Job description
Summary
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Job Description
1 Job details
| Job title: | Ranger |
|---|---|
| Team | Ranger |
| Directorate: | Environment and Rural Economy |
| Post number: | P02068 |
| Hours per week: | Up to 37 |
| Grade: | 5 |
| Base: | Lymington Town Hall |
| Accountable to: | Ranger Services Manager |
| Responsible for: | N / A |
| Indirectly responsible for: | Apprentices and volunteers |
| Budget Responsible Officer (BRO): | No |
| Car user: | Casual user. Use of mobile information units and NPA pool vehicles. |
| Politically restricted: | No |
| Does this post involve working with children and/or vulnerable people? | Yes |
| Membership of professional body required: | No |
| Key liaisons: | New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) staff and members, partner organisations including local authorities and wildlife conservation organisations, recreation user groups and forums, local businesses, local community and youth groups, landowners and members of the public. |
2 Role summary
2.1 To be a visible presence in the National Park and surrounding areas, acting as a first point of contact and as eyes and ears for the NPA.
2.2 To increase the understanding of visitors and local people of the natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural heritage of the National Park, helping people to enjoy and benefit from these special qualities whilst avoiding negative impacts of recreation on the integrity of the New Forest internationally designated sites.
2.3 To develop and support local community projects that conserve or enhance the special qualities of the National Park and/or increase the understanding and enjoyment of them by visitors and local people.
3 Main duties and responsibilities
3.1 To assist the NPA to meet the requirements of the adopted strategy, Mitigating recreational impacts on New Forest designated sites.
3.2 Build and maintain good working relationships and communication with partner organisations, commoners, landowners, local businesses and local communities.
3.3 Regularly visit a range of key sites to provide face-to-face contact with members of the public, helping them to enjoy, understand and benefit from the special qualities of the National Park.
3.4 Communicate key New Forest Code messages related to issues such as animal safety, litter and wildlife disturbance and assist with campaigns and enforce any Public Spaces Protection Orders that may be required to reduce these issues and increase responsible behaviour.
3.5 Liaise with Local Information Points, local accommodation providers (bed and breakfast, hotels, camp sites etc.) and other local businesses to help them convey useful information about the National Park, including advice on responsible recreation.
3.6 Work with other rangers to plan and deliver a schedule of public activities and events to engage with local people, visitors and organised groups, especially at sites with high visitor numbers or where damaging behaviour has been identified e.g. feeding of ponies. This might include giving talks and guided walks, family activity sessions and attending selected local events, fairs and markets with the mobile information unit.
3.7 Assist Education and Youth staff with the delivery of structured sessions for schools and youth groups.
3.8 Work with communities and partner organisations to encourage development and assist implementation and support of local projects that improve habitats, increase local recreation benefits or increase nearby residents understanding of the National Park.
3.9 Help monitor the use of the National Park and people’s attitudes through surveys and questionnaires.
3.10 Supervise volunteers and apprentices assisting with ranger activities; this may include giving training where appropriate.
3.11 Help maintain the mobile information unit and other equipment in a good condition, by ensuring they are kept clean and tidy, well maintained, used and stored correctly.
3.12 Follow all health and safety and lone working procedures, including carrying out risk assessments for activities and administering first aid where necessary.
4 Problem solving
4.1 High standards of customer care, a seasonally varied work programme and delivering well planned, professional ranger sessions will require careful prioritisation of work and the need to manage a fluctuating workload in an effective manner, focusing on key priorities sometimes without day-to-day supervision.
4.2 Up-to-date knowledge of the New Forest is required to deal effectively with enquiries referring to senior/more experienced staff if unsure.
4.3 At times there will be a requirement to assess a situation with the public, environment, animals, health and safety etc. and take the best course of action, being mindful of guidance and training given and referring to others as necessary e.g. safely moving members of the public away if approached by livestock on a guided walk.
