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Job description

Community engagement and education form a large part of the overall project. An Creagán seek to employ a full time Peatland Education Officer to assist our Peatland Officer in delivering education programmes for primary and secondary schools, further education colleges, university students, and other groups, on the restoration work being carried out and its importance regarding biodiversity recovery, climate mitigation and water purification/attenuation among other ecosystem services. The post holder will be responsible to the An Creagán Peatland Officer. The Education Officer will be responsible for the development, delivery, promotion and monitoring/evaluation of a Peatland Education Programme for An Creagán.

Responsibilities

• Familiarise themselves with the natural resources and facilities at An Creagán.
• Inform groups about the natural environment through guided walks, events and talks raising awareness of environmental issues.
• Prepare and distribute publicity materials and displays.
• Attend conferences.
• Work with the Peatland Officer to: Write plans, reports and press releases. Produce educational resources, liaise with schools, businesses, LEAs, voluntary/community groups and other local organisations.
• Organise school visits and develop a programme of outreach activities. Analyse data and collate information. Research, monitor and review the effectiveness of the Education programmes.
• Working with people is a key feature of the job and includes conservation awareness events such as talks, presentations, workshops and guided walks, helping with volunteer activities and conservation projects.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• 3rd level education.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering education programmes in a formal setting.
• Knowledge of Peatland and its associated wildlife.
• Knowledge and experience in delivery of shared education to Primary and Preschools.
• Have strong communication skills and experience in dealing with the general public/visitors.
• Computer skills including Microsoft Suite.
• Full driver’s license and access to a vehicle.

Desirable Skills

• Qualifications and/or experience in teaching children with special educational needs.
• Experience in delivery of Shared Education

Further Information

Full time fixed term until 30 September 2027. This post is funded by the DAERA, NIEA and Shared Island Initiative Peatlands Challenge Fund. The successful candidate will occasionally be required to work on evenings and weekends. An Creagán is a community-based organisation located between the towns of Cookstown and Omagh, Co. Tyrone, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the lower Sperrin Mountains. An Creagán includes a multi-purpose community building set on a landscape comprising woodland, a restored bogland and over 5km of walking trails. An Creagán hosts a restaurant and 8 self-catering holiday cottages, and the organisation runs a wide range of events and projects focused on environmental education, the local economy, community social needs and wellbeing as well as on heritage, craft, and culture. An Creagán have formed a partnership with Ulster Wildlife to restore Peatland throughout the Lower Sperrins area including a number of designated sites such as ‘Black Bog’, ‘The Murrins’ and ‘Mullaghcarn’ as well as ‘Haugheys Bog’, a heavily degraded Peatland close to the An Creagán site purchased by the partners. Haugheys Bog will serve as an education and training resource facilitating training of contractors and educating visitors and the wider public on restoration works. The work in the Lower Sperrins area is part of a wider Ulster Wildlife project to restore peatland throughout Northern Ireland, as part of The Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy 2022-2040. The project is set to run up to March 2028.