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Dstl are looking for an individual to join our Estates team as a level 4 Countryside Ranger apprentice. If you have an interest in ecology and a passion for conservation we want to hear from you.
As an countryside ranger apprentice you will be involved in aspects of conservation and habitat management across the Dstl Porton Down estate and specifically on the Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Ares (SPA) and Special Ares of Conservation (SAC) in line with Dstl policy. This is a great opportunity the assist with the delivery of important and unique conservation work on a nationally important chalk downlands site.
You will develop w wide rage of skills pertaining to the wider conservation environment during your apprenticeship. Alongside working with Dstl Rangers in order to develop you skills you will also work closely with eth Ecological team to enhance knowledge and behaviors within a wider professional setting. Here is an example of some of the work you could be helping with.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

In this role you will:

You will be working alongside the Senior and Junior Rural Estate Rangers to learn all aspects of the Rural Ranger Role. This would include habitat management and creation projects, such as scrub clearance, working with a variety of machinery including tractors and tele-handlers. General rural maintenance activities will be covered such as hedge cutting and track maintenance. They will undertake protected species management, such as nest protection fencing and habitat management of plots. They will also work with the Ecological Officer to gain understanding of the ecological aspects of the site, including butterfly and bird identification skills.

• Undertake and assist in habitat management and creation projects
• Scrub clearance and topping of scrub
• Woodland Management
• Hedge cutting
• Erection and maintenance of all fencing including electric
• Range track maintenance
• Herbicide spraying
• Undertake nest management and protection work
• Assist with ecological monitoring including ornithological and butterfly surveys
• Data collection, input and management
• Invertebrate identification and lab work
• Organising and leading volunteer conservation work
• General support for conservation activities including assisting with artefacts and displays.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Passion and commitment towards nature conservation
• A willingness to learn the practical aspects of conservation and habitat management.
• A desire to develop their basic understanding of the rural estate and enhance the conservation status.
• A willingness to develop an understanding of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
• A passion for nature, wildlife and the outdoors.
• A willingness to develop a understanding of the wider ecological issues pertaining to Dstl.
• An ability to be a team player.
• An ability to work in adverse conditions whilst supporting organisational objectives.

Important Information

You must be 18 to work at Dstl, this mean you must turn 18 before joining us in September 2023 to be eligible to apply for this apprenticeship.

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Working options include alternative working patterns, compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours

• Flexible working hours: Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Annual leave: A generous annual leave allowance starting at 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Encouragement and support on charterships, accreditations and access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Paid memberships with 2 relevant bodies/institutions. Employees have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

The information pack can be found attached to the job specification on Civil Service Jobs.

Diversity

We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work. These include the following:

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Network

• Race, Faith and Culture Network

• Parents and Carer Support Network

• Alternative Working Network

• Gender Equality Network

• New Starters Network

• Enabled Network, for people with visible and non-visible disabilities.

For further information about Dstl please check out our LinkedIn page

Job contact :

Name :
Dstl Recruitment Team
Email :
[email protected]

Recruitment team :

Email :
[email protected]