Countryside Ranger

We need you to come and play a key part in managing our flagship countryside site Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve for wildlife and people.

One of the most important sites for wildlife in Europe, Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation, and forms a key part of the Exe Estuary Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site. Hosting hundreds of flowering plant species, thousands of birds and invertebrates, the Warren and its habitats are exceptional. In addition to this, Dawlish Warren is a significant tourist resort and is a destination for visits from schools and universities with around 50 educational sessions delivered by the rangers every year.

The role will ensure that the site management targets and obligations are delivered throughout the year for the benefit of wildlife and people. Rangers provide protection from disturbance to the large number of wading birds and wildfowl that visit the site during the Autumn and Winter, by engaging with visitors at key times. On this busy site, part of the ranger’s role is ensuring compliance with site byelaws. This involves ensuring a site presence across weekends and bank holidays on a rota that operates on a 3-week cycle. Rangers undertake practical work including removal of invasive scrub from fixed dune grassland and humid dune slack habitats, using a combination of machinery and grazing animals. It’s a very diverse role with significant changes in responsibilities from winter to summer.

This role may suit a candidate in the early stages of their career, as it offers a wide range of experiences.

You will enjoy working together as part of a team to deliver on our vision of making Teignbridge a healthy and desirable place where people want to live, work and visit.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to a diverse and inclusive organisation. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender/sex, gender reassignment/trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. We also welcome applications from military veterans and their families.

• Flexible working
• Enhanced payment for weekend/bank holiday working
• Easy access to public transport.
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Good annual leave and wellbeing package
• Generously discounted gym membership at Teignbridge District Council Leisure Centres
• Opportunities for career and self-development, including access to training courses.

• Have experience working in practical habitat conservation.
• Have a formal qualification of HNC level or above in countryside management.
• Have good bird/wildlife identification skills and the patience to observe and monitor.
• Have a full UK driving licence.
• Communicate clearly and effectively to all stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Can organise your own time effectively and lone work, following safe systems of work.
• Are adaptable to work in all weathers and work on a rota basis covering weekends, early mornings, and late evenings.

Note that experience of managing volunteers and running educational sessions is desirable but applications from those with less knowledge or experience will be considered as part of our career grade structure. Please see the full job description for details before you apply.

It is vital to read the job description and person specification for this role - it will help you understand whether your knowledge, skills and experience match the job requirements. In your supporting statement please tell us how you meet each of the essential criteria we ask for in the person specification.