Area Ranger

The voice of our landscapes; a conservation champion; and lover of all things outdoors, you’ll help care for and recover nature in our wonderful Cornish countryside and coast. Working in some of the nation’s most stunning places, come rain or shine, you will inspire others as you strive to make everyone feel welcome and ensure our beautiful landscapes continue to take people’s breath away.

We would consider a job share for this role for the right candidate, please include this in your application if you are interested in this.

What it's like to work here

The North Cornwall team has the privilege and challenge of looking after, restoring and sharing with people some of the most beautiful and loved parts of the North Cornish coast. Strongly shaped by the prevailing Atlantic winds, much of our land comprises cliffs, beaches, coves, cliff top maritime grasslands and open farmland. There are some very special areas of woodland too. Our team of staff and volunteers delivers amazing land, buildings, heritage and wildlife conservation, whilst working to provide access for everyone. A can-do attitude and positive working with our sister teams looking after our let estate, shops, cafés and holiday cottages in North Cornwall creates a one team approach.

The Trust’s Tintagel to Holywell properties comprise a mixed portfolio of around 1200 hectares of tenanted and in hand land including a variety of habitats and landscapes. Many of these are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or as parts of a National Landscape, amongst others. There are iconic headlands such as Pentire Head, Trevose Head and the Kelseys- rich in wildlife and archaeology together with the historic, industrial landscapes of Cornwall’s mining and quarrying story. A part of the granite landscape of the peaks of Bodmin Moor at Rough Tor is included in the portfolio.

A key feature of the property includes part of the 630-mile South-West Coast Path (SWCP) National Trail weaving its way through our coastal places. There are several honey pot sites including Holywell Bay, Crantock Beach, Carnewas at Bedruthan, Trevose Head and Pentire Head where there are busy coastal car parks, beaches and visitor facilities. The whole area is very popular with visitors in high season and local people year-round. The popular resorts of Newquay, Padstow, Polzeath and Tintagel fall within the patch. We have one pay for entry property, the Tintagel Old Post Office.

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the Lead Ranger, you’ll lead and line manage a small ranger team planning and undertaking a wide variety of practical countryside management tasks; deliver nature restoration projects in line with our Land, Outdoors and Nature ambition; and undertake or organize surveys and monitoring. You will manage contractors; work with a diverse range of volunteers; oversee compliance and risk management; and help deliver agri-environment scheme outcomes and capital works as well as seek and manage other external funding opportunities by drawing up grant applications.

You’ll build and maintain strong professional relationships with colleagues, contractors, tenants and neighbouring land managers, wildlife NGOs, statutory bodies and local communities. You’ll maintain our extensive rights of way network, including the SWCP, as well as visitor infrastructure. You’ll provide high levels of property presentation and explore and implement opportunities for better access for all our sites. Communicating our conservation work to a wide range of audiences is really important, achieved through events, guided walks and engagement with local communities. You’ll appreciate the need for our countryside sites to bring in income, so your business ideas will play an important part in the team’s success. You may need to represent the Lead Ranger on local issues.

Who we're looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

• Experienced in practical countryside and rural skills, with high standards in quality of delivery
• Experienced in habitat and species surveys and management
• A great people manager and leader, including with volunteers, who cares for the team’s wellbeing and effectiveness
• An excellent communicator including in public presentation and building relationships
• Customer aware and take pride in delivering excellent customer service (internal and external)
• Well organized and great at work programming and delivery including management of contractors, small projects, budgets and income generation
• Competent in and with a proven track record of managing and leading on health and safety and environmental compliance
• A full UK driving license holder

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
• 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