6541 - Reserve Ranger, Derbyshire Dales NNR

Helping to deliver the aims of the NNR Management Plan, you'll undertake a wide range of practical land management across the site.

Key skills

• Collaborating and partnerships – as part of a strong team, you'll contribute positively to collaborative working, demonstrating honesty and integrity.
• Decision making – demonstrating flexibility, you'll use the best available evidence and pragmatism to get things done.
• Work delivery – prioritising day‑to‑day work and helping to organise work programmes for the wider Reserve team and volunteers, you'll manage projects and deliver tasks on time and to budget, recording work undertaken and resources used.
• Communication – you'll use great speaking and listening skills and written and non‑verbal communication to tell compelling stories, tailoring them to suit internal and external audiences.
• Environmental and organisational outcomes – demonstrating an awareness of local environmental issues, you'll quickly build a clear understanding of local delivery plans, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Natural England's vision, mission and objectives.
• Technical skills – with a working knowledge of the techniques and practice of the management of habitats, species, access and/or community engagement, you'll be competent in the use of tools and machinery as required, certificated where appropriate, and will undertake all necessary training once in the role. Knowledge of the biodiversity and other features relevant to the Reserve and local area will be vital.

Main tasks

• Implementation of Health & Safety (H&S) Frameworks and Legislation – taking responsibility for your own H&S, you'll follow Natural England's H&S policies at all times. You'll understand risk control methods and comply with local risk assessments, controls, safe working standards and associated legislation. You'll create, review and update risk assessments as your knowledge develops. You'll also contribute towards H&S management of the site through checks and record keeping (including conducting site safety audits of mineshafts, site infrastructure and hazardous trees), and support audit and review processes. Where working alongside or supervising others, you'll share risk assessments and controls with them, and ensure they follow safe working practices. You'll observe and challenge unsafe behaviours or practices, escalating appropriately. You'll report H&S near hits and incidents, and support investigations as required.
• Emergency response – under direction/supervision, you'll provide practical support to unforeseen emergencies such as windblown trees, wildfires, animal health, pollution incidents, etc.

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy being outdoors and working in a team? Reporting to the Senior Reserve Manager and Reserve Manager, you'll help deliver the day‑to‑day practical conservation and estate management of these internationally‑important sites. Working both within a small team and by yourself, you'll demonstrate practical aptitude and initiative alongside excellent teamwork and communication skills. You'll be proficient in the safe use of a variety of vehicles, tools and machinery associated with countryside conservation estate work; you'll also need to be physically fit and able to operate safely and effectively in remote locations, as day‑to‑day tasks are often conducted on steep, challenging terrain and require working outside in all weather conditions.

Our National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are at the forefront of nature recovery and people engagement and are at the heart of achieving Natural England's ambitions (such as Local Nature Recovery, Biodiversity Net Gain and the new Strategy). This role is fundamental to the delivery of the NNR Management Plans and ambitions, providing key operational delivery on the Reserve and helping to deliver the Government's ambitious 25‑year plan. The team at Derbyshire Dales NNR is seeking a highly motivated and professional individual with a real passion for nature conservation, to join established colleagues within a small team managing over 400 hectares on the NNR. Comprising a mosaic of woodland, scrub, grassland and freshwater habitats within five different dales, much of the NNR is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to a wide range of rare species.