Area Ranger

National Trust; Preston, Keswick; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to preserving natural landscapes as an Area Ranger. This role offers the opportunity to lead a passionate team in the stunning Lake District, focusing on conservation and access management. You will be responsible for managing upland paths, engaging with stakeholders, and ensuring high standards in project delivery. If you are enthusiastic about the environment and enjoy working with diverse teams, this position is perfect for you. Embrace the chance to make a lasting impact on one of the UK's most cherished landscapes.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing staff and volunteers in conservation.
• Practical knowledge of upland path repair techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead the upland ranger team to conserve habitats in the North Lakes.
• Manage erosion control on upland paths and deliver conservation projects.

Skills

Team Management

Conservation Management

Upland Path Repair

Communication Skills

Project Planning

Compliance Understanding

Time Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Location: Borrowdale, Bowe Barn, Keswick, CA12 5UP

Contract Type: Permanent / Full-time

Reference/IRC: IRC163578

Closing Date: 18th May 2025

Salary: £28,200 pa

As Area Ranger, you’ll lead the upland ranger team in the North Lakes to conserve our special habitats and protect the fells for the future as part of the Fix the Fells Partnership.

What it's like

Located in the Lake District World Heritage Site, the North and West Lakes is the largest portfolio within the National Trust, comprising of 33,000 hectares spread across 6 valleys. Caring for temperate rainforest and ancient woodland, peatlands, common land and iconic mountains and lakes, you’ll play a key role in protecting this important landscape.

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the Lead Ranger, you’ll be enthusiastic about the landscape, helping us restore a healthy, natural, resilient environment that everyone can access and enjoy.

The Upland Area Ranger is responsible for erosion control on a quarter of the Lake District’s upland paths, including Scafell Pike, Blencathra and Cat Bells. You’ll spend April until the end of October in the high fells of the Lake District, where you will manage a small team of Rangers and volunteers to deliver a programme of work for nature, people and access. Between November and March, you’ll work as part of our wider North Lakes Ranger team supporting the delivery of other projects across our land in the North Lakes.

You’ll identify erosion issues and have practical knowledge of upland path repair techniques to help solve them. This will include experience of navigating nature and landscape designations, engaging a varied range of stakeholders and ensuring the compliance and risk management of the projects you deliver.

Confident managing your time and workload, you’ll have the resilience to consistently lead by example, and the people management skills to build long-term relationships and drive delivery of high standards of work on behalf of the Fix the Fells partnership across a range of practical projects.

Who we're looking for

• Strong team-player, experienced in managing staff and volunteers
• Experienced in land, conservation and access management, including upland path repair
• Confident in partnership working with good written and verbal communication skills
• Experienced in planning and delivering programmes to meet conservation, access and funding outcomes
• understanding of compliance and risk in the countryside with an ability to undertake tasks to a high standard
• Organised, able to work independently, can prioritise and manage your workload
• happy to engage with all kinds of people, about the work you do and why it matters
• Driver with a full UK licence

Apply: IRC163578 - Area Ranger