Climate for Communities School Engagement Officer

Job introduction

Are you passionate about helping individuals and communities to take climate action?

Do you have experience working with schools?

Do you want to help address cost of living and health inequalities in under-served areas of the city?

If so, we want to hear from you!

We’re looking for a Schools Engagement Officer to work with schools and families as part of the Climate for Communities project team.

Fixed term for: Until 31 March 2028

Interview date: Friday 26 September 2025

For an informal discussion, please contact Katie Eberstein, Our City Our World Programme Manager, katie.eberstein@brighton-hove.gov.uk or tel 07701 396923 (from 3 September 2025) or contact Sharon Mackenzie, sharon.mackenzie@brighton-hove.gov.uk if you have a query before 3rd September.

About the role

The Climate for Communities project will put under-served communities at the heart of climate action in Brighton & Hove. Brighton & Hove City Council is a lead partner in this National Lottery funded project, led by the Trust for Developing Communities.

A key strand of the project will be working with schools to engage pupils and families in accessible, community-based climate activities.

We’re looking for a Schools Engagement Officer to:

• Deliver engaging climate action workshops with children in schools and local community spaces
• Work with families to understand the barriers and opportunities to climate action
• Create opportunities for families to engage in relevant sustainability actions, working with local experts and community groups

We’re looking for someone who is able to motivate, support and facilitate individuals and under-served communities to take climate action. You’ll use your strong interpersonal skills to build links with local schools and community groups, understanding the challenges they may be facing. You’ll develop projects and plan and deliver workshops to groups of pupils and families. You will need to be self-motivated, working both independently and in collaboration with a wide range of people and organisations.

You’ll be part of an exciting and diverse team of climate and community organisations from across the city. You’ll work alongside the school sustainability programme ‘Our City Our World’ and link closely to other sustainability and community organisations. You’ll be contributing to an innovative programme which is attracting significant national interest.

Previous experience working with schools, pupils and families is desirable. A thorough induction programme will be provided.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.