Ranger

National Trust; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme up to 10%

Free entry to NT places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

National Trust is seeking a Ranger to protect and care for habitats, wildlife, and visitor facilities across Calke Abbey estate, Foremark and Staunton Harold in partnership with Severn Trent. You’ll work outdoors, deliver biodiversity projects, manage livestock, and guide volunteers, sharing your knowledge with visitors.

You’ll be joining a dedicated team at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, with opportunities to lead walks, engage with local communities, and promote conservation through daily outdoor

Qualifications

• Practically experienced in conserving habitats and landscapes.
• Able to talk to all kinds of people about the work you’re doing and why it matters.
• Hard-working and willing to learn.
• Able to work safely, using risk assessments and following guidelines.
• Experienced in managing land, access and conservation, and working outdoors.
• Able to use machinery and equipment, with relevant certificates.
• A driver with a full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Protect and care for habitats, wildlife, visitor infrastructures, vehicles and machinery.
• Deliver biodiversity project work, infrastructure improvements, livestock management, survey and monitoring, and volunteer management.
• Share knowledge and enthusiasm to encourage others to love this area; talk to people, lead walks and contribute to programming.
• Ensure conservation work and outdoor experiences on the land are of the highest standard; build relationships in the local community and represent the Trust.

Skills

Conservation work experience

People communication

Hard-working

Safety and risk assessments

Land management outdoors

Machinery operation certificates

Full UK driving licence

Job description

Summary

As a Ranger, you’re a champion of nature conservation and the great outdoors, and you’ll play a crucial role in keeping the nation’s beloved countryside in good shape, for wildlife and for people.

You’ll work across the 1000ha of Calke Abbey estate as well as Foremark and Staunton Harold as part of our partnership with Severn Trent.

You should be willing to work some weekends and bank holidays.

What It's Like To Work Here

You’ll join a team who are passionate and forward thinking, committed to maintaining exceptional standards of conservation, and visitor service. We annually take on student placements and work experience pupils, seek out opportunities for volunteering, and actively promote the work we do on site. The property fosters a culture of kindness and respect, and a one team mindset making Calke a great place to work.

One of the East Midlands’ top 10 visitor attractions, ghostly Calke Abbey is a high performing property. The unique visitor experience gives a vivid portrayal of a country house and estate in decline with decaying boughs beneath ancient trees; industrial remains of lime yards and the grandeur of the state bed siting amidst abandoned rooms with peeling paint and looming taxidermy. In contrast to this decline the Estate is a wild haven for nature, a nationally important site for veteran trees and dead wood invertebrates alongside other rare wildlife.

Part of the Melbourne parkland landscape the wider estate provides ample opportunity for biodiversity improvements, working alongside our tenants and working outside our boundaries with partner organisations.

What You'll Be Doing

You’ll be helping to protect and care for habitats, wildlife, visitor infrastructures, vehicles and machinery.

Working across the portfolio, you'll be delivering biodiversity project work, infrastructure improvements, livestock management, survey and monitoring, and volunteer management.

You’ll pass on your knowledge and enthusiasm to encourage others to love this area as much as you do. Whenever and wherever you come across people, you’ll take the time to talk to them and answer their questions, you’ll lead walks and input into programming that inspires.

You’ll make sure that the conservation work and outdoor experiences on the land in your care are of the highest standard. You’ll also build relationships in the local community, proudly representing the Trust and letting people know about the work you and the team are doing.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what's possible in this role.

Who We're Looking For

• practically experienced in conservation work, to protect and improve habitats and landscapes
• happy to talk to all kinds of people about the work you’re doing, and why it matters
• hard-working and willing to learn
• able to work safely, using risk assessments and following guidelines
• experienced in managing land, access and conservation, and working outdoors
• able to use machinery and equipment, with relevant certificates
• a driver with a full UK driving licence

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)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• 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.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

National Trust place

Calke Abbey, Ticknall, Derby, DE73 7LE

Documents

Ranger - B.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 15th November 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.