This is an exciting, opportunity to play an important role in helping to reduce fire risk at a stunning yet fragile landscape on the edge of the Peak District National Park. If you would love to play your part in helping to look after this precious landscape, and the nature that calls it home, then read on.

What's the role about?

Since 2010 the RSPB has worked in partnership with United Utilities to manage 4000 hectares of land around Dove Stone and the Longdendale Valley. One main focus of this work has been the restoration of around 2500 hectares of internationally important peatland habitat known as blanket bog.

Years of pollution, grazing and burning have left this precious habitat in a fragile and vulnerable state, but we are gradually restoring it to be wet and green again, with huge benefits for wildlife, climate change and water quality.

We have recently been successful in securing a Nature for Climate Fund grant to enhance and continue this vital restoration work.
An important aspect of this work is to protect this fragile landscape from fire. The funding has allowed us to invest in one full-time and several seasonal Fire Ranger posts until September 2025.

These roles will provide a high profile on-site presence on RSPB/United Utilities partnership land in the Longdendale Valley (mainly around Crowden and Arnfield) and at Dove Stone – a popular beauty spot owned by United Utilities and managed by the RSPB in partnership with them.

The main focus of the full time role will be the delivery of positive public engagement both onsite and through proactive community outreach; building and maintaining relationships with other relevant stakeholders (such as Fire Service, Police, Local Authority); practical tasks such as litter picking, vegetation removal and brush cutting fire breaks; the management of a pool of seasonal zero hour contract Fire Rangers and the recruitment and management of a team of supporting volunteers.

During the winter or periods of wet weather, there will also be a development opportunity for the post holder to learn or improve their practical land management skills such as assisting with the ongoing programme of moorland restoration, which in itself contributes to reducing fire risk.

This role will involve some lone working and working some evenings, weekends and bank holidays, especially during hot weather as this is when the site is busiest and therefore the fire risk is highest. You will need a current driving licence and use of your own vehicle in order to access the different areas to be covered, some of which may be remote.

Key activities will include:

•    Providing a high-profile onsite presence at Dove Stone/the Longdendale Valley, patrolling both areas, deterring & reporting issues such as BBQs, campfires or behaviour that increases fire risk
•    Positive face-to-face engagement to educate visitors about fire risk/fire reporting and to discourage behaviour that may lead to fires
•    Litter picking 
•    Recruiting & managing a pool of zero hour seasonal contract staff and a team of volunteers 
•    Working collaboratively with others to maximise joint efforts to reduce fire risk 
•    Proactively seeking opportunities to deliver community/schools outreach 
•    Producing & installing fire signage
•    Assisting with evening fire watch duties 
•    Administrative tasks e.g. collating data, weekly reports, incident logs, rotas, timesheets
•    Winter/wet weather activities e.g. brush cutting/assisting with conservation tasks (training can be provided)

What we need from you

Essentials:

•    A confident, approachable, diplomatic, level-headed nature
•    Physically fit and able to patrol a variety of sometimes remote areas
•    Previous experience in a similar role/environment and of dealing with challenging or confrontational behaviour
•    A proven track record in people engagement
•    Experience of working in partnership and building relationships with others
•    Experience of producing and delivering presentations to community groups and/or to schools 
•    Experience of managing staff and volunteers
•    Organised and computer literate with the ability to carry out record keeping and general admin tasks such as completing timesheets, reports and rotas
•    Comfortable carrying out lone working and working on own initiative remotely from the team as well as being part of a team
•    Happy to work outdoors in all weathers
•    Able to work some weekends, evenings, and bank holidays to meet requirements of the role

Desirables:

 - Practical experiences such as the use of brush cutters and strimmers

Additional Information

This is a Fixed-Term/ Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week until September 2025. 

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from November 2022. For further information please contact miriam.biran@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.