Assistant Ranger

Join us as an Assistant Countryside Ranger

Step into a rewarding career where you’ll help care for Dorset’s outstanding landscapes and ensure they remain accessible, thriving, and enjoyable for everyone. As an Assistant Countryside Ranger, you’ll play a hands-on role in protecting and enhancing our natural environment from nationally significant trails to local green spaces—while gaining valuable skills and experience in a supportive team.

What’s in it for you

This is more than just a job, it’s an opportunity to make a visible difference every day.

• Develop your career: Gain practical experience across a wide range of countryside management activities, with access to training and industry-recognised certifications.
• Be part of something meaningful: Contribute directly to biodiversity, climate resilience, and the upkeep of Dorset’s 3,000 miles of public rights of way, including nationally important routes like the King Charles III England Coast Path.
• Work with a supportive team: Join a friendly, skilled, and motivated team that values collaboration, innovation, and shared success.
• See the impact of your work: From improving habitats on nature reserves to maintaining green infrastructure, your work will benefit local communities, wildlife, and visitors alike.
• Enjoy a varied outdoor role: No two days are the same, with opportunities to work across Dorset’s diverse and beautiful landscapes using a range of tools and equipment.

What you can expect to be doing

In this practical, outdoor role, you’ll support the delivery of countryside management and access across the county.

Key responsibilities include:

• Maintaining and improving public rights of way and recreational trails
• Undertaking roadside verge cutting to enhance safety and biodiversity
• Carrying out habitat management and conservation work on nature reserves and greenspaces
• Supporting vegetation management and habitat restoration projects
• Assisting with the delivery of Dorset’s green asset management plan, helping address climate and ecological challenges

Your work will play an important part in ensuring Dorset remains a high-quality environment for people to live, work, and visit.

About you

We’re looking for motivated, practical individuals who are passionate about the outdoors and making a difference.

You will:

• Be a reliable and hardworking team player, comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions
• Have a positive, can-do attitude and strong problem-solving approach
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in the environment and conservation
• Hold relevant qualifications in countryside management, environmental science, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Have practical experience in habitat management, vegetation control, or similar work
• Be physically fit and able to undertake demanding outdoor tasks
• Hold a full, valid driving licence

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.