Ranger – Multiple Locations

Permanent, Full Time

£25,959 to £29,820 per annum

Location: Countywide

Working Style: Operational field-based worker

We have an exciting opportunity for a Ranger to join our team, working across Essex’s country parks, rail trails and woodlands.

Essex’s green spaces play an important role in enhancing quality of life for our residents, providing exceptional places for people to explore, enjoy and connect with nature. Many of our country parks have achieved Green Flag status, from the woodlands of Belhus Woods to the coastal landscape of Cudmore Grove, this is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same.

The Opportunity

As a Ranger, you’ll help care for and manage our parks and green spaces, protecting the natural landscape while keeping our sites safe, welcoming and well maintained.

You’ll carry out practical conservation, habitat and land management work, support the day-to-day running of our sites, and engage with visitors, volunteers and local communities.

You’ll also:

Help keep our parks safe and well presented, carrying out site and health and safety checks.
Build positive relationships with visitors, volunteers, community groups, partners and neighbouring landowners, supporting activities and projects across our sites.
Support our teams, including supervising casual staff, volunteers and work experience placements.

If you’re passionate about conservation, enjoy working outdoors and with people, and take pride in creating great places for communities to enjoy, we’d love to hear from you.

To read more about us please visit: Candidate Pack | Explore Essex and Place and Customer

What’s in it for you?

Wide range of learning and development opportunities
26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra
Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme
Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group
Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to degree level in countryside management or equivalent by experience in country park management.
Have a selection of industry relevant national governing body accredited qualifications. Examples could be First Aid, Tractor Operations, Chain Saw, Brush Cutter etc.
Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to demonstrate good customer service.
Evidence of delivering excellent customer service across a wide range of people.
Understanding and experience of ecological/habitat management and the Country Parks ethos and commitment to promoting enjoyment of the countryside.
Evidence of working within a team to achieve joint objectives.
Experience of planning and managing resources, including staff and services, arranging for purchases as required, in line with procedures and maintaining records.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we are dedicated to making a positive difference for residents, communities and businesses across the county. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In March 2026, Greater Essex was accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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