Freedom Land & Estate Services is currently recruiting a Lead Ranger to manage a small team that will deliver practical and technical land management activities on the Sizewell Estate. You will work closely with and report to the Senior Environmental Land Management Consultant for the Division. 

Context:

Within our current frameworks, Freedom delivers advice on land management strategy and planning, habitat creation and management, ecological surveys and impact assessment, agricultural land management and scheme advice, health, safety, and environmental compliance, public access and recreation, invasive species, appointment and management of contractors, stakeholder liaison, reporting and a wide range of other land management related activities. As well as advising on and scoping all works, Freedom manages delivery through to completion including all aspects of health and safety.

Job Purpose:

The Sizewell Estate encompasses 640Ha of land rich in biodiversity and its variety of habitats, land uses, and associated flora and fauna. There are areas of public access and those protected for conservation purposes, both requiring management. The Lead Ranger will proactively manage the Estate’s woodlands, heathland, acid grasslands, SSSI marshes and wetland, and coastal habitats for wildlife and recreation, using a range of practical land management and survey techniques that follow prescriptions laid down in site-specific Integrated Land Management Plans and work programmes. These plans ensure that the Estate is managed in a safe, sustainable, and legally compliant manner, improving the landscape’s resilience for future generations. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Supporting the planning and delivery of the Integrated Land Management Plan and land management work programme across the Estate
• Practical management of a range of habitats
• Creating wildlife habitats such as ponds, scrapes, habitat piles, and natural scrub
• Maintaining and conducting regular checks of estate infrastructure including perimeter fences, gates, tracks, and footpaths
• Reactive works, such as tree remediation and access retainment, to keep the site safe for all users
• Liaising with tenant farmers and graziers as part of the conservation grazing programme
• Coordinating ecological surveys and reports to monitor biodiversity
• Operating and maintaining farm and conservation tools, machinery, and vehicles. Keeping an inventory of all equipment and stock

Experience & Knowledge:

Essential Skills:

• Significant knowledge and practical experience in conservation land management, supported by qualifications to Level 5 (or equivalent level of experience)
• Significant project management experience, planning and delivering tasks, managing budgets, staffing, and resources to agreed targets
• Significant experience in managing operational risk, and assessing risks effectively
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and Compliance in the land management sector
• Experience in developing relationships with landowners including Local Authorities, private individuals, and businesses
• Experience in engaging with the public/visitors to sites
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good IT skills, including MS Word and Excel
• Ability to be self-motivated, able to work independently, or as part of a team
• Able to motivate and inspire others to achieve results
• Ability to work flexibly, with the occasional need to work out of hours during seasonal ecology surveys and H&S check efforts
• Able to walk long distances including working in outside spaces for whole days at a time 
• Ability and licensed to operate agricultural and horticultural machinery including, tractors and mounted and towed implements, mowers, powered hand tools such brush cutters and chainsaws.

Desirable skills: 

• Experienced in carrying out wildlife surveys, monitoring, and species identification, including presentation of data in report form and using GIS software
• Experience in managing diverse habitats including wetlands, acid grassland/heath, and woodland
• Experience in working with livestock, especially in the method of conservation grazing
• Experience in working with volunteers and running community engagement events/activities.
• Knowledge of UK countryside and wildlife legislation including rights of way and access.
• Knowledge of government countryside management schemes and site designations such as Environmental Stewardship and SSSIs
• Interest/experience in innovation within the environmental and conservation sector with a willingness to implement sustainable practices
• Practical experience in simple repair and maintenance of motor vehicles and powered agricultural equipment
• Certificates for tractor, chainsaw, brush cutter, spraying, and first aid

About Us 

Freedom are part of the NG Bailey Group, one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training.

Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward-thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies.

Progression is something we value and we’ll make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be