Seasonal Ranger Post

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Available immediately, you will join our team of Seasonal Rangers in the provision of 1st class educational courses and holidays to public from all over the world. See the link above for a full description of the role. Renumeration = £16,320. Seasonal contract available until end of October 2015.

Countryside Rangering posts are once again becoming available at Aigas Field Centre, the internationally acclaimed and award winning field centre for the Highlands of Scotland.

Unparalleled Opportunity

Aigas Field Centre is the only private organisation in the UK to offer a formal ranger training programme, followed by work on a seasonal or permanent basis. The experience of working at Aigas will boost your knowledge, experience, confidence and general employability in ways you could not have imagined.

Well over thirty years of experience has shown that the training and experience that Aigas staff receive gives them unparalleled advantages over the ever increasing competition in the environmental sector. Ex-Aigas staff now occupy senior posts in most conservation organisations in the UK, and many more all over the world.

"I learned more in six weeks of the Aigas Rangers Training Scheme than I did at four years of University."
Kate Thomson, Aigas Ranger 2012

What does the job involve?

The job of Aigas Ranger has two main components. The first involves providing a superb level of interpretation of the natural environment and wildlife of the Highlands, inlcuding its historical and cultural context, to adult groups from all over the world. The second involves working with our charity - Naturedays - providing environmental education to children of all ages.

There are also a range of other responsibilities and at the end of the day we all muck in to get the job done. You will take guests to one of our various hides to watch pine martens, beavers and badgers. You will head out on early morning drives to look for otters and black grouse. You will deliver illustrated presentations on Highland ecology and other topics. You will help maintain our hides, natures trails and other infrastructure. You will occasionally help out with other practical tasks, such as working with the estate's cattle, or building a new pen for the wildcats. You will share the task of looking after our wildcats and the various other wildlife husbandry tasks around the estate. You may well find yourself representing the Field Centre at the Rutland Bird Fair or even leading trips to Shetland, Orkney or as far afield as Costa Rica. You will work with nursery, primary and secondary children - building their knowledge and enthusiasm for the the natural world. You will work with a whole range of other special groups, from 'child prodigies' from the United States to special needs groups and NEETs.

You never know, you might find yourself working with film crews such as those from Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, you will also work with some of the UK's wildlife celebrities such as Johnny Kingdom, Nick Baker, Mark Carwardine, Chris Packham and more. You will also have the opportunity to learn from experts in all sorts of subjects from mycology, mammology, ornithology to wildlife photography.

We are all hosts to our guests and so dining with them, making them feel welcome and looking after them is all part of the job too. 

The job is varied, challenging and immensely rewarding. Many Aigas Rangers do more than one season and some go on to become permanent members of staff.

 

Who Should Apply?

First and foremost, you must be absolutely committed. We are not interested in employing you if you are not completely determined to maximise this opportunity for yourself. We receive hundreds of applicants and so you need to impress upon us how much you want this job.

Applicants should be natural science graduates who can demonstrate a passion and commitment for the natural environment. They must hold a full and clean driver’s licence. Successful applicants usually live on site at Aigas Field Centre or in the local area and must be prepared to work occasionally evenings in a close knit team of like-minded people.

Living Arrangement and Other Questions

The Aigas Ranger Training Scheme starts mid-February and takes six weeks. After training you will have a seasonal contract until the end of October. Many Aigas rangers do more than one season.

Most Rangers choose to live on-site in accommodation on-site with the other Aigas Rangers, or they rent a local cottage. The atmosphere is friendly and fun, and you are living amongst like minded people from whom you can learn even more.

Applications

An online application form can be found here

Please do not apply if any of the following apply to you:

• You do not have a clean and full driver’s licence or your have not held a licence for at least 20 months.
• You would not be prepared to move to accomodation close to Aigas Field Centre.
• You are not 100% committed to becoming an Aigas Ranger.