We’re looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Area Ranger to help us deliver a step change in countryside management and public engagement in North Yorkshire’s Skell Valley. 

Provisional interview date: Monday 20th June 

If you have any questions about the role please email: josie.campbell@nationaltrust.org.uk

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is one of 1154 sites globally recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Surrounded by the beautiful countryside of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and close to the city of Ripon, the estate is iconic in the North of England.

The Skell Valley Project is a 4-year project which aims to work with landowners and farmers to improve the resilience of the landscape to flooding and erosion, which threaten to irreparably damage the World Heritage Site. The project will also help nature to recover throughout the valley, record and celebrate our threatened built and cultural heritage and empower people to engage with and enjoy this precious landscape.

The River Skell winds its way through 12 miles of diverse countryside, from the moorland of Dallowgill Moor, through a scenic patchwork of pastoral land and woodland in Nidderdale AONB, crossing historic designed landscapes and finally reaching the ancient cathedral city of Ripon.

The Skell Valley Project is part-funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and European Regional Development Fund. Following completion of the remaining 3 years of the Lottery-funded project, the Area Ranger role will continue as an essential part of the project’s legacy, working with established networks of volunteers, stakeholders and the local community to ensure that sustainable land management continues in the valley long into the future.

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You’ll work on a landscape scale with a broad partnership of farmers, landowners, local community groups and volunteers to deliver natural flood management, practical conservation, wildlife recording, heritage skills training and community engagement activities.

You’ll develop excellent working relationships with farmers and landowners, procuring and managing contractors to deliver natural flood management measures, habitat creation, access improvements and historic landscape restoration throughout the Skell Valley. You’ll take an active role in engaging volunteers in practical conservation work as part of the ‘Skell Valley Task Force’ and work with the local community to improve green spaces in the City of Ripon.

You’ll work as part of the Skell Valley Project team alongside the Senior Project Co-ordinator, Heritage Officer and Project Manager (who will line manage your role). You’ll work closely with National Trust staff including the Fountains Abbey & Brimham Rocks ranger teams, and with the Nidderdale AONB team in Pateley Bridge. 

Please also read the full role profile attached to this advert.

To deliver this role successfully, you will need to;

• Have practical experience of countryside/rural skills

• Have evidence of good people management and leadership

• Have excellent communication skills including public presentation

• Have strong organisational skills including work programming

• Have a proven track record of managing and leading on health and safety and environmental compliance

• Have a full UK Driving licence

• Be able to manage contractors and small projects, including budgets.

And you'll need to demonstrate the following experience on your CV/Application;

• Diploma/NVQ3 or higher in countryside or environmental conservation

• Have good wildlife identification skills

• Habitat and species surveying experience

• Empathy with, and significant experience of, working with volunteers

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.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.