Wildlife Ranger

About the role

Forestry England is seeking a Wildlife Ranger to join the district wildlife management team in a permanent part-time position. This post focuses on protecting forest areas and helping deliver conservation priorities, with particular involvement in mammal management. The role also carries an important responsibility for supporting the organisation’s health and safety culture and reinforcing the principle of looking out for one another.

The work is based in the western side of the forest district, so the organisation expects the successful applicant to live within a reasonable commuting distance of Pry Rigg Larder, YO62 5EL.

Key duties

The successful candidate will contribute to wildlife management work across the district, supporting conservation activity and helping safeguard forest environments. You will work as part of a wider team and be expected to promote safe working practices while carrying out your duties.

Pay and contract

The salary for this position is £34,793 per year. The contract is permanent, with working hours set at 44 per week.

Benefits

• Average employer pension contribution of 28.97% through the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
• Annual leave of 25 days, increasing by one day for each year of service up to 30 days, plus additional time off such as bank holidays; leave is pro-rated for part-time staff.
• Access to the STaR staff benefits programme, including discounts on groceries, hotels, clothing, mobile phones, electronics, insurance, holidays, gym memberships, household bills, and the Headspace wellbeing app.
• Free parking at Forestry England locations and free admission to the National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
• Support for ongoing learning and career growth, including professional development, individual learning plans, and help with membership of professional bodies.

How to apply

Applicants must submit a 200-word statement covering relevant experience and career history, along with a personal statement of up to 500 words. Both will be used during shortlisting. Full application details are provided in the application form.

Selection process

Interview assessment will focus on the Civil Service behaviours Delivering at pace, Making effective decisions, Seeing the bigger picture, and Managing a quality service. Candidates will also complete a technical firearms skills test, which follows the DSC level 1 shooting test. The applicant will be continuously observed during the firearms assessment, and all actions while handling a firearm will be taken into account.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.

Additional information

The vacancy closes on Friday 24 July 2026 at 23:58. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment, you can contact fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk. Applicants using AI to help prepare their application should first review the organisation’s guidance.

Working for the Civil Service

Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria are guaranteed an interview. The organisation also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme for current civil servants at risk of redundancy who meet the minimum requirements. This vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative.

Under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, applicants must be able to communicate in accurate spoken English.

Recruitment is carried out on the basis of fair and open competition and merit, in line with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you believe your application has not been handled in accordance with those principles and wish to raise a complaint, you can email englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk.