Reserve Ranger, Derbyshire Dales NNR - ( Ref : 6541 )

Helping to deliver the aims of the NNR Management Plan, you’ll undertake a wide range of practical land management across the site. Demonstrating initiative and safe working practices, you’ll work alongside and supervise others (volunteers, contractors, apprentices etc.), in addition to operating effectively as a lone worker.

Key Skills Will Include:

• 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.

The main tasks associated with this role will be:

• 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.
• Emergency response – under direction/supervision, you’ll provide practical support to unforeseen emergencies such as windblown trees, wildfires, animal health, pollution incidents etc.
• Site management tasks – day-to-day practical habitat management: habitat/species/environmental monitoring as set out in the NNR Management Plan, maintaining records as required. General estate work and maintenance of site infrastructure including fences, dry-stone walling, cattle handling facilities, mine shafts, paths/trackways, estate furniture (stiles, bridges etc.) and interpretation signs. Operation of a wide range of estate machinery, tools and equipment in addition to carrying out their associated maintenance, repairs, checks and record keeping. Woodland management on very steep terrain, including tree felling with chainsaws, tree planting which includes the logistical challenge of accessing the work site with materials. Other woodland work includes tractor and winch work, woodchipper and pesticide spraying. Scrub management on steep terrain, with chainsaw, brush cutter and applying pesticides. Installation and upkeep of stock fencing, on steep, rocky sites. Tractor operation using a wide range of machinery, including front end loader and attachments, trailers, post driver, timber winch, mowers, baler and hay making machinery. Stock management of the NNR’s herd of cattle, used for conservation grazing. You’ll contribute towards livestock checking, handling and herd management.
• Reserve Base/Office Management – you’ll monitor and carry out maintenance of tools, machinery, vehicles and other equipment, keeping up-to-date maintenance records as NE requires. You’ll support office management for the smooth running of the Reserve base. You’ll use IT and other associated technology where required to support and deliver your work.
• Financial management and monitoring – you’ll develop your knowledge of procurement and other internal processes, including requisitioning and managing contracts. You’ll promptly process invoices and expenses, and ensure any budget and financial risks, losses or additional requirements are reported promptly.
• Project and resource planning – you’ll support the team in project and resource planning, helping to review and refine projects to ensure infrastructure effectively supports site management priorities and contributes to the delivery of NNR Management Plans.
• Connecting People with Nature – you’ll meet, greet and advise members of the public visiting the NNR. You’ll be involved in planning and delivering events and inclusive engagement activities on the NNR, including guided walks; group visits and volunteering, and accessible visitor experiences that tackle barriers to access to nature. You’ll support responsible recreation through monitoring and managing visitor behaviours and patterns of use, and promote and recruit volunteering opportunities to build volunteer capacity to support operational delivery.
• Partnerships Management – you’ll build and maintain strong working relations with a range of stakeholders engaged in the day-to-day management of the Reserve, including land management stakeholders, neighbours, local partners and community groups. You’ll contribute to developing projects and areas of delivery where partnership working can add mutual benefit.
• People Leadership (functional) – you’ll oversee and direct volunteers, students and contractors across the NNR in the completion of practical tasks, survey and monitoring etc., ensuring that highest standards of H&S are followed. You’ll apply your knowledge, skills and experience in supporting others in their learning and development as appropriate.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Understanding of nature conservation, ecology, and habitat management for wildlife.
• Experience delivering practical estate work and land management, ideally within the nature conservation sector, with associated hand tools and/or machinery.
• Chainsaw qualification for small tree felling (e.g. NPTC CS30 & CS31 or equivalent) with consolidated experience.
• Experience in tractor operation including implements and attachments (ideally with NPTC or LANTRA qualification).
• Experience of working around livestock and a willingness to work with them.
• Good understanding of health and safety, and of conducting and implementing risk assessments in relation to site management.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• First Aid at Work qualification OR the willingness to undertake this once in post.
• Experience driving, reversing and manoeuvring with trailers.
• Level 2 (or higher) qualification in countryside management/a similarly relevant subject.
• Natural history identification skills, survey and monitoring habitat/species management.
• Competent and experienced in animal husbandry, including handling and moving livestock.
• First Aid at Work qualification, ideally with +F.
• Off-road driving qualification.
• ATV driving qualification (e.g. NPTC or LANTRA or equivalent).
• Pesticide certificate PA1a and PA6.
• Experience in post and wire stock fencing and dry-stone walling.
• Advanced chainsaw operations NPTC qualifications (e.g. felling medium/large trees, wind blow, climbing & aerial rescue etc.).
• Good understanding of legislation relating to land management, e.g. nature conservation/SSSI regulations, protected species and other relevant regulations.

Personal Effectiveness

• Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and Natural England and inspire others to act (practitioner).
• Progress your personal development and take responsibility for keeping your knowledge and expertise current (basic).
• Understand the duty of care owed to all visitors, contractors or others on our NNRs, and adhere to appropriate legislation and Natural England policies and procedures (basic).
• Apply the principles of risk management and adopt safe working practices for yourself and the people you work with in everything you do (basic).

Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas

• Understand and apply appropriate management techniques to maintain or enhance the condition of sites (practitioner).
• Recognise environmental features and designations within their environmental context, including understanding terminology and context when working with data and information (Advanced).