Animal Care and Environmental Education Coordinator (AT Level Role)

Job Description

Job overview

About Us

Arcadia School – Dubai is an exciting, forward-thinking international community built on a strong UAE vision where innovation and growth sit at the forefront. The vast expat-community provides vibrancy and inclusivity and thus promise a variety of exciting activities and events beyond the workplace. It is a wonderful place to grow professionally and personally where all citizens are welcomed to immerse themselves within the culture and the community. 

Position Overview

We are looking to recruit an Animal Care and Environmental Education Coordinator to lead the care and development of the school’s animals, gardens, and outdoor learning environments, promoting sustainability, animal welfare, and environmental education while providing engaging, hands-on learning opportunities for students.

You will be working closely with the Senior Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities

Animal Care & Welfare:

• Care for all school animals, ensuring their health, welfare, feeding, grooming, enrichment, and housing needs are consistently met.
• Monitor animal wellbeing and identify any health concerns.
• Arrange veterinary support and treatment when required.
• Maintain clean, safe, and suitable animal living environments.
• Keep accurate records relating to animal care, welfare checks, and inspections.

Green Spaces & Gardening:

• Support the development, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the school’s Learning Garden.
• Care for all planting areas across the school, including vegetable patches, sensory gardens, and child-accessible green spaces.
• Assist with planting schedules, harvesting, irrigation, seasonal maintenance, and garden development projects.
• Monitor the health of plants and implement appropriate care and maintenance practices.
• Ensure all green spaces remain attractive, safe, well-maintained, and purposeful learning environments.

Operations and Maintenance:

• Maintain accurate records relating to planting, harvesting, maintenance schedules, inspections, and resource usage.
• Support the ordering, storage, and inventory management of gardening supplies, equipment, animal feed, and resources.
• Work closely with external contractors and service providers to ensure green facilities and animal areas are maintained to a high standard.
• Support the setup and maintenance of green spaces for school events, visits, and special projects.
• Report maintenance issues, hazards, equipment faults, or welfare concerns promptly

Qualifications & Experience

Education: Minimum High School Diploma is required.

Bachelor Degree is preferred (e.g., English, Humanities, Information Science, Education).

A teaching qualification (PGCE/QTS) is not required but will be considered an asset.

Experience: A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in agriculture, farming, or a similar environment involving the care of animals and plants is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

• Knowledge of plants, horticulture, gardening, and environmental care.
• Experience working on a farm, in gardens, animal shelters, stables, or similar environments.
• Experience caring for animals and maintaining outdoor spaces.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• A practical, hands-on approach to problem solving.
• Commitment to high standards of animal welfare and environmental care.
• Flexibility to work outside normal hours when required.
• Experience working with children or within an educational setting.
• Knowledge of sustainable gardening practices and food-growing initiatives.

Desirable:

• Experience working with children or within an educational setting.
• Knowledge of sustainable gardening practices and food-growing initiatives.
• Relevant qualifications in horticulture, agriculture, animal care, environmental studies, or a related field.
• Experience supporting educational programmes linked to nature, sustainability, or outdoor learning.

Personal Qualities:

• Passionate about nature, animals, sustainability, and outdoor learning.
• Reliable, organised, and self-motivated.
• Positive, proactive, and solution-focused.
• Able to build positive relationships with students, staff, parents, contractors, and external providers.
• Works well with children, creating a safe, positive, and inclusive environment that promotes learning and development.
• Committed to creating engaging, inspiring, and well-maintained outdoor learning environments.
• Takes pride in maintaining high standards across all green spaces and animal care facilities

Compensation and Benefits

–        Competitive salary based on experience

–        A unique and inspiring work environment comprising state of the art resources and facilities.

–        A robust leadership structure which ensures all colleagues are well supported.

–        A well-crafted Professional Learning Community which ensures constant growth for individual colleagues and the school as a whole.

How to Apply

Please complete the application form and submit your Cover Letter, CV and copies of your Qualification Certificates as supporting documents.