Lead Ranger 33,000 pa

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Job summary

National Trust in Somerset seeks a Lead Ranger to guide countryside operations across the Mendip Hills, North Somerset Coast, and other landscapes. You will lead ranger teams and volunteers to care for habitats, conserve landscapes, and enhance visitor experience, while ensuring safe, compliant day-to-day management.

You’ll work with partners and communities to deliver nature recovery at scale, balancing practical delivery with strategic planning and ensuring inclusion and safety across sites.

Qualifications

• Experience leading ranger teams and volunteers.
• Proven ability to manage land, nature conservation and access for people.
• Strong people management and oversight of budgets/contracts.
• Knowledge of health and safety and countryside compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct ranger teams across Somerset.
• Oversee habitat management and conservation work.
• Coordinate with tenants, graziers, contractors and partner organisations.
• Support landscape-scale nature recovery and public access.
• Develop plans for climate resilience, heritage conservation and visitor experience.

Skills

People management

Land management

Health and safety

Budget management

Contract management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

We're looking for a Lead Ranger to lead our countryside operations across some of Somerset's most inspiring and significant landscapes, from the Mendip Hills and North Somerset Coast across the Somerset Levels and Moors to the Quantock Hills and Blackdown Hills.

This is a pivotal role at the heart of delivering the National Trust's ambitions for nature, beauty and history. You'll lead and support a team of Rangers and volunteers responsible for caring for nationally important habitats, historic landscapes and treasured places, while helping to drive forward our ambitions to restore nature at scale. Working across a diverse portfolio of coast, woodland, grassland, heathland, farmland and wetlands, you'll turn strategy into action and ensure exceptional standards of land management, conservation and visitor experience.

This role is required to work with vulnerable groups including children and any offer of employment or volunteering is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

What it's like to work here

This is a remarkable area in which to work. Our countryside spans some of the South West's most iconic and protected landscapes, including the Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Blackdown Hills National Landscapes and the North Somerset Coast. Across these landscapes, the National Trust cares for a rich mosaic of habitats, species and heritage sites, from limestone grasslands and ancient woodland to heathland, coast and historic monuments.

As part of a passionate and ambitious countryside team, you'll play a leading role in bringing the National Trust's strategy to life. Working closely with colleagues, tenants, graziers, volunteers, local communities and partner organisations, you'll help deliver landscape-scale nature recovery while ensuring people continue to enjoy and connect with these special places.

No two days are the same. One day you might be supporting your ranger teams with habitat management and practical conservation work, the next working with partners on a local nature recovery initiative, managing contractors, or helping shape future plans for our land and landscapes.

What you'll be doing

As Lead Ranger, you'll provide leadership and direction for our ranger teams across Somerset, ensuring the safe, effective and efficient delivery of day-to-day countryside operations.

You'll lead the practical delivery of our conservation and land management work, helping to restore habitats, improve ecological condition and create bigger, better and more joined-up spaces for nature. You'll be instrumental in turning the National Trust's ambitions for nature recovery into action on the ground.

You'll oversee work programmes across multiple sites, balancing operational priorities, managing resources and ensuring high standards of health, safety and compliance. Working closely with tenants, graziers, contractors and partner organisations, you'll build strong relationships that help deliver lasting outcomes for nature, heritage and people.

You'll coach, support and inspire ranger teams and volunteers, creating a positive and inclusive culture where people can thrive and develop their skills. Leading from the front, you'll be equally comfortable planning strategically and getting involved in practical delivery when needed.

You'll also contribute to wider property and regional planning, ensuring that operational delivery supports long-term goals for climate resilience, nature recovery, heritage conservation and public access.

Who we're looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

• a good manager of people, able to lead a team to achieve their goals
• experienced in managing land, nature conservation and access for people
• enthusiastic, knowledgeable and inspiring, someone who’s happy to work with people of all ages and backgrounds, including volunteers
• familiar with health and safety and compliance requirements to do with the countryside and people’s activities
• organised and self-motivated, able to manage a fast-paced workload with competing demands on your time
• confident in managing budgets, finances and contracts.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

National Trust place

Fyne Court, Broomfield, Bridgwater, TA5 2EQ

Documents

Lead Ranger - Grade 7.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 30 August 2026

Interview: 11 September 2026

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here .

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.