*** CCC Employees Only ***

Working hours: 37 hours per week

Contract type: Permanent

Colchester City Council is committed to delivering high-quality and accessible services to residents, visitors and businesses. They are a local government authority providing a diverse range of public and commercial services across Colchester, the second largest district in Essex.

The Council are seeking a highly motivated Assistant Parks and Countryside Ranger who can assist the Ranger Team to deliver an agreed programme of practical, ecological, recreational, safety, and business-related works in order to contribute towards provision of high-quality management of the Council’s green spaces. These spaces range from High Woods Country Park, formal parks such as Castle Park, open spaces and local nature reserves, historic protected sites such as Gosbecks Archaeological Park and Sites of Special Scientific Interest such as Ferry Marsh in Wivenhoe.

Duties of the role

As an essential member of the Parks, Countryside and Open Spaces team, you will be at the forefront of day-to-day operations assisting with the practical site management and maintenance. You will undertake site patrols and basic environmental and ecological surveys and be responsible for safety inspections to ensure safe and well managed sites and ensure tools and equipment are well maintained.

This role will also involve community engagement, and you will support the training, administration and supervision of volunteers and work placements. You will also assist with preparation of consents for works on protected sites and procurement of materials to undertake works.

Qualifications and skills required

To be successful in this role, you will have;

English and Maths to GCSE level 4 or equivalent
Full clean driving licence
Experience of basic practical skills in conservation, ecology, practical estates management and/or countryside recreation/interpretation. Note this can be gained either through employment, voluntary work or during academic qualifications

Ideally you will also have:

Certificate of competence in – brushcutter / strimmer operations; safe use of pesticides: safe use of woodchipper
OFQUAL recognised certification in use of chainsaw. Ideally level 2 felling up to 380mm. Inc maintenance & crosscutting. (old CS 31/32)
Lantra - Basic Tree Hazard Identification or equivalent
Appropriate and proven knowledge of countryside management, or conservation issues
Trailer Towing experience (minimum BE on Licence)
First Aid at Work qualification

What we offer

The Council encourages all employees to maximise their potential. You will be entitled to join an attractive pension scheme and will receive a generous annual leave entitlement, including two extra company holidays during the Christmas period.

Other benefits include:

Flexible working
Gym, travel and online retail discounts
Excellent training, development and progression opportunities

For an informal discussion about this vacancy, please contact Tim Betts Parks and Countryside Ranger Team Leader Tim.Betts@colchester.gov.uk

For a copy of the job description, please click here.

Colchester City Council has a wide range of services and facilities that can involve dealing with children or vulnerable adults. We treat our obligations for the safety of children and vulnerable adults seriously and expect our staff to be committed to the principles of our published policies and to adhere to the procedures contained within them.