Countryside Ranger

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC620348Salary Range: £26,918 - £29,616 per annum Work Location: Queen Elizabeth Country Park, HorndeanHours per week: 37Contract Type: Permanent Closing Date: 13 April 2025Interview Date: 2 May 2025

The Role:

The Eastern National Nature Reserve (NNR) Team sits within the Countryside Service Central Sites Team. They work closely with the local community to manage and improve the nature reserves and green spaces of East Hampshire. The sites you will be predominantly working on are Ashford Hangers National Nature Reserve, Butser Hill National Nature Reserve and Abbotstone Down. All sites are managed with both wildlife and visitors in mind balancing the needs of conservation and recreation.

Butser Hill is one of the highest points in Hampshire - an extensive area of chalk grassland within the South Down National Park. Designated NNR, Site of Specific Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation, it holds populations of Duke of Burgundy and Chalk Hill Blue butterflies. Ashford Hangers is a mosaic of chalk grassland and wooded escarpments within the National Park - it is also designated NNR and SSSI and boasts populations of orchids such as Sword-Leaved Helleborine and Bee Orchids. Abbotstone Down is a SAM containing chalk grassland and woodland pasture. This role will also involve working with the wider Central Sites Team and other Countryside Service teams to work throughout Hampshire.

Your role will be to carry out a wide range of practical conservation and maintenance tasks on a variety of habitats as part of a small ranger team which works closely with groups of volunteers. Habitat management will include tasks such as scrub control, tree felling and mowing. Other tasks will include some habitat and species surveying and monitoring, livestock management, maintenance of site infrastructure, and contributing to social media content. The post requires a willingness to take on a wide range of support functions such as the maintenance of the workshop, both hand and power tools, and tree safety management.

Having a flexible approach to work, you will be willing to work outdoors in all weathers both in a team and on your own. A basic level of certification in the use of power tools such as chainsaws is essential, however further training will be provided to the successful candidate. Experience with grazing livestock (cattle, sheep and ponies) will be an advantage. You will have a basic knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet use and will be expected to use the County Council's online systems. You will also possess good interpersonal skills and be able to undertake the physical requirements of the role, whilst being required to work some weekends and bank holidays.

You will be required to drive a Council vehicle and must hold a current full drivers' licence.

What We Can Offer You:

We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace, where talent is truly recognised and developed. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of and where you are empowered to be your best and believe in creating a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.

If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!

To find out more about what we can offer you in return, please see our Benefits Package.

Additional Information:

Countryside Ranger Job Description and Person Specification

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Hazel Christie, Nature Recovery Officer on hazel.christie@hants.gov.uk