Recreation Ranger
| Posting date: | 19 February 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,171 to £29,171 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 March 2025 |
| Location: | TN17 2SL |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 392306/1 |
Summary
Your main responsibilities include making sure we have seamless day-to-day visitor operations, our visitors are having excellent experiences, and maintaining a welcoming and safe environment for our customers. You will also actively engage with local communities cultivating meaningful relationships and developing recreational opportunities, enhancing volunteer involvement, and answering visitor enquiries. You will contribute to the overall enrichment of the visitor experience, drive efficiencies and income generation opportunities, while strengthening community connections.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you..
Where you’ll work…
The East Sussex forests are part of the wider East England District which covers an area of over 35,000ha from North Norfolk to Brighton. The district includes large visitor centres such as High Lodge, Bedgebury Pinetum, Wendover Woods as well as the outlying beats of East Sussex, Kent, Sandlings, Chilterns and Thames Chase Community Forests.
The Recreation Ranger will support with the management of the East Sussex forests which comprise of 2,904ha of woodland spread across 13 sites. This area includes pockets of high population density which are set to increase in the years ahead, creating new opportunities and challenges for managing our forests. Our busiest recreation sites include Friston Forest, Abbots Wood and Birchden Wood which feature formal facilities such as paid car parks, camp sites and toilet blocks. Popular features include foot trails, cycle trails and horse riding facilities. This role is focused exclusively on the wider network of woodlands in East Sussex. The office facilities are based at the Forest Office at Bedgebury Pinetum.
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 by coordinating and supervising day-to-day site activities to ensure a positive and memorable experience.
• maintain safe and enjoyable sites: carry out regular inspections of car parks, cycle routes, and recreational facilities, including play areas and litter management, to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all.
• collaborate with staff: support Forestry England staff with public access considerations during planning and implementation of harvesting and conservation operations.
• promote responsible behaviour: deliver appropriate messages about responsible visitor behaviour and professionally manage and resolve potential conflicts.
• strengthen community engagement: develop community involvement and recreation opportunities that create meaningful connections between visitors and the nation's forests.
• support operational programmes: help with project delivery and align with internal guidance and district plans to promote sustainable and responsible forestry practices.
• ensure health and safety: coordinate emergency procedures, provide first aid assistance, complete accident and incident reports, and adhere to health and safety guidelines.
• manage stakeholder relationships: build strong relationships with external partners, tenants, and concession operators. collaborate with local agencies, such as the National Park Authority Ranger Team, to coordinate multi-agency work during peak times and reduce visitor impact and arson risks.
• 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: plan, lead, and safely manage volunteer groups and programmes connecting volunteers and local communities with the nation’s forests.
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
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