Overview
Reporting directly to the Head of Parklands as one of three Ranger Service Managers, you will be responsible for a team of Rangers, Assistant Rangers and other officers on a daily basis to ensure that agreed standards are maintained while ensuring health and safety regulations are met. You will lead the area's Ranger team to ensure that site management plans are in place and provide regular guidance and 1-1s. A close working relationship with other Authority colleagues including the Biodiversity, Communications, Volunteers, and Events Teams and external partners and stakeholders is key. Open spaces will have a key focus over the coming years with investment planned throughout the park, and this role will play an important part in overseeing the implementation of some of these projects, either directly or through delegation within the team. Budget management (specific and annual) is a feature, along with input into planning applications to help ensure the protection of Authority land holdings and maximizing external funding opportunities. Working closely and building good working relationships with key stakeholders and adjoining landholders such as neighbouring councils, Network Rail, Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency and Natural England is a fundamental part of the role. You will also be an important representative of the team for our board of Members' visits around the park.
Responsibilities
* Lead a team of Rangers, Assistant Rangers and other officers to maintain agreed standards and health & safety regulations.
* Ensure site management plans are in place and provide regular guidance and 1-1s.
* Collaborate with Biodiversity, Communications, Volunteers, and Events Teams and external partners and stakeholders.
* Oversee or delegate the implementation of park investment projects and manage related budgets (specific and annual).
* Input into planning applications to protect Authority land holdings and maximize external funding opportunities.
* Build strong relationships with stakeholders and adjoining landholders (e.g., neighbouring councils, Network Rail, Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency, Natural England).
* Represent the team during board of Members' visits to the park.
Qualifications
* An enthusiastic countryside professional with proven experience of managing a variety of habitats.
* A recognised and relevant post-A level qualification (e.g., degree or equivalent in countryside management, Project Management and IOSH Managing Safely or other related discipline).
* Proven line manager experience.
* A flexible approach with good motivational skills and experience of engaging with volunteers and community activities.
* Proven budget management experience.
* A full manual driving licence is essential.
* Successful applicants will be required to obtain a Disclosure Certificate from the Criminal Records Bureau, for which assistance will be given.
The award-winning Lee Valley Regional Park stretches an incredible 26 miles along the leafy banks of the River Lee, from Ware in Hertfordshire, through Essex, to the Thames at East India Dock Basin. The park provides a unique 'natural' corridor on London's doorstep and provides a vital refuge for wildlife. It contains a variety of landscapes and open spaces to enjoy including the internationally important wetland sites that form the Lee Valley Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, industrial heritage sites and nature reserves. The open spaces team are not only the guardians of the park on the ground but they are its eyes and ears too. In essence it is one large team but split over three sub teams covering different areas. They look after an array of different habitats from wetland to urban oases covering parts of the Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar Site, four SSSIs, and numerous locally designated wildlife sites. The Wildlife Discovery Centre is the current jewel in the crown of the River Lee Country Park and is staffed by dedicated members of the open spaces team along with some of our wonderful volunteers who support the park on a regular basis. There are many opportunities to develop the conservation value and engagement with sites throughout the park but also for personal development as an individual.
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