Freelance Community Ranger

Community Ranger for Tayvallich Initiative

Are you passionate about working with communities? Do you love nature and the outdoors, and have the enthusiasm and versatility to help our community be more engaged with the land in our guardianship and actively involved in its management?

We are seeking a part-time, freelance Community Ranger to strengthen connections between local communities and the land Tayvallich Initiative (TI) owns on their behalf, encompassing its natural and cultural heritage, with a particular emphasis on people who are experiencing barriers to becoming involved.

Role Title: Community RangerFreelance opportunity, 24 months fixed term, from early June 2024 to 30 May 2026Hours: on average 2 days a week (with flexibility to meet the varying demands of this role). Some out-of-hours working will be requiredRemuneration: £150 per day (inclusive of VAT if applicable) for 104 days per year. £31,200 total fee Allowance: for travel and mobile phone expenses plus use of a laptop for work purposes only Budget: There is a generous budget available for volunteer expenses, materials, signage, tools, the creation of a new web resource, and the development of the TI websiteReporting to: the Coordinator of the Land Working Group who in turn reports to the Board of Directors of TI. Working closely with other groups and staff members of Tayvallich InitiativeLocation: This role would ideally suit someone based in the Mid Argyll area who can travel to the community for events and engagement meetings. However, it is important that an applicant with a suitable level of experience is appointed and, as such, they could be from further afield with the ability to remote work and attend meetings in the community on a scheduled basis. The Tayvallich Community Hall is available for community events and has some space for office working. Closing Date: 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024Interviews: Monday 20 May and Tuesday 21 May 2024Key Tasks, Duties and Accountabilities of the Post

The key focus of this role will be to:

Work with TI to maximise the benefits of this land to both people and wildlife, sustaining that change in the long termConnect local communities to TI land, its natural and cultural heritage, with a particular emphasis on people who are experiencing barriers to becoming involved Drive forward community engagement around the land, the habitats and cultural heritage More specifically you will: Work with Tayvallich residents to understand and build on their existing knowledge of the land, discuss concerns and build consensus over priorities for improved information and access, and hopes for the future management and uses of TI landCreate opportunities for practical involvement in habitat management and improved access in collaboration with the community, NatureScot and other agenciesSupport the ongoing development of a conservation management plan for wildlife species and habitatsSupport existing and new volunteers and engagement activities and target new audiences from across Mid ArgyllOrganise specialist talks and community workshops on habitats, species, land management practices and history and cultural/natural heritageLead on the creation of an interactive digital resource – to complement and enhance TI's existing website and encompass maps, data on species, history and cultural/natural heritageLead on the creation of information and interpretation materials This role will require strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with the community, other landowners, members of the public and other stakeholders such as NatureScot. The role will support existing and new volunteers and engagement activities but will also target new audiences from across Mid Argyll. It will be a challenging, but rewarding role, working with TI to maximise the benefits of this landscape to both people and wildlife and sustaining that change in the long term.

---