Assistant Ranger

Posted on 01 May 2026
Applications close on 31 May 2026

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All Locations:

Ringwood

Salary Details:

£25,989 - £27,254

Vacancy Type:

Permanent

Function:

Environment

Employer:

Dorset Council

Job Working Pattern:

Full time

Closing time of advert

23:59

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Assistant Ranger

About the role

We’re looking for a highly motivated individual with sound knowledge and experience of practical habitat, conservation and visitor management, preferably in a Country Park or heathland setting, to join our small and friendly team at Avon Heath Country Park, on the Dorset/Hampshire border near Ringwood.

Dorset has around 2.5% of the world’s remaining Lowland Heathland, and you will make a real difference and have a genuine impact across the 300+ ha Country Park and outlying sites, which are home to all six British reptiles and rare birds such as Nightjar, Woodlark and Dartford Warblers.

Come rain or shine, your love of wildlife will inspire others as you strive to deliver exemplary habitat management and visitor service.

This post will involve working 37hrs per week, spread over 5 days, to include varied weekends and very occasional evenings. You must be willing to wear a uniform and work during school holidays.

We offer training opportunities in and invest in our staff’s future.

If you're passionate about wildlife conservation and countryside management, want to work with others that share your passion and want to share it with others, then this is the role for you.

What will you be doing?

A key member of the park team, you will work closely with the other Rangers to deliver the day to day running of a popular Country Park with 250,000+ visitors every year to ensure a great visitor experience and that the restoration of the 300ha of SSSI Lowland Heathland continues at pace.

This is a wide and varied role that includes the maintenance the heathland, repairs and installation of site infrastructure, conducting ecological surveys, leading volunteers, upkeep of the of public areas, delivering educational sessions and events, as well as assisting with visitor services.

We are looking for a highly motivated person with excellent people and practical skills. Primarily, this is a practical based role working with the estate rangers to deliver the heathland management as part of our Countryside Stewardship Scheme, but you will also have visitor duties such as covering the front desk and assisting with events. The successful candidate will meet the essential criteria below and have experience of all or most of the following:

carrying out a range of practical habitat management tasks
visitor or customer services, preferably in a Visitor Centre or attraction, and of challenging poor behaviours (such as lighting BBQ’s or walking dogs off lead in the nesting season)
ability to manage your own work and time effectively
carrying out daily site management tasks such as inspecting play areas and facilities
ecological surveying
problem solving skills
a team player who can motivate and inspire others
working knowledge of Equal Opportunities and Diversity
ability to engage visitors and local organisations in park activities to maximise year-round use of the site

Further Information

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Ben Wallbridge, Senior Ranger, Avon Heath Country Park, tel: 01425 478082

Closing date for applications 3rd June, please ensure to include your telephone number and email address.

Interview date June 11th, at Avon Heath. There will be a practical element to your interview, please bring appropriate clothing.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
work in partnership to make a real difference
value every role and the impact it has on our communities
support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
have access to a range of benefits and support
receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.

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