Seasonal Ranger

ASVA: Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions; Scotland; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation organization is seeking Seasonal Rangers for the Treshnish Isles. This role focuses on welcoming visitors, enhancing their experiences, and ensuring conservation efforts in the area. Key responsibilities include community engagement, safety checks, and educational outreach. Applicants must be committed to safeguarding and possess strong communication skills. This position is essential for the summer months, aiming to protect and highlight the natural beauty of Lunga, Staffa, and Iona.

Qualifications

• Criminal records checking and clearance essential for safeguarding.
• Ability to engage and welcome visitors to enhance their experience.
• Strong communication skills for community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Welcome and engage visitors while providing significant information.
• Collect donations and assist with practical countryside management.
• Support education and outreach activities on-site.

Job description

Organisation: The National Trust for Scotland

Location: Treshnish Isles, Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute

Job Purpose

The Seasonal Rangers will be the face of the National Trust for Scotland in Lunga, Staffa & Iona during the busy summer months of the first year of the Treshnish islands being in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. This role is also critical in providing seven-day cover of Staffa and Lunga. The Seasonal Ranger will welcome visitors and help ensure their time on Lunga is highly enjoyable and memorable, while helping to protect and enhance the island’s natural and cultural heritage. They will play a critical role in forging a strong and close working relationship with Day Boat Operators.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Visitor Services

• Welcoming and engaging visitors, enhancing their experience by providing information about Lunga, the Treshnish Islands, Staffa and Iona. Their geology, natural, built and cultural heritage, including strong messages around safety and respect for wildlife.
• Encourage people to further contribute to caring for Staffa, Lunga and Iona through donating or taking up membership of NTS.
• Collect donations made on the island and securely transfer them to the full-time Ranger or Property Manager for receipting and banking.
• Assist with practical countryside management including safety checks of visitor infrastructure, litter picks, beach cleans and maintenance.
• Lead and assist with events such as guided walks and talks as appropriate.

Nature conservation

• Contribute to National Trust for Scotland biological monitoring programmes including seabird surveys and regular biosecurity checks.
• Manage and collate biological information in a consistent manner compatible with Trust and national datasets.

Community engagement

• Build strong working relationships with Day Boat Operators, their crew members, and other local stakeholders to support consistent messaging to visitors.

Marketing & Communications

• Enthusiastically promote awareness and understanding of the role that NTS plays in protecting and caring for Lunga, Staffa, Iona, the Treshnish islands and wider work across Scotland.
• Regularly update and contribute positive stories to NTS social media and other communication outlets relevant to Lunga.

Learning

• Assist the Ranger Team with educational and other outreach activities on site or to the local community and to communities of interest, including for volunteers.

Other responsibilities

• Ensure that all activities undertaken are compliant with the Trust’s health and safety policies and procedures including the Safe System of Work, Visitor Safety in the Countryside, and environmental policy and practices, mindful of impacts on people and environment.
• Contribute knowledge and experience to projects and management decisions within the NTS Plan for Nature.
• Provide occasional support to the full time Mull and Iona Ranger Service with projects and activities across the southwest of Mull, Staffa, The Treshnish Islands, Burg or Iona.
• Criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) checking and clearance essential for safeguarding of children/vulnerable adults. The role is one for which the duties/responsibilities/accountabilities of the role will require staff to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.