Countryside Ranger Apprentice

Summary

Start your career in the outdoors! Join us as a Countryside Ranger Apprentice and gain a Level 4 Higher National Certificate over two years with UCS College Group. You’ll combine online study with practical, hands-on experience supporting our Parks Team while building the skills and knowledge to protect and care for the countryside.

Wage

£24,521 a year

Training course

Countryside ranger (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday, times as set with manager with possible evening and weekend working.

37 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 14 October 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Work both independently and closely with other team members to deliver a range of projects and site improvements.
• Source, store and control the use of resources used to maintain and improve Mole Valley’s parks and open spaces.
• Identify and respond to events (major or minor) that impact upon open spaces, environment, wildlife, natural habitats, assets or people.
• Promote responsible public use of the natural environment, balance the conflicting needs of public access, land use, landscape, wildlife and historical value and different users.
• Lead volunteer groups on small projects, including organising, writing procedures and documenting safe working practises.
• Organise, deliver, and supervise small scale project work relating to recreation, biodiversity and access improvements from start to completion, and as specified by their supervisor, within remit, on budget and to timescales and representing value for money.
• To be aware of the council’s policy on risk management and to escalate any new, emerging or potential risks to the post holder’s line manager.
• Carry out such duties as may be required by your manager as appropriate to the post.
• To ensure that all necessary data is provided in an accurate, reliable and timely manner, and is fit for purpose in accordance with the council’s data protection policies.
• Health and safety – to work in accordance with the council’s commitment to provide a healthy and safe working environment including the promotion and implementation of health and safety policies and procedures.

Where you'll work

Pippbrook
Reigate Road
Dorking
Surrey
RH4 1SJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

UNIVERSITY CENTRE SOMERSET COLLEGE GROUP

Training course

Countryside ranger (level 4)

