Countryside Warden

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council; Halesowen; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Casual car allowance

Job summary

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a dedicated Countryside Warden for The Leasowes Historic Landscape and Nature Reserve, a designated SSSI famed for its waxcap grasslands. The role focuses on conserving ecological value and historic features while welcoming visitors.

You will work with volunteers, schools, and contractors to deliver conservation, education, and engagement activities, ensuring safety and high standards of site maintenance.

Qualifications

• Practical experience in countryside or conservation management.
• Strong communication and people skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approach to problem-solving.
• A commitment to health & safety, equality, and safeguarding.
• A full driving license and access to a vehicle with business use insurance.

Responsibilities

• Carry out habitat management and site maintenance.
• Support and supervise volunteers and junior staff.
• Coordinate educational visits and community events.
• Monitor wildlife and visitor satisfaction.
• Promote the site’s heritage and biodiversity to the public.
• Patrol the site and maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety.
• Deputise for the Senior Countryside Warden when required.

Skills

Practical countryside experience

Strong communication

Proactive problem-solving

Health and safety commitment

Driving licence

Tools

Vehicle access with business insurance

Job description

Countryside Warden – The Leasowes, Historic Landscape and Nature Reserve

Salary: £29.542.00 - £32,046.00 (Grade 6)

Location: The Leasowes, Halesowen.

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Car Allowance: Casual

Closing Date: 1st November 2026

Are you passionate about nature conservation, heritage and helping people enjoy nature? Do you want to make a real difference at one of the West Midlands’ most treasured landscapes?

We’re looking for a dedicated Nature Reserve Warden to join our team at The Leasowes Historic Landscape and Nature Reserve, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) renowned for its nationally significant waxcap rich grasslands.

About the Role:

As a Warden, you’ll play a key role in managing, enhancing and protecting the ecological value and historic features of The Leasowes, while ensuring it remains a welcoming and safe space for visitors. You’ll work closely with volunteers, community groups, schools, and contractors to deliver practical conservation, education, and engagement activities.

You’ll also:

• Carry out habitat management and site maintenance.
• Support and supervise volunteers and junior staff.
• Coordinate educational visits and community events.
• Monitor wildlife and visitor satisfaction.
• Promote the site’s heritage and biodiversity to the public.
• Patrol the site and maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety.
• Deputise for the Senior Countryside Warden when required.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone with:

• Practical experience in countryside or conservation management.
• Strong communication and people skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approach to problem-solving.
• A commitment to health & safety, equality, and safeguarding.
• A full driving license and access to a vehicle with business use insurance.

Why The Leasowes?

Leasowes Nature Reserve is one of the most important and celebrated landscapes in the West Midlands. Recognised internationally as one of England’s earliest and finest examples of the ‘Picturesque’ landscape movement, the site was created in the 18th century by the poet and landscape designer William Shenstone. Its unique combination of historic features, ornamental water bodies, woodland, meadows and carefully designed vistas continues to attract visitors and conservation professionals alike.

The reserve is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognising its significant ecological value. The site supports a diverse range of flora and fauna and plays a vital role in nature recovery, biodiversity enhancement, environmental education and public engagement.

Working at The Leasowes offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the management and preservation of both a nationally significant historic landscape and a protected ecological asset. The successful candidate will help ensure that the reserve remains a safe, welcoming and environmentally rich destination for visitors, while maintaining the high conservation standards required of an SSSI and safeguarding the site's historic character for future generations.

For an informal chat about the role please contact Helen Edwards on 01384 814642

Workplace Attendance Onsite full time

So that we can demonstrate Dudley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to improve bias in the recruitment process that could create barriers for candidates. Your personal data will be anonymised when you apply, to ensure that you comply with our anonymisation process, please ensure you have removed your name and date of birth from any attachments prior to uploading them to your application.

Online application forms will only be accepted for this vacancy, online facilities for jobs are available at public libraries within the Dudley Borough.

If you requiresupportcompleting an online or paper application form and or interview techniques, please contact Dudley Adult and Community Learning on 01384 818 143 or [e-mail] who cansupportwith Digital Skills and Job Applications.

If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application please contact the HR Resourcing Team via [e-mail]

All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK.

Please note: Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.

If you are experiencing a problem whilst applying for a position, please follow the link below to the WM Jobs Help Page in the first instance https://help.wmjobs.co.uk/

If the WM Jobs Help Page does not resolve your issue then please contact the HR Resourcing Team via [e-mail]

Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so.

The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/privacy-disclaimer-statement/

N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications

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Attached documents
Job description & person specification
Employee Benefits List.pdf