Trainee Ranger
| Posting date: | 26 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £23,558 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 October 2025 |
| Location: | Dover, Kent |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Dover District Council |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | DDC0770 |
Summary
A traineeship opportunity for up to twelve months.
Are you passionate about the natural world? Do you want to learn the skills to help nature face the biodiversity and climate crises? Then this opportunity may be for you…
White Cliffs Countryside Partnership is a small not-for-profit organisation, which has three focus areas for its work: Managing Wild Spaces, Inspiring Local Communities and Reducing Our Climate Impact. We work alongside the local community, our volunteers and partners to protect and enhance the wild spaces of south-east Kent so they can thrive as sustainable havens for wildlife. Through our work we also aim to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy and benefit from these wild spaces.
We are currently looking to recruit an outgoing and positive individual to join our team and assist with the management of our nature reserves, including Folkestone Warren, Folkestone Downs, Western Heights and Dungeness.
The Role:
As part of our highly successful traineeship programme, you will work alongside our team of rangers and volunteers, undertaking a varied range of tasks from day-to-day, including habitat management, engaging with local communities and members of the public, infrastructure maintenance and repair, and working with livestock.
Who We Are Looking For:
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their interest and passion for the natural world and their commitment to a career in wildlife conservation. You will have excellent communication skills and experience of working with members of the public.
The majority of the work involves being outdoors in all weathers and you will need to be able to undertake physically demanding work on steep and difficult terrain. You may have experience of working as a volunteer in the conservation sector.
Outgoing and self-motivated, you will be able to work flexibly and under your own initiative as well as part of a team. You will be computer literate and hold a full, clean driving licence.
What Can We Offer?
This role is designed to equip you with the skills and experience needed to pursue a career in wildlife conservation. Our staff will teach you the practical skills for nature reserve management and the theory and rationale of the work we do. A wide range of certified training will be provided, including First Aid at Work, Brushcutter, Safe Use of Pesticides and Chainsaw (CS30 & 31).
There will be opportunities for training and development, both formally and through our experienced, knowledgeable team.
We can provide a friendly and supportive environment for you to excel in. We also offer several employee benefits, subject to eligibility criteria, such as:
- Benenden Healthcare Membership and Employee Assistance Program
- Opt-in Local Government Pension Scheme with the opportunity for staff to make advanced, voluntary contributions (AVCs) to top up their pension
- Generous annual leave provision
- Discount scheme including reduced membership rates at the local leisure centre
- On-site parking
- Cycle2Work scheme (eligibility criteria applies)
- Generous Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme (eligibility criteria applies)
A full, clean and valid UK driving license is required for this role.
Due to the nature of this role, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a Enhanced DBS check as part of their pre-employment clearances.
As this role involves the use of vibration equipment, any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory medical clearance. We will ask you to complete a medical questionnaire which will be sent to our occupational health medical advisor and as a result of this you may be asked to undergo a medical.
The quality of your application will be considered as part of the recruitment process.
Next Steps:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Stephanie D’Agorne, Team Leader (Land Management), on stephanie.dagorne@dover.gov.uk or 07864 608825
Alternatively, contact Richard Haynes, Natural Environments Manager, on richard.haynes@dover.gov.uk or 07775 928226.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 30 October 2025.
The interview format will involve a question-based interview and site-based assessment. Full information will be provided to the short-listed candidates.
Are you passionate about the natural world? Do you want to learn the skills to help nature face the biodiversity and climate crises? Then this opportunity may be for you…
White Cliffs Countryside Partnership is a small not-for-profit organisation, which has three focus areas for its work: Managing Wild Spaces, Inspiring Local Communities and Reducing Our Climate Impact. We work alongside the local community, our volunteers and partners to protect and enhance the wild spaces of south-east Kent so they can thrive as sustainable havens for wildlife. Through our work we also aim to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy and benefit from these wild spaces.
We are currently looking to recruit an outgoing and positive individual to join our team and assist with the management of our nature reserves, including Folkestone Warren, Folkestone Downs, Western Heights and Dungeness.
The Role:
As part of our highly successful traineeship programme, you will work alongside our team of rangers and volunteers, undertaking a varied range of tasks from day-to-day, including habitat management, engaging with local communities and members of the public, infrastructure maintenance and repair, and working with livestock.
Who We Are Looking For:
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their interest and passion for the natural world and their commitment to a career in wildlife conservation. You will have excellent communication skills and experience of working with members of the public.
The majority of the work involves being outdoors in all weathers and you will need to be able to undertake physically demanding work on steep and difficult terrain. You may have experience of working as a volunteer in the conservation sector.
Outgoing and self-motivated, you will be able to work flexibly and under your own initiative as well as part of a team. You will be computer literate and hold a full, clean driving licence.
What Can We Offer?
This role is designed to equip you with the skills and experience needed to pursue a career in wildlife conservation. Our staff will teach you the practical skills for nature reserve management and the theory and rationale of the work we do. A wide range of certified training will be provided, including First Aid at Work, Brushcutter, Safe Use of Pesticides and Chainsaw (CS30 & 31).
There will be opportunities for training and development, both formally and through our experienced, knowledgeable team.
We can provide a friendly and supportive environment for you to excel in. We also offer several employee benefits, subject to eligibility criteria, such as:
- Benenden Healthcare Membership and Employee Assistance Program
- Opt-in Local Government Pension Scheme with the opportunity for staff to make advanced, voluntary contributions (AVCs) to top up their pension
- Generous annual leave provision
- Discount scheme including reduced membership rates at the local leisure centre
- On-site parking
- Cycle2Work scheme (eligibility criteria applies)
- Generous Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme (eligibility criteria applies)
A full, clean and valid UK driving license is required for this role.
Due to the nature of this role, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a Enhanced DBS check as part of their pre-employment clearances.
As this role involves the use of vibration equipment, any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory medical clearance. We will ask you to complete a medical questionnaire which will be sent to our occupational health medical advisor and as a result of this you may be asked to undergo a medical.
The quality of your application will be considered as part of the recruitment process.
Next Steps:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Stephanie D’Agorne, Team Leader (Land Management), on stephanie.dagorne@dover.gov.uk or 07864 608825
Alternatively, contact Richard Haynes, Natural Environments Manager, on richard.haynes@dover.gov.uk or 07775 928226.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 30 October 2025.
The interview format will involve a question-based interview and site-based assessment. Full information will be provided to the short-listed candidates.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.