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Seasonal Ranger - RSPB Loch Lomond and Inversnaid (Fixed-Term)

Reference: APR20220527
Expiry date: 2022-05-17 22:59:00.000
Location: Loch Lomond
Salary: £23,939.00 - £26,558.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, 26 days Annual Leave (pro-rata)
Duration:5 months
Attachments: CandidateGuidanceNotes.pdf

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond and Inversnaid are both situated in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Both are part of National Nature Reserves (Loch Lomond NNR and the Great Trossachs Forest NNR) and are designated for their important wildlife interest. RSPB Inversnaid also includes part of the West Highland Way, Scotland’s most popular long-distance walking route.

In 2021, the National Park experienced one of its busiest summers ever, and numbers are expected to remain high in 2022 as staycations remain popular. While we are delighted that more people are discovering nature, the surge in visitor numbers during the summer months brings challenges and pressures. We want to ensure that all visitors, whether seasoned wildlife experts or those new to the outdoors, have the opportunity to have a positive experience in nature. 

This role will play a key role in managing the visitor pressures at both sites during the busy summer period.

What’s the role about?

We want to ensure that all visitors, whether seasoned wildlife experts or those new to the outdoors, have the opportunity to have a positive experience in nature. We also want to ensure that the integrity of our wildlife habitats is maintained. This role will have responsibility for both of these key work areas.

In addition, both sites currently have modest visitor facilities which we want to maintain to a high standard. This will require additional maintenance and checks with increased PPE provision. The car park and nature trails will require regular patrols to check any issues as usage increases.

The post-holder will support the existing team during the busiest parts of the season, focussing on weekends and some evenings. Duties will include patrols of the nature trails at both sites to engage with visitors about nature and wildlife, to challenge irresponsible behaviour in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, to maintain a litter-free environment, and to ensure that facilities are fit for purpose.

We will continue other areas of our visitor operations, including offering activities during the summer months such as bug hunting and pond dipping. The post-holder would have responsibility for administering these self-guided activities, working alongside the site team.

The post-holder will liaise with the rest of the Loch Lomond sites team, will work closely with our volunteers, and will liaise with the National Park ranger service and, where required, emergency services. The post-holder will also lead some of our events programme activities.

You will be based at RSPB Loch Lomond but will also have access to facilities at RSPB Inversnaid and will work from both locations.

What we need from you

The staffing team at both RSPB Loch Lomond and RSPB Inversnaid is modest, and we rely on volunteers for the delivery of high-quality visitor experiences. We want to reinforce our team with an additional position, which will allow us to provide a reliable presence throughout the season, to maintain the high-quality experience that visitors have become accustomed to.

You will fulfil the following criteria:

  • You are a naturally personable, confident individual
  • You are able to deal with a range of audiences and situations in a professional, consistent and polite manner
  • You are knowledgeable about Scottish wildlife
  • You are knowledgeable about the local area and National Park
  • You can carry out routine maintenance of buildings and infrastructure for visitors to ensure a positive visitor experience.
  • You are able to manage yourself and others to deliver an agreed workplan
  • You have experience of managing and motivating volunteers
  • You have experience working on a nature reserve or similar roles
  • You are able to deliver high quality customer care
  • You have experience of running wildlife based events to generate income
  • You have knowledge of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code
  • You can work unsupervised
  • You are able to maintain high standards of health and safety to minimise risk to the RSPB and to ensure understanding and compliance of health and safety while undertaking duties.
  • You have the ability to complete general administration and report writing associated with all of the above to ensure admin and reports are up to date and systematically organised

Additional information:

  • This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
  • You must be able to travel to remote locations without the use of public transport e.g. hold a driving licence
  • This role will sometimes require weekend, early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.
  • This role is subject to external funding. An offer of employment will only be made if funding is approved


This is a fixed-term, 5 month contract, full time for 37.5 hours per week. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position during the week beginning 23rd May 2022. For further information please contact fraser.lamont@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.