Assistant Countryside Officer

Calderdale Norse Ltd; Halifax; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Calderdale Council is seeking an Assistant Countryside Officer to manage and improve countryside sites. The role involves carrying out practical conservation tasks, using a range of machinery and hand tools, and leading volunteer work parties.

You will train and supervise volunteers, maintain tool and machinery records, and produce monitoring and report documentation. The position is outdoors, with potential evening and weekend work.

Qualifications

• Experience in countryside management and supervision of volunteers.
• Ecological knowledge and practical habitat management experience.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Carry out practical countryside management tasks using machinery and hand tools.
• Supervise and lead volunteer work parties.
• Maintain records for tools and machinery and complete required documentation.

Skills

Organisational skills

Volunteer supervision

Site management

Tools

Chainsaw certificate

Driving licence B (2+ years)

C1+E licence (preferred)

CPC training

Job description

Location: Halifax

Salary: Scale 5, SCP 12-17, £29,542 - £32,046

Package: 37 hours per week, permanent

Post Ref: CC725

Please note: Internal at risk or redeployee applicants will be seen in the first instance.

The Countryside and Woodlands team is seeking to recruit an Assistant Countryside Officer to provide site management and improvement of countryside sites on behalf of the Council. The main areas of work for the post are carrying out practical management tasks using a variety of machinery and hand tools and supervising and leading volunteer work parties.

The role includes training and supervising volunteers in practical management and tool use.

The role will be responsible for maintaining and updating tools and machinery records, completing documentation, monitoring, report writing and ensuring all works are completed as specified.

The role requires delivery of a wide range of practical conservation management and maintenance tasks.

If you have recent experience of a variety of countryside management, supervision of volunteers and ecological knowledge we would welcome your application.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate strong organisational and communication skills, monitoring, working with volunteers, practical habitat management including woodland and grassland, use of a variety of machinery and be familiar with collaborative working.

The post holder may be required to work occasional evenings and weekend to meet the needs of the service. The majority of the work is outdoors.

• Applicants must hold a UK driving licence Category B for 2 years - ideally with C1 + E (and CPC), or be willing to undertake training and achieve C1+E within 6 months of starting.
• Applicants must also hold a Chainsaw certificate up to 380mm.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Closing Date: Sunday 18th October 2026

Interview Date: Thursday 12th November 2026

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year (unless exceptions apply) and meet the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.