Nature-based Learning Programme Development Manager (KTP Associate)

To evidence the impact of Generation Wild, WWT’s nature connection programme for schools, children and families in disadvantaged communities. To diversify the delivery and funding model to ensure the programme can continue to benefit as many young people and families as possible whilst remaining financially sustainable.

General

• Project Leadership and Management: Take ownership of the KTP project and oversee all project management including research governance, research ethics and accurate financial records, reporting regularly to the Local Management Committee.
• Innovation and Improvement: Design and launch new or improved evaluation tools and learning programmes.
• Knowledge Transfer: Act as the link between Cardiff University and WWT, transferring and embedding the latest academic thinking into the organisation.
• Collaboration: Work closely with academic supervisors, company supervisors, company staff and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the project is successful.

Evidencing impact

• Gain an understanding of current research in the education, environmental and health fields and the methodologies commonly used through reviewing and synthesising existing research literature.
• Develop a tool to assess Generation Wild’s impact on participants’ i) nature connection; ii) care and concern for nature; iii) health and wellbeing
• Disseminate the findings across the environmental, education and health sectors and to relevant government bodies and departments.
• Engage with University research activities as appropriate.

Development of new delivery and funding models

• Identify new paying audiences for the Generation Wild programme and consult with them to understand their needs and willingness to pay.
• Develop and implement new delivery models that work for these new audiences and are financially self-sustaining.
• Work with the WWT marketing team to effectively promote these to the intended audience.

Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area or equivalent relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant experience within one of the following research fields:

• Environmental psychology
• Environmental education
• Nature connection
• Developmental psychology
• Experience conducting relevant statistical analyses

Communication and Team Working

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of team, considering, coordinating and balancing the different needs and perspectives of a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently to identify and resolve problems and to deliver targets in a timely manner.
• Strong written communication skills, including writing reports for a range of audiences.
• Strong presentation skills, including presenting research findings and new delivery ideas to a range of audiences.
• Strong IT skills including the ability to communicate effectively through digital channels e.g. Teams, Zoom etc.

Desirable Criteria

• A good understanding of the environmental education sector and the aims of nature education / connection programmes.
• Experience of evaluating nature education / nature connection programmes including a good understanding of research and evaluation methods used to measure nature connection, care and concern for nature and human health and wellbeing.
• Proven ability to publish in international journals and/or other research outputs.
• Experience working with children and disadvantaged groups.
• Basic knowledge of business models for product development and marketing and the ability to identify new market opportunities and develop new programmes to take advantage of these.

Generation Wild is WWT’s nature connection programme for children. It has been running for three years with evaluation carried out with Cardiff University. The programme is fully funded by a charitable trust for an additional three years. The reliance on a single grant funder creates considerable continuity risks beyond the next three years. It creates a barrier to growth, as it prevents WWT from generating profit beyond the programme.

The KTP will enable the WWT-CU partnership to widen the audience and diversify income streams by:
1) Evidencing the efficacy of the programme to:
1a) Secure grant and corporate funding to de-risk the future of the programme
1b) Demonstrate the value of the programme to new paying audiences, enabling us to generate a profit from the programme
2) Developing new funding and delivery models to widen the audience and increase income generation:
2a) Develop new funding models (e.g. corporates sponsoring the participation of local schools through their CSR)
2b) Develop new and reconfigured programme offerings to enable the audience to be extended whilst reducing cost of delivery

The KTP will create an innovative suite of delivery models that allow WWT to extend their audience reach, generate additional revenue, and reduce costs.