Ranger

United Utilities; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

26 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Competitive pension

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking five Rangers to care for the North West's landscapes and recreational spaces. You will be the face of UU across our estate, ensuring safe, welcoming experiences while protecting land, water and assets. A company vehicle is provided to travel between sites within your region.

The role entails site maintenance, visitor engagement, environmental stewardship and working with communities and partners. A full driving licence and 3-week rota including weekends are required.

Qualifications

• Experienced Ranger with relevant qualification including background in countryside and visitor management.
• Physical fitness and resilience to work across varied terrain and in all weather conditions.
• Strong communication and relationship-building with visitors, communities and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of site presentation and standards, inspections and maintenance.
• Support safe management of visitors, facilities and activities and incidents.
• Protect and enhance the natural environment and water quality across catchments.
• Build relationships with visitors, communities, contractors and partner organisations.

Skills

Ranger experience

Physical fitness

Communication skills

Driving licence

Education

Countryside management qualification

Job description

United Utilities | Ranger | Company vehicle | £44,255.20

Location: Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Cumbria - welcoming candidates across the North West. Successful applicants will be assigned to their nearest region.

United Utilities are looking for five Rangers to help care for some of the North West's most treasured landscapes and recreational spaces. As a Ranger, you'll play a key role in protecting our land, water and assets, while ensuring visitors enjoy safe, welcoming and inclusive experiences across our sites.

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. From maintaining site standards and supporting conservation projects to working with local communities and responding to operational challenges, you'll be at the heart of delivering exceptional places for people and nature to thrive.

The Role

Rangers play a critical role in protecting and enhancing our sites, helping to balance visitor enjoyment with the stewardship of some of the North West's most valuable landscapes. From supporting asset maintenance and conservation projects and improving visitor experiences to helping manage events and seasonal visitor pressures, this is a role with genuine responsibility and visible impact.

Our sites and recreational spaces span some of the North West's most iconic landscapes, including Thirlmere and Haweswater in the Lake District, the Forest of Bowland, Rivington and Longdendale, as well as other catchment locations across Lancashire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester. We're open to applications from candidates located anywhere across the North West and, wherever possible, successful candidates will be assigned to the region closest to their home location. To support your work across the estate, you'll be provided with a United Utilities company vehicle, allowing you to travel efficiently between sites within your designated region.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Ranger, you'll be the face of United Utilities across our estate, helping to create safe, accessible and enjoyable places for visitors while protecting the environment and the resources that millions of people rely on every day. This is a hands‑on role that combines practical site management, visitor engagement, environmental stewardship and partnership working.

• Take ownership of site presentation and standards, carrying out inspections, practical maintenance and improvement works to ensure our sites remain safe and clean throughout the year.
• Support the safe management of visitors, facilities and activities, helping people enjoy our sites responsibly while responding effectively to incidents, emerging risks and operational challenges.
• Protect and enhance the natural environment by identifying environmental risks, supporting habitat and biodiversity initiatives, and helping safeguard water quality across our catchments.
• Build positive relationships with visitors, local communities, volunteers, contractors and partner organisations, acting as a trusted ambassador for United Utilities and becoming a reliable, approachable point of contact.
• Monitor the condition of estate assets, reporting defects and emerging concerns while identifying opportunities to improve accessibility, visitor experiences and site infrastructure.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and external stakeholders to support events and projects, tackle anti‑social behaviour, and respond to changing priorities, severe weather events and other operational challenges where a visible on site presence is essential.

What We're Looking For

• Experienced Ranger with relevant qualification including background in countryside and visitor management, environmental conservation, recreation or land management.
• Practical maintenance skills and a hands‑on approach to maintaining estate infrastructure, visitor facilities and outdoor assets.
• Physical fitness and resilience to work across varied terrain and in all weather conditions.
• Strong communication and relationship building skills, with a self motivated and proactive approach, confident engaging with visitors, communities, contractors and stakeholders, while working independently and using your initiative.
• A full driving licence and flexibility to work a rolling 3-week rota, including weekends and seasonal operational demands.

The role follows a 3-week rotating shift pattern with standard 8-hour working days: 3 days on and 2 days off, followed by 5 days on and 2 days off, then 7 days on and 2 days off.

Why This Role?

You’ll enjoy the variety that comes with managing some of the North West's most iconic landscapes, with the freedom to work independently while being supported by a passionate and experienced team. One day you could be helping visitors enjoy a day out safely, the next supporting a conservation project, responding to an emerging issue or working alongside partners to improve a site for future generations.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being trusted to get things done, values strong relationships and takes pride in making a difference. You’ll have the chance to develop a broad range of skills, from visitor engagement and site management to environmental stewardship and incident response, while building meaningful connections with local communities and stakeholders.

With exciting opportunities ahead, including the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027 passing through areas close to several United Utilities sites, you’ll play a key role in showcasing some of the region’s most spectacular landscapes and creating memorable experiences for visitors.

Benefits:

• 26 days’ annual leave, rising by one day for each completed holiday year (served up to a maximum of 30days) plus 8 bank holidays
• Competitive pension with up to 14% employer contribution and life cover
• Performance related bonus plus recognition awards
• Company funded healthcare plan and wellbeing support including mental health resources and Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to discounts, gym savings, and flexible benefits through MORE Choices
• Financial wellbeing support including Salary Finance and Wealth at Work
• Electric vehicle scheme and ShareBuy options
• Enhanced parental leave

Join us in protecting the landscapes, water resources and visitor destinations that millions of people value every year. If you're looking for a role with purpose, variety and impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Note: At United Utilities, we believe people are more than just applications. Every application is personally reviewed by our recruitment team and hiring manager. We do not use AI or automated screening tools to assess applications.