Assistant Ranger

Hampshire County Council; Havant; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Havant seeks a Country Park Support role to maintain and enhance Staunton Country Park. Responsibilities include supervising volunteers, conducting maintenance checks, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. Candidates should have flexibility to work outdoors year-round, a basic certification in power-tools, and strong interpersonal skills. This position offers a range of benefits, including holiday entitlement and pension scheme.

Benefits

Holiday entitlement

Pension scheme

Flexi-time

Interest-free travel loans

Discounts

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of word processing and spreadsheets.
• Flexibility to work in a team and independently.
• Must undertake physical requirements of the job.

Responsibilities

• Support the Countryside Ranger in maintenance and records.
• Conduct vehicle logs and equipment checks.
• Supervise the team and liaise with stakeholders.

Skills

Flexibility to work outdoors

Basic certification in power-tools

Good interpersonal skills

Ability to drive a Council vehicle

Current full driver's license

Tools

Chainsaws

Brush-cutters

Mowers

Job description

Job Reference: HCC622725
Salary Range: £25,186 - £26,244 per annum
Work Location: Staunton Country Park, Havant
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Temporary - 12 months
Closing Date: 11 January 2026

The Country Park comprises 259 hectares of land, which represents the core of a historic Regency estate and consists of:

• Formal Walled Gardens
• Landscaped Parkland & Ornamental Lake

The Park contains a Grade 1 listed Regency Parkland celebrating the designs of amateur botanist and renown Orientalist Sir George Staunton. The gardens have recently been restored with help from the National Heritage Lottery and are Green Flag and Arbnet accredited, part of the RHS Partner Garden Scheme, and hold the National Collection of Lardizabalaceae.

Over 300,000 visitors enjoy the site each year.

The Role:

In this role, you will support the Countryside Ranger by ensuring that hand tools and mechanical equipment are properly maintained and recorded. You will complete vehicle logs, conduct checks, and keep inventories of equipment and materials up to date. Your role will be to deliver an agreed programme to maintain and improve Staunton Country Park, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, environmental and horticultural good practice, and visitor expectations. You will supervise the team and/or volunteers, liaise with landowners and stakeholders, and record inspection findings and maintenance tasks. You will also record completed works using appropriate HCC systems.

What you’ll do:

You will carry out day‑to‑day practical management and maintenance of sites, parks, attractions, and Rights of Way to meet management plan aims, statutory obligations, Health & Safety requirements, and overall objectives. Responsibilities include ensuring the health, wellbeing, and good presentation of livestock; visitor management and public engagement; maintaining premises and depots; and carrying out a wide range of practical maintenance and horticulture tasks. Work will involve frequent site patrols, litter picking, site infrastructure maintenance, horticulture tasks, and providing walks and talks.

What we’re looking for:

Flexibility to work outdoors in all weathers, both in a team and independently. Basic certification in power‑tools (chainsaws, brush‑cutters, mowers) is desirable; training will be provided. Basic knowledge of word processing and spreadsheets, and use of County Council online systems. Good interpersonal skills, ability to undertake the physical requirements, drive a Council vehicle, current full drivers’ licence. Weekend working on a shared rota.

Benefits:

Benefits package includes holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi‑time scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts.

Contact details for an informal discussion:

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment and will ensure that all recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.