Senior Ranger

Summary

We’re looking for an experienced, practical and inspiring Senior Ranger to help shape the future of two of the National Trust’s most significant coastal landscapes in the East of England: Orford Ness and Dunwich Heath.

This is a hands-on leadership role with real influence, leading a skilled countryside team and supporting the wider team across both sites to care for internationally important habitats, deliver outstanding conservation outcomes and create meaningful opportunities for people to connect with nature, beauty and history. At Orford Ness, you’ll help lead practical habitat and wildlife management across this remarkable coastal landscape. At Dunwich Heath, the role will be central to leading and supporting the recovery programme following the wildfire, helping to guide practical habitat restoration, ecological monitoring and longer-term management.

Across both places, you’ll develop and deliver countryside management plans, support visitor engagement, represent the National Trust to external stakeholders, and in the media, and ensure our outdoor places are cared for to a high standard, for everyone, for ever.

What it's like to work here

You’ll be part of the Suffolk & Essex Coast portfolio, working across dynamic and distinctive landscapes including the internationally significant shingle, saltmarsh, heathland, wetland and coastal habitats of Orford Ness and Dunwich Heath. These are places with powerful stories, rich wildlife, sensitive designations and strong local connections.

You’ll work closely with rangers, volunteers, property teams, partners, contractors and external organisations to deliver practical conservation, access, visitor experience and land management priorities. The role requires visible, collaborative leadership, with a strong focus on communication, trust, shared purpose and joined-up working across the portfolio.

This is a varied role, balancing strategic planning with practical delivery. You’ll help lead countryside work programmes, contribute to property and portfolio priorities, support cross-team planning, and ensure that the countryside team’s work is understood, celebrated and connected to wider National Trust ambitions. As part of Team rota and Duty Management responsibilities Weekend, bank holiday and out-of-hours working will be required.

What you'll be doing

As Senior Ranger, you’ll lead the strategic planning and day-to-day management of outdoor places across Orford Ness and Dunwich Heath, delivering conservation work that protects their special character, habitats and species while providing safe, inspiring and welcoming visitor experiences.

You’ll develop and deliver clear countryside management plans, turning portfolio priorities into practical work programmes that make best use of people, time, budgets and resources. Our “Restoring Nature” strategic differentiation will be central to this, including habitat management, ecological recording and monitoring, species surveys, partnership projects and sharing our conservation work through interpretation, events, media and face-to-face engagement.

You’ll lead and support staff and volunteers, creating an inclusive, positive and well-organised team culture through regular communication, 1:1s, PDRs, team planning, coaching and skills development. The team line managed by this role includes 1.0 FTE Ranger and 2.5 FTE externally funded Ranger posts, delivering outcomes for projects focused on species recovery and visitor impacts. Additionally you’ll ensure a brilliant and mutually beneficial volunteer experience for the countryside volunteers across roles covering ecological monitoring, archaeological survey, visitor engagement and species & habitat works.

You’ll manage site resources including budgets, plant, vehicles, machinery, equipment, contractors and project pipelines, while supporting forward planning, external funding opportunities, Countryside Stewardship scheme development, and grant-funded delivery.

Health, safety, compliance and risk management will be central to how you work. You’ll ensure activities are planned and delivered safely, records and systems are up to date, and delegated tasks are progressed clearly with Facilities, property teams, contractors and other colleagues.

You’ll also represent the countryside function internally and externally, building strong relationships with partners, stakeholders, tenants, communities, professional networks and National Trust teams, helping people work together with shared purpose and focus.

Who we're looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• qualified to Level 4 or 5 in a relevant subject, or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of practical and vocational experience.
• a confident leader, able to manage, motivate and develop staff and volunteers, providing coaching, mentoring and clear direction to deliver shared objectives.
• significant practical experience in countryside, land, conservation and access management, with a proven track record of planning and delivering nature recovery, visitor access and conservation programmes.
• able to inspire others through a passion for nature, heritage and the outdoors, engaging communities, volunteers and visitors through effective storytelling and communication. Excellent communication and influencing skills, including experience of presentations, stakeholder engagement and the effective use of digital and social media.
• a strong understanding of habitat management, ecological monitoring, operational risk management, health and safety, and countryside compliance requirements.
• experienced in managing budgets, finances, projects, contracts and grant-funded schemes, ensuring resources are used effectively and efficiently.
• skilled at building and maintaining positive relationships with partners, contractors, tenants, communities and stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes.
• in possession of a full driving licence valid in the UK, as regular travel between sites and the transportation of equipment will be required

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)

•Perks at work disco