JOB DESCRIPTION

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to create memorable visitor/community focused experiences, maintain our recreational facilities, and co-ordinate engaging community activities.

Here’s a snapshot of your responsibilities:

• be the face of Forestry England: you’ll provide a visible and welcoming presence for visitors to ensure a positive and memorable experience, whilst promoting the management role Forestry England undertakes as land managers - this will include staffing the New Forest Reptile Centre and Bolderwood Information Unit on a rotational basis
• maintain safe and enjoyable sites: support the Ranger team in carrying out regular inspections of car parks, cycle routes, and recreational facilities, including play areas and litter management
• collaborate with staff: support Forestry England staff with public access considerations during planning and implementation of harvesting and conservation operations
• promote responsible behaviour: patrol Crown Lands delivering appropriate messages about responsible visitor behaviour
• support the Ranger team and New Forest Keepers to manage visitor impacts across the SSSI protected landscape including verge parking, disturbance to wildlife and BBQs
• strengthen community engagement: work with Rangers and partner agencies, including the New Forest National Park Authority, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary, to deliver joint engagement events, targeted patrols and key campaigns
• ensure health and safety: coordinate emergency procedures, provide first aid assistance, complete accident and incident reports, and adhere to health and safety guidelines
• represent Forestry England: participate in stakeholder meetings, events, and volunteer programmes to showcase the great work of Forestry England and foster community engagement
• inspire others: support the team with delivery of volunteer programmes in the New Forest, helping to plan, lead, and safely manage volunteer groups, connecting volunteers and local communities with the nation’s forests

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager

ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

• experience in engaging with the public
• excellent communication skills
• experience of sharing knowledge in a positive manner
• experience of dealing with conflict and managing visitor behaviour
• comfortable with lone working

DESIRABLE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

• experience of working with volunteers
• knowledge and understanding of working in protected landscape
• knowledge and experience of managing recreational facilities
• knowledge of new forest recreation, e.g cycle network

TECHNICAL SKILLS

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• You will be assessed on a technical skill at interview.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

WHAT YOU’LL DO

We are looking for strong communicators with a passion for people and wildlife to provide support to our New Forest Ranger team across the busy peak season. A confident, self-motivated individual, you will play an important role in interacting and engaging with the public about some of the most important landscapes in the country, helping to deliver campaigns, working with partners and volunteers. You will have the ability to make a real difference to visitors to the New Forest, providing information and advice to help them get the best out of their visit and promoting our role in caring and protecting the forests, heathland and wildlife that live here; helping to enthuse people about all the things that make the New Forest special and to understand the role they can play in safeguarding this unique place.
This role is an annualised hours contract. You will be expected to work when there is a higher demand for our Recreation facilities in the New Forest and as a result increased visitor pressure. In particular this will be weekends, public and school holidays. You will be paid the same amount each month for your ‘average hours’ but will work more during these peak times.
This is a fantastic opportunities for someone looking for work that fits in with other commitments.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Here’s a snapshot of your responsibilities:

• be the face of Forestry England: you’ll provide a visible and welcoming presence for visitors to ensure a positive and memorable experience, whilst promoting the management role Forestry England undertakes as land managers - this will include staffing the New Forest Reptile Centre and Bolderwood Information Unit on a rotational basis
• maintain safe and enjoyable sites: support the Ranger team in carrying out regular inspections of car parks, cycle routes, and recreational facilities, including play areas and litter management
• collaborate with staff: support Forestry England staff with public access considerations during planning and implementation of harvesting and conservation operations
• promote responsible behaviour: patrol Crown Lands delivering appropriate messages about responsible visitor behaviour
• support the Ranger team and New Forest Keepers to manage visitor impacts across the SSSI protected landscape including verge parking, disturbance to wildlife and BBQs
• strengthen community engagement: work with Rangers and partner agencies, including the New Forest National Park Authority, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary, to deliver joint engagement events, targeted patrols and key campaigns
• ensure health and safety: coordinate emergency procedures, provide first aid assistance, complete accident and incident reports, and adhere to health and safety guidelines
• represent Forestry England: participate in stakeholder meetings, events, and volunteer programmes to showcase the great work of Forestry England and foster community engagement
• inspire others: support the team with delivery of volunteer programmes in the New Forest, helping to plan, lead, and safely manage volunteer groups, connecting volunteers and local communities with the nation’s forest