Environmental Education Facilitator

Environmental Education Facilitation Services are contracted by Waikato Regional Council to work primarily with schools within designated areas throughout the Waikato region. We are seeking a contractor to support a network of schools in the southern Waikato (primarily in Taupo and South Waikato Districts) for a 12 month part time contract for the 2025 school year.  On average this will be approximately 18-20 hours per week (flexible hours) during school terms primarily based from a home office.  
The role involves guiding, motivating, and advising schools on their journey towards creating a sustainable school with a focus on (but not limited exclusively to) the Enviroschools Programme, and other programmes as they may fit within the programme of work. 
You would join a team of contractors and will be allocated a specific group of schools to facilitate as the primary contact person. You will also contribute to the Enviroschools network in the region, and to the vision the Council, in association with Toimata Foundation, has for the region.  
If you are interested in this opportunity please submit your CV and cover letter via Seek before 9am Monday 18 November. Applications will be shortlisted as they are received and interviews will be carried out on Tuesday 26 November.  For a confidential conversation about the role please contact Michelle Daly, Senior Education Advisor, Waikato Regional Council on 021  2486 355.   What's important to us? Environmental Education Facilitation contractors support a network of Enviroschools.    This involves meeting schools "where they are at" and guiding them to develop next steps towards creating a sustainable, resilient and thriving school community.    Contractors work mainly with teachers and, at times, wider school staff and students.    The role contributes to the Enviroschools network at a range of levels:
Personal practice, which includes: Working professionally and with creativity and enthusiasm.   Taking time to explore the Enviroschools kaupapa and suite of resources and use them to underpin mahi.  Reflecting on your own practice and taking opportunities to learn from others.
Supporting individual Enviroschools, which includes: Building supportive individual and/or cluster relationships with local communities.  Supporting schools to explore the Enviroschools kaupapa and resources as they develop a whole school approach to sustainability.  Supporting teacher planning to integrate learning and action into all areas of school life.  Providing opportunities for holistic reflection on an on-going journey.  Supporting schools to share their mahi with others.   
Fostering a strong regional network, which includes:  Supporting and inspiring the regional network of Enviroschools.   Providing/contributing to opportunities for participating school communities to learn, share and take action together locally according to their own goals.   Working in a way that honours tangata whenua.  Collaborating with key providers/agencies to progress environmental education outcomes.   Linking Enviroschools with local community projects, places and people that make a positive contribution to their sustainability journey.
Contributing to the national network, which includes: Sharing experiences with other facilitators around the country to grow the collective puna matauranga (pool of knowledge).  Participate in national and inter-regional Enviroschools Professional Development. Model and uphold the Enviroschools kaupapa.     
This is a unique opportunity to drive key areas of sustainable practice and environmental thinking into schools and communities within the region, laying down a foundation for current and future behaviour change successes. 
This will involve meaningful comprehension of, and interface with programme partner organisations and their kaupapa – specifically Toimata Foundation and Enviroschools
Enviroschools is national programme with MfE backing that is held by founding partners Toimata Foundation and Te Mauri Tau.  It has been running for over 20 years and has been evaluated several times by professional researchers demonstrating its effectiveness in schools to help support a change in attitude over time towards more sustainable ways of living. Toimata Foundation supports professional development of Facilitators through regular hui and has a requirement of all facilitators to complete the Level 1 Toimata training. 
We are seeking passionate professionals with a demonstrated expertise in sustainability; experience facilitating; familiarity with the education system and motivation to offer practical support to schools on their sustainability journey.  Existing community networks to support environmental education and teaching qualifications or experience in NZ schools are valuable.
A bit about us Waikato Regional Council's 10-year strategic vision is the mighty Waikato: Caring for our place, empowering our people and purpose Working together for a Waikato region that has a healthy environment, strong economy and vibrant communities.  The Waikato Enviroschools strategy seeks to support this vision with a focus on empowered communities, empowered learners, innovation and collaboration and holistic sustainability. The Council values, visibility and leadership will also be significantly raised through facilitator activities. 
WRC has contracted facilitation services in the Waikato Enviroschools for over a decade now through a co-funding model with 11 Territorial Authorities.  Currently there are 219 Enviroschools in Waikato: 168 Schools and 51 ECE centres (Facilitation is fully funded by Waikato Kindergarten Association and Central Kids)
The Environmental Education Facilitators are supported by a lead facilitator and the regional coordinator. There are established relationships with school lead teachers, principals and local environmental education networks. Facilitator training and programme resources are provided by Toimata Foundation. Regional leadership of the programme is provided by Waikato Regional Council alongside $25,000 in annual grant funding for participating schools.  In kind support is provided from schools for teacher release, school wide projects and individual class activities linking to curriculum. 
