Seasonal Ranger – Loch Lomond and Inversnaid

Reference: MAY20217279
Location: Loch Lomond and Inversnaid
Salary: £22,986.00 – £25,500.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, Annual Leave
Duration: 4 month contract – full time 37.5 hours per week.

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond and Inversnaid are both situated in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Both are part of National Nature Reserves (Loch Lomond NNR and the Great Trossachs Forest NNR) and are designated for their important wildlife interest. RSPB Inversnaid also includes part of the West Highland Way, Scotland’s most popular long-distance walking route.

Both Loch Lomond and Inversnaid offer unique wildlife and visitor experiences and, like many places in Scotland, are expecting an influx of additional visitors to the countryside as Covid restrictions are eased.

This is great opportunity to work on two of Scotland most diverse nature reserves, experiencing a range of habitats, species and landscapes, during what is likely to be a busy and vibrant visitor season.

What’s the role about?

We want to ensure that all visitors, whether seasoned wildlife experts or those new to the outdoors, have the opportunity to have a positive experience in nature. We also want to ensure that the integrity of our wildlife habitats is maintained. This role will have responsibility for both of these key work areas.

In addition, both sites currently have modest visitor facilities which we want to maintain to a high standard. This will require additional maintenance and checks with increased PPE provision. The car park and nature trails will require regular patrols to check any issues as usage increases.

The post-holder will support the existing team during the busiest parts of the season, focussing in particular on weekends and some evenings. Duties will include regular patrols of the nature trails at both RSPB Loch Lomond and RSPB Inversnaid to engage with visitors about nature and wildlife, to challenge irresponsible behaviour in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, to maintain a litter-free environment, and to ensure that all facilities are fit for purpose.

We will also be restarting other areas of our visitor operations, including offering educational activities during the summer months such as bug hunting and pond dipping. The post-holder would have responsibility for administering these self-guided activities in a Covid-secure manner, working alongside the Community Engagement Officer and site volunteer team.

The post-holder will liaise with the rest of the Loch Lomond sites team, will work closely with our volunteers, and will liaise with the National Park ranger service and, where required, emergency services.

The post-holder will also lead some of our events programme activities, where Covid restrictions permit.

You will be based at RSPB Loch Lomond but will also have access to facilities at RSPB Inversnaid and will work from both locations.

What we need from you

The staffing team at both RSPB Loch Lomond and RSPB Inversnaid is modest, and we rely on volunteers for the delivery of high-quality visitor experiences. We want to reinforce our team with an additional position, which will allow us to provide a reliable presence throughout the season, to maintain the high-quality experience that visitors have become accustomed to.

You will fulfil the following criteria:

  • You are a naturally personable, confident individual
  • You are able to deal with a range of audiences and situations in a professional, consistent and polite manner
  • You are knowledgeable about Scottish wildlife
  • You are knowledgeable about the local area and National Park
  • You can carry out routine maintenance of buildings and infrastructure for visitors to ensure a positive visitor experience.
  • You are able to manage yourself and others to deliver an agreed workplan
  • You have experience of managing and motivating volunteers
  • You have experience working on a nature reserve or similar roles
  • You are able to deliver high quality customer care
  • You have experience of running wildlife based events to generate income
  • You have knowledge of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code
  • You can work unsupervised
  • You are able to maintain high standards of health and safety to minimise risk to the RSPB and to ensure understanding and compliance of health and safety while undertaking duties.
  • You have the ability to complete general administration and report writing associated with all of the above to ensure admin and reports are up to date and systematically organised

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term

Closing date: 23:59, 26 May 2021

No agencies please.