Rye Harbour Trainee Ranger

Sussex Wildlife Trust

Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in
Sussex. We focus on protecting the wonderfully rich natural life that is found across our
towns, countryside and coast. By working alongside local people, we create opportunities for us
all to connect with nature and for nature to thrive in even the most unlikely places.

We are now in a critical decade for change to protect and restore nature with the help of more
people taking action for wildlife. Now is the time for an ambitious action plan to match the
scale and urgency of the challenges we are facing. Our new Strategic Plan – Our Wild
Sussex – will be launched in April and sets out our vision and commitment to turning
the tide for wildlife so that by 2030, nature in Sussex will be in recovery.

To deliver our new strategic aims, we have recently completed a comprehensive restructure of
the charity to align to our goals. This restructure has generated a suite of new roles and
opportunities which will enable us to achieve our ambitions of restoring and protecting at
least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people in Sussex to take
meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger more inclusive and diverse organisation and
becoming a net zero and climate resilient organisation.

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environment sector, we particularly
welcome applications from people who have an ethnically or geographically diverse background,
who are non-graduates and/or are living in economically deprived areas

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a trainee ranger to join our Nature Reserves Team and the
successful candidate will follow an established training plan including modules in
conservation, ecology, grazing and community engagement. The role is designed to help the
successful candidate develop the skills required to gain employment in the conservation sector
whilst supporting the Sussex Wildlife Trust to deliver effective action for wildlife on its
nature reserves. You will gain a vast array of valuable experience and skills in the
conservation/environmental field including recognised qualifications and training in skills
such as chainsaw, brushcutter, off-road driving, forestry first aid and Level 2 forest school
leadership. The role will be based at Rye Harbour, Sussex Wildlife Trust’s flagship nature
reserve on the East Sussex border, and will also involve working across Sussex Wildlife Trust
in multiple teams as well as working with volunteers, partners, and stakeholders.

The Person

We are looking for an individual with a real passion for nature conservation and wildlife, who
is self-motivated, has a willingness to learn and aspires to develop a career within the nature
conservation sector. To be considered for the role individuals must be able to commit to a
10-month training program, be at least 18 years of age and be able to live within a practical
commuting distance of the main place of work. Previous experience is not required but an
understanding of conservation management and/or environmental education would be beneficial.
Candidates will need to have the ability to travel independently to the place of work and other
sites around Sussex.

Benefits

• Funded training to achieve certificates.
• Vehicle available for work use
• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays each year (pro-rata for part time staff)
• Pension – company contribution from 6% and employee contribution of 3%
• Life Assurance – Pension Scheme Members 2 x Salary, Non-Pension Scheme Members 1 x Salary
• 2 days paid leave for volunteering each year
• Flexible working policy
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• EAP
• Employee discounts

For more detailed information see the “what we offer” page in the Recruitment Pack on our website.