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Seasonal Ranger x 1.5 - (Fixed Term)

Reference: FEB20235535
Expiry date: 2023-03-27 22:59:00.000
Location: Abernethy
Salary: £21,622.00 - £23,987.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance and Annual Leave
Duration:1st May - 31st August 2023
Attachments: CandidateGuidanceNotesNov21.pdf

This is a fantastic opportunity to help protect one of the most spectacular sites for nature in Scotland. The wide variety of rare wildlife and beautiful scenery attracts thousands of visitors every year. This role involves being a friendly face and the eyes and ears on the ground. 

About Abernethy

Abernethy contains the largest remaining fragment of Ancient Caledonian pine forest and is home to over 5000 species including sensitive and rare species such as capercaillie and twinflower. This role involves being a welcoming member of the Abernethy Team, chatting to visitors and patrolling trails to ensure everyone is accessing the nature reserve responsibly in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and caring for the reserve, wildlife and communities they are visiting.

The dramatic increase in numbers of people visiting the Highlands provides an opportunity to bring nature to wider audiences. Whilst access to nature and wild places is vitally important for mental and physical wellbeing, the challenge of looking after those places is increasing, as busy sites and irresponsible access disturb wildlife and pose a fire risk.

About the Role:

RSPB Scotland is seeking to employ two friendly, responsible Seasonal Rangers to assist our existing Abernethy visitor team in patrolling honeypot sites and vulnerable areas of the reserve, such as Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie. The main part of the role will be patrolling the key footpaths and core visitor areas to chat to people and ensure they are accessing and enjoying the nature reserve responsibly. Using strong communication skills and a good understanding of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, you will strive to ensure every visitor you meet understands what responsible access involves and why it is so important. There will be a focus on preventing wildfires and disturbance to wildlife.

You will be working with the visitor team to ensure a comprehensive Ranger presence on the reserve during busy periods and at times of high fire risk. This role will involve regular weekend and evening work. The ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, be able to work independently, and use their initiative - if that's you we'd love to hear from you!  

Key duties include:

  • You will have good communication skills and be confident chatting to a wide variety of people; highlighting responsible behaviour and dealing with any access issues when they arise
  • You will be welcoming and knowledgeable, enhancing visitor's experience in nature and encouraging them to access the site responsibly
  • You will be representing the RSPB and will act professionally at all times
  • You will be organised and able to regularly report on key data to allow us to form an accurate picture of access issues and liaise with other organisations
  • You will work with RSPB visitor experience staff, the wider reserve team and Cairngorm National Park Rangers to effectively and efficiently cover key areas at key times

What we need from you:

  • Strong communication skills and an interest in nature and conservation
  • You need to be able to walk some distance over rough terrain
  • Able to ride a bike safely, on forest tracks
  • Have an understanding of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and experience in a public-facing role
  • Organised and able to report on a number of key criteria, including being able to use Microsoft Office
  • Responsible and able to use initiative
  • Happy working both alone and in a team with a variety of people
  • Willing to work evenings and weekends
  • You need to be able to travel without dependence on public transport

These are two fixed term Contracts 1.5 FTE, with variable hours, full time or part time available based around the Loch Garten area so much different type of terrain.  

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 4th April For further information please contact kirsty.pollard@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.