role please select the 'Find out more & apply' button below which will take you to our website.

To apply: Please send a CV and covering letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role. In addition, please prepare and send the following with your application:

The OCT has received funding to host a Blue Mentor, who will work specifically with young people age 10-14 years old to help them become Blue Influencers. Please write a project plan for an engagement event aimed at this age group, in relation to the following questions – no more than two sides of A4:

• How would you spend a £1000 budget for this event?
• What resources would you need?
• What would you do for you event? Where would it be?
• How would you recruit young people to join with your event?
• How would you prepare for the events?
• How would measure the impact of your event? What would you measure?

Please email your application to: Freyja Thomson-Alberts, Ocean Engagement Manager (Freyja.thomson-alberts@oceanconservationtrust.org)

Closing Date: 8am 19th February.

Interviews to be held 1st March

Only successful candidates will be contacted.

In line with current legislation all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. As part of the recruitment process you will be asked to provide documented evidence of eligibility.

The OCT operates an Equality and Diversity Policy and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. All applications will be judged solely on merit; however, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce.