Trainee Wildlife Ranger Kielder, England
Job description
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Loan
Secondment
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Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
North England Forest District is headed by Kevin May and has a complement of 128 staff. The district is the largest in England, covering some 86,000 ha across the Counties of Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria and Lancashire. The district is comprised of 61,000 ha of forest and 25,000 ha of open land. Annual timber production is 600 000 m3 (30% of England's timber production).
The district has 45 SSSIs totaling over 10 000 ha and is a major contributor to local biodiversity through projects such as red squirrels, ospreys, and red kites,
forest wilding and Vision for Nature, limestone woodland and blanket bog restoration.
The District also has five visitor centres at Gisburn, Grizedale, Whinlatter, Kielder and Hamsterley. The public forest estate in North England District attracts over one million visits per annum.
The wildlife team consists of 12 wildlife rangers who report directly to the Wildlife Managers and the districts deer cull target is c3500 per annum with the largest proportion being roe deer (approximately 3000)
Job description
The purpose of the Trainee Wildlife Ranger post will be to train up an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to commence a safe and effective career in wildlife management. Initially, the Trainee Wildlife Ranger will be supporting the Wildlife Rangers in Kielder Forest and have access to their own beat area focusing primarily on deer culling. In addition, there will also be opportunities to support the team with conservation and operational roles. Full training and mentoring will be given to reach the standards required; the trainee will be expected to meet a large cull within the main block after initially settling into the role.
Location
The successful applicant will be expected to reside in or near Kielder village. A house may be available within Kielder village.
North district deer management strategy is to reduce crop and habitat damage by means of culling on a landscape scale across the district. To achieve this objective the cull is carried out by a professional team of Wildlife Rangers who undergo a high level of training. The successful applicant will undergo all relevant trainee and mentoring which will give them the skills to produce a cull of 350 per year to the high standards required.
- To support the current wildlife team with the flexibility to cover periods of sickness.
- To create the opportunity to a highly skilled member of FE wildlife team based in Kielder who can work across the North covering both conservation and deer culling elements of the role.
- To build an interest in conservation projects and the districts bigger picture regarding existing wildlife projects and future wilding opportunities (Vision for Nature). Being based at Kielder will enable a solid understanding of the conservation elements of the role working alongside volunteer groups and stakeholders blended with visits to the Northwest main block to gain knowledge and understanding of deer control working with the team to achieve large culls within the Kielder main block to reduce tree crop damage to an acceptable level.
Responsibilities
- Train to undertake safe use and maintenance of firearms in line with Forestry Commission procedures.
- Under guidance take on management duties at the Kielder deer larder.
- Produce deer carcasses to the highest standard and maintain a high level of cleanliness in the larder.
- Train to become a safe and effective Wildlife Ranger operating on the Public Forest Estate - managing populations of wild deer in accordance with national best practice and Forestry England guidance.
- Gain experience to be able support and offer advice to local beat teams on damage to trees and other vegetation/natural habitats caused by rabbits, deer, and other herbivores.
- Support the wider district team with conservation work such as bat box monitoring, raptor work and wilding projects.
- Build knowledge and confidence to work within a team supporting other colleagues as necessary and contribute to forest district wildlife and design plans.
Person specification
Essential
- The candidate must hold a valid police firearms certificate.
- The candidate will demonstrate a keen interest in the field of wildlife management through experience in countryside management /use of firearms with a body of experience built up through either employment, volunteering or as a hobby.
- Be highly motivated with a strong work ethic able to think positively and independently to achieve the district objectives.
- Deer Management Qualification Level 1
- Full UK Driving Licence
Desirable
- Achieved Deer Management Qualification Level 2.
- Proficient use of IT including Microsoft Outlook and Word.
- Trailer towing license.
Licences
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- 25 days annual leave plus 10.5 public, privilege, and additional holidays
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This is a Fixed Term Appointment for 2 years with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
Apply online
The application will require you to complete the following:
1. A CV showing your qualifications and job history including your key responsibilities for each role.
2. A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) explaining why you are applying for the role and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the job, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification and links to the key work areas.
Interviews will be held at Bellingham, Northumberland at a date to be confirmed. In addition to questions around experience, the interview will include behaviour-based questions, where we will be asking for examples from your previous roles to determine whether your individual qualities reflect those needed for the role.
There will be a face-to face practical skills test as part of the interview process.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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