Senior Ranger

National Trust; Haslemere; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free NT places for you and guest

Season ticket loan

EV car lease

Discounts at work

Holiday entitlement 32 days+

Flexible working

Employee assistance

Free parking

Job summary

National Trust is seeking a Senior Ranger for Black Down and surrounding areas to lead day-to-day land management and drive conservation projects. You’ll manage a flexible work programme, supervise volunteers, and coordinate with contractors while maintaining presentation standards across sites.

You’ll engage communities through events and guided walks, contribute to HLS targets, and collaborate with neighbours, tenants and colleagues to protect wildlife and landscapes.

Qualifications

• Experience in countryside/rural land management with chainsaw certification, tractor driving and towing trailers.
• Proven ability to deliver small conservation projects.
• Evidence of people management and leadership, with supervision of volunteers or contractors.
• Knowledge and passion for nature and wildlife.
• Ability to communicate conservation work to stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with work planning experience.
• Experience with risk assessment and safety compliance.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• As Senior Ranger for Black Down and surrounding areas, lead and deliver day-to-day land management across the portfolio.
• Build and manage an effective, flexible work programme and support fellow rangers and volunteers.
• Engage with partners, tenants and land managers; help deliver environmental targets and HLS projects.
• Line manage a Ranger and coordinate groups of volunteers on conservation tasks.
• Maintain high standards of presentation and property maintenance; meet Conservation Performance Indicator targets.
• Communicate conservation work to diverse audiences through events and guided walks.
• Develop strong relationships with contractors, colleagues and local communities.

Skills

Countryside skills

Leadership

Risk assessment

Communication

Driving licence

Chainsaw cert

Tractor driving

Towing trailers

Wildlife conservation

Job description

Summary

We have an opportunity for a Senior Ranger to join our team to lead and deliver the day-to-day land management and operations across the South Downs West, based out of our office and yard at Woolbeding near Midhurst. Sharing your love of the outdoors, you’ll inspire others as you strive to ensure that landscapes are beautifully presented. Some weekend and on-call working is required on a rota basis. Additional pay and time off in lieu are given.

What It's Like To Work Here

The South Downs West is a wonderful place to work, with a dedicated team and a wide range habitats and fascinating wildlife to look after. We manage thousands of acres of wildflower meadows, heathlands, chalk grassland and woodland, using our herd of beef cattle for conservation grazing. We also have several exciting species reintroduction projects including beavers and water voles.

What You'll Be Doing

As the Senior Ranger for Black Down and the surrounding areas, you’ll be part of a small team of Rangers working throughout and across the whole portfolio. Following the lead from the Property’s Business Plan and the Countryside Manager, you’ll build and manage an effective and flexible work programme. You’ll support your fellow rangers across the area in undertaking engagement and conservation work, contributing towards HLS (Higher Level Stewardship) and other environmental targets. You’ll line manage a Ranger and lead groups of volunteers who help with varying conservation projects and tasks across the sites. You’ll play a key role in maintaining excellent standards of presentation and property maintenance, successfully achieving Conservation Performance Indicator targets. You’ll build and maintain strong professional relationships with colleagues, contractors, tenants, and neighbouring land managers. You’ll also be responsible for helping with excellent communication of our conservation work to a wide range of audiences, both new and existing, through events, guided walks, and engagement with local communities.

Who we're looking for

We'd love to hear from you if you have the following:

• have practical experience of countryside/rural skills, preferably with certification in chainsaw use, tractor driving and towing trailers
• demonstrate experience of land, access and conservation management skills including delivery of small projects
• have evidence of good people management and leadership skills, and be a strong team player, including supervision of contractors or volunteers
• demonstrate a knowledge and passion for nature and wildlife
• demonstrate an ability to be able to communicate this passion to stakeholders
• have strong organisational skills including demonstrating experience of work planning
• able to work safely leading on compliance and demonstrating experience with risk assessment process
• have 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

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

National Trust place

Black Down, Swan Barn Farm, Haslemere, GU27 2HU

Documents

• Senior Ranger - C.pdf
• South Downs West Recruitment Brochure.pptx

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date

22nd November 2026

Interview Date

4th December 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.