Contractors are allocated a list of schools and prioritise their time to progress school sustainability journeys against their identified school goal or vision. Programme outcomes are measured through 6 monthly contractor reviews, an annual survey with schools and end of year school planning meetings.
The outcomes we want to achieve are:
Key Deliverables •          Supporting schools, school communities, principals, teachers and students with environmental learning and action, within the framework of WRC aligned programmes and initiatives.
•          Building relationships with schools and community experts, and to work collaboratively with a range of educators locally, regionally and (when required) nationally.
•          Facilitate a growing network of school communities committed to sustainable practices through student decision making.
•          Effectively engaging and communicating with others across the region using a collaborative approach (e.g., the regional team, schools, community, and potential partners) to grow environmental education outcomes.
•          Developing ongoing relationships through deepening connections and alignment of services with territorial authorities, community organisations, businesses, and others to grow WRC outcomes.
•           Contributes to and participating in a positive health and safety culture.
•           Contributes to a well-functioning national programme for Enviroschools
•           Maintains regular, open, and timely communication and feedback with the Council Key Contact. 
•           Assists with programme promotion and the school onboarding process for Enviroschools 
•          Contributes to identification and review of strategic goals and objectives for the region and connects this to own area of work
•          Participates in, and supports the planning of, regional and local networking and professional development events for schools
•           Develop a strategy and annual work plan for implementing EFS programmes across the whole school 
•           Complete with school, an annual evaluation/review that sets priorities for the coming year 
•           Maintains an up-to-date picture of what is happening in schools
•           Monitors and reports on individual schools' progress
•           Engages in the reflection process with Enviroschools
•           Connect Enviroschools with appropriate support
What we require from a Respondent:
Track record We are seeking Respondents that have:
a general university degree and knowledge of Environmental Education; 4 years' experience in facilitating meetings, workshops and local community events or teaching/training. familiarity with the education system and are motivated to offer practical support to schools on their sustainability journeys. (Teaching qualifications and experience in NZ schools is valuable)Capability We are seeking Respondents that have: 
a personal connection with the kaupapa of Enviroschools; appreciate and understand Te Ao Maori and the importance of relationships with mana whenua (Good te reo Maori pronunciation is essential); have an interest in Education for Sustainability, action-learning and student empowerment; have existing local connections that will support environmental education outcomes; have an inclusive style of working that brings people together and is empowering (This includes the ability to make connections and build relationships in the local community -confidence facilitating both adults and students is ideal); are self-motivated and comfortable working both independently and as part of a wider nationwide team. have excellent organizational skills, including event management, administration and computer skills. are creative thinkers and reflective role models, learning and assessing their own practice and open to possibilities. Capacity We are seeking Respondents that can 
Work from home office located near the schools being facilitated in Taupo and South Waikato districts; utilise own vehicle and holds full drivers licence;maintain SHE pre -qualification (water working);complete Level 1 Enviroschools Facilitator Training (a residential training course) with Toimata Foundation Solution We are looking for solutions that provide a unique role in NZ education system – contracted to facilitate school journeys towards their sustainability vision. This experience looks different in each school – it is not a taught module series rather a guided process supported by resources and facilitated activities. 
Health and Safety  Waikato and Bay of Plenty Councils have teamed up with SHE Software NZ Ltd (SHE) to develop a new streamlined health and safety pre-qualification process.  The system will be made available to all Councils throughout New Zealand to pre-qualify contractors for health and safety.  This will ensure Councils are using contractors who operate with effective health and safety management systems and are holding current and relevant insurances. 
The award of any contract for the project will be conditional on the preferred Tenderer being pre-qualified for health and safety by SHE. If you are already prequalified for health and safety by, SHE please note this in your cover letter.
The SHE prequalification system will help us meet our responsibilities to ensure that contractors, working for or on Council assets and/or supplying services, have effective health and safety management systems to prevent harm to people and the environment or damage to property.
For more information on the SHE pre-qualification process refer to: https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/council/about-us/health-and-safety/
 The list of known site hazards for the project are as follows:
Driving personal vehicle to schools in allocated district(s)Working in or near water at times to facilitate environmental educationWorking from a home office