JOB DESCRIPTION
1.1 JOB TITLE: RANGER – BOURNEMOUTH TEAM
1.2 SALARY: £26,208 per annum
1.3 LOCATION: Longham Lakes, expected to travel to any of our sites in the Bournemouth region regularly, and Trust main office at Roadford Lake, Devon as required
1.4 HOURS: 40 hours per week to include occasional weekends, Bank Holidays and evenings
1.5 DURATION: Permanent
1.6 RESPONSIBLE TO: Bournemouth Area Manager
1.7 START DATE: 1st February 2026
1. OVERALL ROLE PURPOSE
· To contribute to delivering our vision: Our people, places and experiences we offer, will inspire this and future generations to love and benefit from the environment
· To care for natural and historic environments, providing health, social and wellbeing benefits for individuals and communities.
· To ensure the feeling of "It's Your Outdoors" is shared with all visitors.
1. SCOPE OF THE ROLE
3.1 Our Rangers work around lakes and reservoirs within the South West of England, including the Bournemouth Area; they focus on land and property of public interest and/or of designated conservation importance. Rangers deliver the essential routine tasks and emergency response necessary to protect biodiversity and maintain safe public access and sustainable recreation across our estate. They help ensure compliance with statutory aspects such as the Conservation Access and Recreation Code of Practice, as well as compliance with the Charity's Integrated Management Plans.
3.2 Rangers operate in outdoor countryside environments and largely independently, often lone working on and around deep water, as well as occasionally in small teams. Lone working for extensive periods requires individuals that are responsible and resilient. The role is broad ranging, from welcoming fishermen, safety checks, site policing and public engagement, to practical cleaning and estate maintenance type tasks, to car parking attendant duties.
3.3 Rangers priorities vary dynamically throughout the year. In hot sunny weather public safety at the reservoirs is the priority, however when the risk level drops Rangers can be involved in a range of tasks to best protect and maintain the estate. The role will include challenging conversations with the public where site rules are breached, particularly during periods of peak visitor numbers. Being comfortable working outdoors in all weather and being fit to work in these conditions whilst engaging constructively with the public for a full shift is a pre-requisite.
3.4 Our visitor sites are open 7 days a week, including bank holidays, and tend to be busiest at weekends, in school holidays and during good weather. Rangers may work varied shift patterns depending on the time of year and visitor demands, which may include anti-social working hours such as evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Due to the seasonal demands of the role, annual leave outside of school holidays is encouraged.
1. KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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4.1 Take responsibility for day-to-day site maintenance, ensuring our sites and facilities are presented to a high standard. This will include grass cutting and footpath maintenance.
4.2 Maintain excellent relationships with the public, assist with enquiries and promote the Trust through a public facing presence. Discourage and challenge unsafe and antisocial behaviour as required from time to time.
4.3 Ensure a great angling experience is always available, assisting in the day-to-day management including presenting angling information to a high standard.
4.4 Work closely with Bournemouth Water's Environment team as well as SWLT's Environment and Engagement Team as well as to complete habitat work plans and reporting on invasive non-native species or other conservation concerns.
4.5 Take responsibility for the proper care and maintenance of equipment, vehicles and facilities, carry out routine checks of site furniture and carrying out maintenance as required.
4.6 Complete work programmes as agreed with your line manager, but have the discretion to organise and prioritise work to an agreed timeframe and quality and have responsibility for delegated aspects. Supervise, train and monitor the activities of volunteers in practical tasks. Monitor the activities of others, such as contractors.
4.7 Undertake training and development as required by the Trust, and be available to train colleagues.
4.8 Ensure that you comply with procedures to manage risk to the public, self, other staff, volunteers and contractors. Ensure that high quality risk assessments are carried out in line with Trust guidance for works you are undertaking and supervising and monitor compliance with safety procedures.
4.9 Carry out public safety inspections and ensure electronic records are accurate and regularly updated
4.10 Carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Trust.
1. PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria
Skills / Experience
* Practical outdoor manual labour; including safe use of hand tools and power tools
* Serving and working with the public and volunteers
* Enforcement and ensuring compliance with countryside and access legislation
* Car parking attendance and visitor monitoring
* Incident/emergency response
* High quality customer service
* Conflict resolution
* Dynamic risk assessment
* Countryside management (e.g., grass cutting, strimming, brush cutting)
* IT literate in Microsoft Outlook
Qualifications
* Current valid UK driving licence
Education / Experience
* Countryside Management
* Public Services
Knowledge
* Angling – coarse or game
Behaviours
* Building understanding and trust
* Customer focused
* Driving results / self-starter
* Effective communication
* Teamwork
Desirable Criteria
Skills / Experience
* Social media and promotional skills
* Able to swim
* IT literate in Microsoft Office software
Qualifications
* Tractor operator
* Trailer towing
* Powerboat
* Strimmer/chainsaw
* Tree safety checks
* Workshop / hand-tools qualifications
* COSHH awareness
Education / Experience
* Conservation
* Public Access
* Angling
Knowledge
* Knowledge of the water industry
* Knowledge of trees and tree safety
* Knowledge of boats and moorings
* Outdoor recreation
Behaviours
* Demonstrate an ethical approach including:
* Long term thinking for biodiversity and people;
* Ability to advocate for the Trust and empower others;
* Uphold and promote equality and dignity in all that you do;
* Act in an environmentally responsible way
* Positively engage and consult with customers and stakeholders to achieve more.
* Take responsibility for the safety of yourself, colleagues, volunteers and customers. Comply with the Trust's Health and Safety Policy and defined standards. Ensure safe use of appropriate equipment; follow Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
* Thinking visitor first you will be proactive and innovate to make sure visitors want to return and do more. A self-starter and team player you will be motivated to achieve more.
* Being aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practises that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times.
* Be committed to delivering our strategic outcomes:
* Our managed landscapes will be abundant, diverse, and connected;
Lives will be enhanced from experiencing the outdoors.
About us
* As an independent charity, our purpose is to protect special places for people and wildlife; in doing this we care for over 40 inland waters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Ranging in size from one to nine hundred acres, the lakes provide unrivalled access to water sports, angling, walking and cycling, and are places you can be active or play and explore all day long. We take great pride in protecting and enhancing these locations for the future and for people to value and enjoy. They provide a perfect setting for a great day out, be it for a stroll, to play, nature watch or enjoy adventurous activities such as stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or sailing.
* We offer a stakeholder pension scheme after 3 months of employment, with a 5% contribution matched by the company, 23 days holiday (plus statutory bank holidays) rising to 25 days after 5 years and 28 after 10, a culture of investing in our employees through training and development and the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful places in the south west.
To apply
To apply please complete and return our application form or to learn more please contact Ellie Lyons, HR Officer –
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £26,208.00 per year
Work Location: In person