Ranger in Paxton

Location: Paxton Pits / Hinchingbrooke Country Park

Contract Type: Permanent full time

Closing Date: 29 July

Are you passionate about wildlife, conservation and helping people connect with nature? Do you enjoy working outdoors and making a visible difference to the places people love to visit?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and practical Ranger to join our Parks and Countryside Team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work across some of Huntingdonshire's most important green spaces, including country parks, nature reserves and open spaces. Every day will be different, from carrying out habitat management and conservation work to leading volunteers, engaging with visitors and helping to deliver projects that enhance nature and biodiversity.

This role offers the opportunity to work in a supportive and dedicated team, helping to manage nationally important wildlife sites whilst ensuring they remain safe, welcoming and enjoyable for visitors. If you enjoy practical conservation, working with people and making a positive impact on the environment, we'd love to hear from you.

About the role:

As a Ranger, you will play a key role in delivering the day-to-day management of our parks, nature reserves and open spaces. You will help implement site management plans, undertake practical habitat management, maintain site infrastructure and ensure our sites remain safe, attractive and welcoming throughout the year.

You will work closely with volunteers, community groups, schools and partner organisations, sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for nature conservation. You’ll lead practical work parties, support events and educational activities, and help develop positive relationships with visitors and stakeholders.

This role requires someone who can work independently and as part of a team, taking ownership of tasks and finding practical solutions to challenges. Through your work, you’ll help deliver Huntingdonshire District Council’s commitment to protecting and enhancing nature while embodying our icare values.

About you:

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about the natural environment and has experience in practical conservation and countryside management. You will have a good understanding of habitat management, wildlife conservation and health and safety practices, together with experience using and maintaining a range of grounds maintenance tools and equipment.

You will be a confident communicator who enjoys working with people from all backgrounds, whether that’s volunteers, visitors, schools, community groups or partner organisations. You’ll be able to motivate others, share your skills and knowledge, and provide excellent customer service whilst representing the Council in a positive and professional manner.

Most importantly, you’ll be a proactive, adaptable and enthusiastic individual who enjoys working outdoors in all seasons. You’ll be comfortable working independently, making sound decisions and responding to changing priorities while maintaining high standards of safety, conservation and visitor experience.

A full driving licence is essential, along with relevant countryside management qualifications or equivalent practical experience. Relevant operational qualifications such as chainsaw and brushcutter certificates would be advantageous.

This role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check. An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. HDC does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.

The closing date is 9am 29 July 2026 and interviews will be held the week commencing 10 August. However, this is a rolling campaign and we’ll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and will close the advert early should we receive suitable applications, so please don’t delay in applying!

Working for the council:

As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity and are supportive employers, enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work-life balance.