Job Description

Job Details:

Job Reference:

HCC621745

Salary Range:

24,405 - 25,430 per annum

Work Location:

Central Sites Team. Location negotiable - Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Horndean; Crab Wood Depot, Winchester; Normandy Farm, Lymington.

Hours per week:

37

Contract Type:

Permanent (1 x permanent / 1 x fixed term (12 months))

Closing Date:

18 August 2025

Interview Date:

27 August 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for two Assistant Rangers to join the Countryside Service Central Sites Team at Hampshire County Council.

This team works closely with the local community and volunteer groups to manage and improve the nature reserves and green spaces of Central Hampshire (from the New Forest in the west to the South Downs in the east).




The sites you will be working on include National Nature Reserves (NNR), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM); and cover a range of habitat types, including chalk downland, woodland, wetland and heathland.



All sites are managed with both wildlife and visitors in mind, balancing the needs of conservation and recreation.

The Role:

This is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills through carrying out a range of practical conservation and maintenance tasks on a wide variety of habitats including tasks such as scrub control, tree felling and mowing.




Additional tasks will include wildlife survey monitoring, site patrols, livestock management, maintenance of site infrastructure as well as hand and power tools, and contributing to social media content.

What you'll do:

Working with the Countryside Sites Ranger Teams you will deliver an agreed programme of practical, interpretive, educational, ecological and administrative works to provide a high-quality management of Countryside Service sites and appropriate service to the public.

What we're looking for:

Having a flexible approach, you will be willing to work outdoors in all weathers, both in a team and on your own. A basic level of certification in the use of power tools such as brushcutters and chainsaws is essential; further training will be provided to the successful candidates.




Experience with grazing livestock (cattle, sheep and ponies) would be an advantage.




You should have a basic knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet use and will be expected to use the County Council's online systems.




You will also possess good interpersonal skills and be able to undertake the physical requirements of the role.




You will be required to work some weekends and bank holidays.




You will be required to drive a Council vehicle and must hold a current full manual driving licence.

Why join us?

Our Hampshire County Council authority provides high quality public services to over a million customers. Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.



Our benefits package includes a minimum 24 days holiday and also bank holidays (pro-rata) on top of your annual leave entitlement. It also includes local government pension scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of, where you are empowered to be your best and a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.

Additional Information:

Assistant Ranger Candidate Pack

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Pete Durnell, Countryside Team Manager (Central) on pete.durnell@hants.gov.uk or Hazel Christie, Nature Recovery Project Officer, on hazel.christie@hants.gov.uk


Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.