Wildlife Ranger

North East Combined Authority; Morpeth; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave + holidays (pro‑r

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexi scheme — up to 2 days flexible/m

Job summary

Northumberland County Council is seeking a Wildlife Ranger to protect shorebirds along the Northumberland coast and to work with Space for Shorebirds rangers to reduce human impacts on important bird populations and dune grasslands.

The role requires a proven commitment to nature conservation, strong communication skills, and experience in ecological survey work, habitat and access management, and public education. Weekend work will be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in public engagement and ecological monitoring.
• Broad understanding of ecological issues relevant to coast and dune habitats.
• Ability to undertake ongoing ornithological monitoring and disturbance assessments.

Responsibilities

• Protect shorebirds and dune grasslands along the Northumberland coast.
• Conduct ecological surveys and disturbance monitoring.
• Engage volunteers and communities; deliver social media and guided activities.

Skills

Public engagement

Ornithological monitoring

Habitat management

Job description

Wildlife Ranger

Your office will be the stunning Northumberland coast, and your role will be to protect the shorebirds that call it home.

You will be joining a team of Space for Shorebirds rangers sharing your passion for wildlife with beach users, to help people to reduce their impacts upon internationally important bird populations and dune grasslands.

We need a person with a proven commitment to nature conservation and a broad understanding of ecological issues. The successful candidate will possess both the warmth and tact to positively influence people's behaviour, but also the assertiveness to potentially pursue enforcement action.

You will have experience of public engagement, ecological survey work, habitat and access management and will have excellent verbal and written communications skills. You may have experience of educating young people and school groups. You will also have the ability and motivation to undertake extensive, ongoing ornithological and disturbance monitoring work.

With some responsibility for managing local volunteers, you will undertake a variety of roles, including awareness-raising, education, ornithological monitoring, disturbance monitoring, enforcement, designing solutions for disturbance hotspots, nest protection and control of pirri-pirri bur within dune grasslands. There will also be opportunities to assist in habitat management and creation projects.

Effective public engagement is key to the success of this project and, as well as engaging face to face with people on the coast, you will be responsible for helping to deliver compelling social media, guided walks, presentations and telling the fascinating story of coastal wildlife through the seasons and increasing public appreciation and support for it.

This is an exciting opportunity to help deliver an important initiative to conserve important wintering and breeding bird populations and dune grasslands, in one of England's most beautiful landscapes.

Full requirements of the role can be found in the attached job description and person specification.

Frequent weekend working will be required.

Why choose us?

We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme - up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)

Stay connected with us on social media to keep up to date with Northumberland County Council's latest job opportunities. Facebook: NCC Jobs Group LinkedIn: Northumberland County Council Jobs

Further information

For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below.

This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.

Alternative application format:

British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net

For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930