4.4 Oversee the work of Assistant and Seasonal Assistant Rangers, Apprentices and volunteers helping with ranger duties e.g. when a volunteer helps staff the mobile unit out in the National Park
5 Decision making
5.1 Line manager sets targets and objectives in discussion with the post holder.
5.2 Will act on their own initiative and make day to day decisions relating to the delivery of ranger activities and community projects. In the line manager’s absence, decisions outside of the post holder’s own knowledge area should be referred to other managers.
5.3 Will make decisions about the most effective ways to manage their own workload which can involve reconciling competing interests in accordance with the NPA’s aim to develop continuously to achieve excellence.
5.4 As a public facing role, some actions and decisions may affect how the NPA is perceived by some individuals. Guidance and training is given to assist in these situations.
6 Operational responsibility
6.1 Responsible for the delivery of engagement activities in their area of the New Forest, as agreed with the line manager
6.2 Responsibility for volunteers assisting with ranger duties.
6.3 Occasional access to sensitive and confidential information requiring a clear understanding of why such information is not yet in the public domain.
7 Communication
7.1 A requirement to communicate to a wide range of audiences, especially the users of the National Park (residents and visitors, including young people), requiring a need to recognise when to adapt style to suit audience.
7.2 Requires written skills using plain English in reports and correspondence and oral and interpersonal skills when dealing with people from different organisations and communities, including partner organisations, members/councillors, local community groups, the media and the general public.
7.3 Internal 35% External 65%
8 Working conditions
8.1 Work from an office base but will be required to spend much of their time elsewhere within and just outside the boundary of the National Park.
8.2 A need to work early or late in the day, at weekends and on Bank Holidays, to enable effective engagement with target audiences, with up to 30 such days a year, taking account of visitor patterns and event programmes.
8.3 This post will involve working with young people or vulnerable adults and will require appropriate checks.
8.4 The position may involve contact with people with differing views to the NPA's policies, plans and objectives.
8.5 Requires regular lone working in relatively remote locations; woodlands, heathland and the coast. Risks are assessed and mitigated against in accordance with NPA policies.
9 General
9.1 The post holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to NPA policy and procedures.
9.2 All staff have a responsibility to participate in the NPA Appraisal Scheme and to contribute to their own development, and the development of any staff they appraise or are responsible for.
10 Job description agreement
10.1 The above Job Description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the service.
Job holder
signature:
Date
Manager
signature:
Date
Person Specification
Ranger
| Criteria | Essential | Desirable | Assessed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education / qualifications | |||
| A degree or HND in countryside management or related discipline or equivalent qualification/experience | Y | A | |
| Have or be prepared to obtain a first aid certificate | Y | A / I | |
| Experience | |||
| Demonstrable experience in a similar role | Y | A / I | |
| Experience of dealing with members of the public | Y | A / I | |
| Experience of leading countryside events or outdoor education sessions | Y | A / I | |
| Experience of access improvements and habitat management | Y | A / I | |
| Experience of working with partner organisations from the public, private and/or voluntary sectors | Y | A / I | |
| Knowledge | |||
| Knowledge of the natural and cultural heritage of the New Forest National Park | Y | A / I / T | |
| Knowledge of health and safety issues in countryside locations and risk assessments | Y | A / I | |
| Skills | |||
| Strong communication, inter-personal and presentation skills. Able to communicate in a way which is easily understood and assists in promoting the key messages of the NPA and partners | Y | A / I / T | |
| Excellent organisational skills with ability to manage time and resources to meet work programme deadlines, combining both reactive work and planned initiatives. | Y | A / I | |
| Good IT skills and knowledge of current systems including Microsoft (Word, Excel, Outlook) with the ability to adapt to new systems | Y | A | |
| Impact and attributes | |||
| Confident and outgoing with the ability to engage easily with the public, colleagues and stakeholders | Y | A / I / T | |
| Keen team worker, who can share ideas and information with colleagues and seek input to solve problems | Y | A / I | |
| Valid driving license and own transport | Y | A / I | |
| Ability to understand the need to treat sensitive information confidentially | Y | A / I | |
| Public and political awareness in sensitive situations | Y | A / I | |
Evidence assessed by key: A – Application form / CV I – Interview T – Test/assessment