Lead Ranger

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join the Stowe & Aylesbury Vale portfolio, as Lead Ranger. If you’re an experienced ranger who’s passionate about access to green spaces, heritage, culture, nature and making our places run smoothly for everyone, we’d love to hear from you.

What it's like to work here:This is an important period in Stowe’s history as a pay-for-entry outdoor experience. The next five years will see Stowe deliver a programme of major landscape restoration plus the creation of a multi-user Parkland Trail. Our vision is for Stowe to be a fully accessible, greenspace of choice, full of people, playfulness and colour - a place for all species.

Stowe is a pay for entry property which is open 363 days per year. The property consists of 245 acres of landscape gardens and 1,000 acres of parkland, an 18 th century inn, 30+ monuments and temples, workspace for property-based and regional colleagues, café, shop and conference facilities. This is a Grade 1 listed landscape with 40+ listed temples, monuments and statuary, 19,000 trees including veteran and notable examples, extensive habitats across a variety of land-types including hedgerow, grassland, water courses and wood pasture.

In addition to Stowe, the portfolio responsibilities include 13 acres of ancient woodland at Boarstall Duck Decoy, and tree safety, stakeholder management and community engagement for Claydon House, Boarstall Tower and Long Crendon Courthouse.

What you'll be doing:Reporting to the Head Gardener/Countryside Manager for the Stowe & Aylesbury Vale Portfolio, you'll be responsible for strategic planning and day to day management of a team of employed and volunteer rangers. Stowe is a complex estate with multiple stakeholders and users outside the National Trust. Stakeholder management, community engagement and presentation standards are therefore key parts of the role. You'll need to be comfortable balancing heritage, nature, access, presentation, ecology, compliance and budgets whilst meeting the strategic aims of the National Trust, providing exceptional service to all users of the estate.

You'll contribute to the longer-term vision for the portfolio and to the Property Business Plan. You’ll take part in duty management (including some weekends) to ensure seven-day cover by the outdoor team.
- Who we're looking forAn experienced people manager with the ability to lead a team to deliver effectively.
- Experienced in land, access, and conservation management.
- Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and inspiring, and comfortable working with people of all ages and backgrounds, including volunteers.
- Knowledgeable in health and safety requirements and other compliance issues relating to the countryside and visitor activities.
- Confident in managing budgets, finances, and contracts.
- A problem solver who seeks solutions that enable our Land, Outdoors and Nature programme to be implemented

The packageThe 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)
- Tax-free childcare scheme
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places
- Independent financial advice

Requirements :Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK
Permanent f/t (37.5 hrs pw)