What you'll learn

• Assess, prioritise, maintain and evaluate a safe working environment following relevant legislation, work place policies and procedures including identifying hazards, assessing risk and minimising risk and implementing and complying with control measures.
• Comply with and ensure others comply with legal requirements, industry regulations and standards and organisational policies, processes, procedures and professional codes and ethics.
• Comply with environmental best practices and procedures and follow sustainability and waste management practices.
• Organise and prioritise environmental and land management work activities such as habitat management, work associated with public access or assets such as bridges and scheduled monuments. This includes assessing tasks, identifying and allocating the required resources to deliver the task effectively and review completed work.
• Manage a range of habitats and species using a variety of specialist techniques and resources which takes account of the local area, habitat, species of flora and fauna and levels of associated protection such as felling, pruning, planting, cutting, mowing, coppicing, thinning, spraying and uprooting, livestock grazing and controlling vegetation and invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed.
• Produce short or medium term work, site, habitat action or small scale project plans for the delegated areas of responsibility for and in line with organisations requirement and based on sound knowledge of ecological principles and in line with relevant legislation.
• Delegate tasks to volunteers/ team members.
• Deliver work and projects on time, to a high standard, using allocated resources, to planned budget, method and quality and represent value for money e.g. environmental and land management, public engagement, interpretation or survey work.
• Manage workload, taking into account competing and changes in priorities and demonstrate problem solving ability.
• Communicate with the correct authorities and seek advice on land, nature conservation and asset management, such as Historic England for Scheduled Monuments or ecologists.
• Organise and prioritise asset and infrastructure construction, maintenance and management works including any surveys and alternative plans.
• Construct, maintain and manage a range of boundaries, public access routes, infrastructure and assets using a variety of specialist techniques, tools, equipment and resources.
• Correctly identify the unique range of native and invasive species and habitats in the geographical area.
• Survey, analyse, communicate and evaluate results for habitats, species and countryside assets.
• Select and use a range of work-based tools, machinery and equipment e.g. 4WD vehicles, trailers, winches and other powered and non-powered tools such as chainsaws, brushcutters, hedge trimmer and hand tools, mobile devices and other technology such as GPS, tablets and cameras.
• Instruct others how to use tools and machinery correctly and safely and ensure operator competence.
• Complete records associated with tools and machinery e.g. maintenance, use, vibration and noise levels etc.
• Engage and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders including the public, landowners, tenants, contractors and colleagues.
• Supervise, motivate and work alongside others while undertaking habitat management, construction and maintenance of boundaries, access routes and associated countryside assets.
• Present information to the public and relevant stakeholders on planned works, site designation, its species and habitats and techniques used to manage an area.
• Deal with emergencies and incidents as appropriate within the limits of their responsibility, authority and level of training.
• Design, produce and evaluate various types of environmental interpretation and information provision for a range of audiences.
• Speak in public and engage with a wide range of audiences such as stakeholders e.g. tenants, local community or interest groups, volunteers, educational and corporate groups and members of the public on a range of topics. For example, planned or ongoing habitat or access management, local flora and fauna or history and archaeology of an area.
• Recognise strengths and areas for development, creates SMART objectives in line with organisational objectives, participates in development opportunities and regularly seeks feedback.
• Make decisions based on the organisations principles and relevant and accurate information.
• Assess, prioritise, maintain and evaluate a safe working environment following relevant legislation, work place policies and procedures including identifying hazards, assessing risk and minimising risk and implementing and complying with control measures.
• Comply with and ensure others comply with legal requirements, industry regulations and standards and organisational policies, processes, procedures and professional codes and ethics.
• Comply with environmental best practices and procedures and follow sustainability and waste management practices.
• Organise and prioritise environmental and land management work activities such as habitat management, work associated with public access or assets such as bridges and scheduled monuments. This includes assessing tasks, identifying and allocating the required resources to deliver the task effectively and review completed work.
• Manage a range of habitats and species using a variety of specialist techniques and resources which takes account of the local area, habitat, species of flora and fauna and levels of associated protection such as felling, pruning, planting, cutting, mowing, coppicing, thinning, spraying and uprooting, livestock grazing and controlling vegetation and invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed.
• Produce short or medium term work, site, habitat action or small scale project plans for the delegated areas of responsibility for and in line with organisations requirement and based on sound knowledge of ecological principles and in line with relevant legislation.
• Delegate tasks to volunteers/ team members.
• Deliver work and projects on time, to a high standard, using allocated resources, to planned budget, method and quality and represent value for money e.g. environmental and land management, public engagement, interpretation or survey work.
• Manage workload, taking into account competing and changes in priorities and demonstrate problem solving ability.
• Communicate with the correct authorities and seek advice on land, nature conservation and asset management, such as Historic England for Scheduled Monuments or ecologists.
• Organise and prioritise asset and infrastructure construction, maintenance and management works including any surveys and alternative plans.
• Construct, maintain and manage a range of boundaries, public access routes, infrastructure and assets using a variety of specialist techniques, tools, equipment and resources.
• Correctly identify the unique range of native and invasive species and habitats in the geographical area.
• Survey, analyse, communicate and evaluate results for habitats, species and countryside assets.
• Select and use a range of work-based tools, machinery and equipment e.g. 4WD vehicles, trailers, winches and other powered and non-powered tools such as chainsaws, brushcutters, hedge trimmer and hand tools, mobile devices and other technology such as GPS, tablets and cameras.
• Instruct others how to use tools and machinery correctly and safely and ensure operator competence.
• Complete records associated with tools and machinery e.g. maintenance, use, vibration and noise levels etc.
• Engage and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders including the public, landowners, tenants, contractors and colleagues.
• Supervise, motivate and work alongside others while undertaking habitat management, construction and maintenance of boundaries, access routes and associated countryside assets.
• Present information to the public and relevant stakeholders on planned works, site designation, its species and habitats and techniques used to manage an area.
• Deal with emergencies and incidents as appropriate within the limits of their responsibility, authority and level of training.
• Design, produce and evaluate various types of environmental interpretation and information provision for a range of audiences.
• Speak in public and engage with a wide range of audiences such as stakeholders e.g. tenants, local community or interest groups, volunteers, educational and corporate groups and members of the public on a range of topics. For example, planned or ongoing habitat or access management, local flora and fauna or history and archaeology of an area.
• Recognise strengths and areas for development, creates SMART objectives in line with organisational objectives, participates in development opportunities and regularly seeks feedback.
• Make decisions based on the organisations principles and relevant and accurate information.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4/C or above)
• Maths (grade 4/C or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• IT skills
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Team working
• Physical fitness
• Passion for nature
• Interest in conservation
• Enjoy working outdoors
• Comfortable in all weather
• Travel flexibility

Other requirements

The successful candidates will be required to undergo a DBS check as part of Mole Valley District Council’s recruitment process.

Mole Valley District Council reserves the right to extend the closing date for this vacancy to allow for further applications.