Wildlife Ranger Supervisor

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 346355**Salary**:

- £31,611 - £33,125- An average of 27% Employer Pension Contributions**Job grade**:

- Other- Pay Band 6a / CS AO**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- FLS - Land Management**Type of role**:

- Other**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- DunkeldAbout the job

**Job summary**:
We are looking to recruit a Wildlife Ranger Supervisor to join the FLS East Region Wildlife Management Team. The post is to be based at Glen Prosen estate working predominantly in Angus, north Fife and highland Perthshire but with the flexibility to travel occasionally through Moray & Aberdeenshire. From time-to-time travel to support deer management activities throughout FLS’ East Region will be required.

Forestry and Land Scotland is the Scottish Government agency responsible for managing Scotland’s national forests and land. Key roles are delivering a sustainable resource of timber, improving and expanding native habitats, mitigating climate change and providing space for public recreation. Sustainable deer and wildlife management is the foundation to achieving the Scottish Governments resource, native habitat and climate targets.

The post will assist the East Region Area Wildlife Manager and the Wildlife Ranger Managers to deliver the cull and venison sale of approx. 8000 deer per annum. Deer are handled through 9 deer larders operated by FLS. Culling is achieved through a combination of contractors and in-house staff resource.

East Region extends from Nairn in the Northwest to the forests of north Fife and Perthshire in the south. It includes substantial parts of the Cairngorms National Park and the river catchments of Spey, Deveron, Don Dee, South Esk and Tay.

The region has an annual harvesting program of approximately 500k m3 per annum, and restocking of over 1000ha/ annum along with ambitious woodland creation targets. A programme of peatland restoration is underway and the Region has significantly scaled windfarm developments in planning.

The Region’s forests play a key role in providing recreation and tourism attracting large numbers of visitors with key sites at Tentsmuir, Faskally and Queen’s View in the south and the peri urban forests in Aberdeen City, the upland walks of Bennachie and the coastal forests of Roseisle and Culbin in the north.

**Job description**:
Sustainable herbivore management is a key foundation to the successful delivery of a range of Scottish Government targets on carbon capture, improving habitats and timber production. The Glen Prosen estate purchased by FLS in 2022 will have a significant profile in delivering and demonstrating the benefits of transformational land management change through reduced grazing pressure to deliver woodland establishment and prevent damage to a number of designated sites.

This position will work to the Wildlife Ranger Manager and will play a key role in high volume culling of Red, Roe and Fallow deer to deliver the annual cull and venison sale of the region’s deer control target.

Interpretation of cull data, browsing impact reports, deer density assessments and population modelling will be required to manage ongoing and future culls.

The role will also involve day to day delivery of a range of traditional estate management skills working in collaborating with the forest craftperson team including fence inspection and maintenance, buildings management including a deer larder, basic maintenance of vehicles and equipment and a representative role.

East Region delivers a significant commercial and native habitat program consisting of;
- New woodland creation projects through planting and natural regeneration of native species.
- Restocking following felling c.1000ha per year for commercial timber, diversification and native woodland
- Habitat improvement right across the national forests and land but in particular designated sites, high conservation value habitats and Plantation on Ancient Woodland restoration sites.
- Peatland restoration is a significant proportion of East Region’s work program and is an expanding area to help achieve the Scottish Governments climate targets.

Maintaining deer numbers at two to seven deer per Km2 across the estate is critical to the successful delivery of these targets and future resource availability.

**Person specification**:
**Experience**

Essential:

- Significant experience of directly delivering high levels deer culls on both forest and open range and a clear understanding of the resources (including trained deer dogs) and expertise required.
- Up to date knowledge and direct hands on experience of controlling woodland deer hares and rabbits to reduce their impact on trees and vegetation.
- Demonstrable experience of undertaking upland estate maintenance tasks including inspection and repairs of fences, vehicles, equipment and