Full Time

JOB PURPOSE

As part of the team which cares for Glencoe National Nature Reserve, a Seasonal Ranger plays a crucial role in ensuring that our conservation ambitions go hand in hand with welcoming our local community and visitors from across the globe to this well-loved place.

You will share your enthusiasm for the outdoors and passion for the countryside with the walkers, campers and sightseers who come to explore our 14,000 acre estate, including eight iconic Munros, in Glencoe and Glen Etive, during the busy summer season.

You will work out in the landscape, on walking routes, in our parking areas, at popular spots for camping and at our visitor centre, acting as an ambassador for the National Trust for Scotland, building awareness and support for our charity. You’ll leave those you meet with a desire to respect, protect and enjoy this special natural environment and an understanding of how they can help do this.

You will work on your own and with other staff and volunteers, on a variety of practical conservation tasks to help us achieve the high presentation and habitat management standards expected of a National Nature Reserve.

You will contribute to the long-term sustainability of Glencoe’s ranger service through income generated at pay-for events, memberships and donations inspired by our work, growing our capacity through volunteers and cost-effective use of resources.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Visitor Engagement

 Participate in a programme of estate patrols at busy times and locations, including weekends and evenings, to engage with tourists, outdoor activity enthusiasts and campers, championing a “leave no trace” culture and providing practical advice based on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

 Welcome customers in our Visitor Centre Information Hub in a friendly, efficient and knowledgeable manner, answering queries and providing information about the property, facilities and the local area.

 Contribute to the development and delivery of products that bring alive our stories, including on-site displays, self-guided trails, signage, guided walks, talks or other hands-on activities.

Working together

 Recruit, induct and supervise volunteer roles to help grow our team’s capacity and assist with the leadership of group volunteering activities as required.

 Build positive relationships with our neighbours and local community, including other land managers, schools, community groups and recreational users.

 Support a strong health & safety culture, complying with the property’s ‘Safe System of Work’, risk management and emergency procedures, to safeguard yourself, colleagues and the public.

Nature Conservation

 Be an enthusiastic and effective part of the ranger service, contributing to the smooth operation and ecological enhancement of Glencoe NNR.

 Carry out regular site monitoring checks and record keeping, helping us to evaluate performance and plan our conservation activities, including habitat and species surveys, archaeology and foot path condition checks, weather gauge observations and people counter figures.

 Get involved with practical conservation tasks, including woodland management, path maintenance and fence repairs, litter clearance and property patrols.

 Seek to minimize our environmental impact through sustainable working practices and sensitive use of power, equipment, transport and other resources.

Funding our future

 Actively promote the value of Trust membership to existing and potential members.

 Seek and support ways to generate sustainable sources of income, including encouraging donations, booking events, payment of parking charges, visits to other properties and awareness of our fundraising campaigns.

 Not a budget holder but expected to liaise with the Line Manager prior to incurring any expenses and be mindful of cost-effective use of Trust funds and resources.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Essential

 Hold a qualification in a relevant discipline and / or at least a year’s ranger experience.
 Experience of engaging the public in nature tourism or working in a busy countryside setting.
 Strong knowledge of natural history and conservation, especially upland flora & fauna of Scotland.
 Competent hillwalker.
 Confident communication and influencing skills with colleagues, volunteers and the public.
 Experience of working in a team and working with volunteers.
 Self-motivated with the ability to work alone or work with minimal supervision.
 Flexible and adaptive to change and working in a variety of situations.
 IT literate and competent user of Microsoft Office products.
 Clean driving license.

Desirable

 Summer Mountain Leader certificate.
 First aid certificate.
 Brush cutter training.
 License to drive trailers.
 Experience in practical conservation work.
 Experience of developing and delivering events or learning activities.
 Experience in leading groups of volunteers.

The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.

JOB PURPOSE

An interesting role responsible for the maintenance needs and health & safety compliance the Brodie Castle & Estate portfolio that encompasses, Historic Listed buildings, modern visitor centres, tenanted dwellings, Holiday Cottages and estate infrastructure.

This requires an organised individual with understanding of facilities management and practical maintenance skills. Experience of supervising contractors, managing budgets and small projects, and setting up safe, risk-aware working environments is essential.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Achieve high standards of maintenance and presentation for estate buildings and infrastructure

• Manage and deliver an annual programme of planned preventative and reactive maintenance, to time and budget, with priorities set through systematic conditions monitoring. Property assets include:

o Brodie Castle, Playful Pavillion, Playful Garden structures, Adventure Playground, car parks and surrounding landscapes
o Residential tenanted property
o 4 Holiday lets
o Bird Hides, Agri shed, Gardeners Bothy and buildings
o Sewage treatment facilities and Septic Tanks

• Responsible for the appointment, co-ordination, and supervision of qualified works contractors on site.

• Work with estate tenants and regional rural surveyor to ensure that residential properties meet relevant condition compliance standards.

• Enable visitor centres and parking facilities to open all year round through proactive cold weather planning, e.g. gritting walkways, access roads and car parks.

• Operate fit-for-purpose workshop and storage facilities, including maintaining and servicing tools, equipment, vehicles, and other estate plant.

• Work closely with Head Gardener on joint initiatives within the wider landscape and path network, including tree management and maintenance of paths, fences, and other estate infrastructure.

• Work closely with Head Gardner to ensure all vehicles and equipment on site are fit for purpose and compliant with all H&S practices and compliant with Vehicle laws.

• Ensure all customer touch points of bins, car parks and back of house areas are kept to an excellent standard.

Take a lead in ensuring compliance with health and safety, security, managing risks and establishing safe systems of work

• Conduct planned and dynamic risk assessment of maintenance tasks, for staff and contractors, adhering to the properties’ safe working procedures and reducing the likelihood of incidents or accidents.

• Manage our preparedness for emergencies, including the testing and maintenance of fire, security and emergency lighting systems and equipment, plus the induction of staff in response procedures.

• Maintain comprehensive documentation of our compliance routines and report on these as required.

• Contribute to cyclical reviews and audits of our risk assessments and emergency processes, and progress with identified actions.

• Undertake duty management and first aid cover as required, including occasional weekend working.

• Provide out-of-hours emergency cover for the visitor centre and wider estate, including responding to alarm calls.

• Monitor staff exposure to vibrating work equipment and test machinery in line with the Trust’s Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVs) policy.

• Prepare COSHH assessments and the safe management of chemicals.

• Monitor and manage the control of access to areas or activities that may pose a danger to staff, volunteers or visitors.

Provide effective financial, people and project management

• Work within agreed budgets, negotiating costs with external contractors, ordering goods and services, and monitoring spend to ensure efficient use of charitable resources.

• Lead a motivated and effective maintenance team, through task-setting, performance management and personal development. Recruit and support volunteers, work placements and apprenticeships.

• Develop and deliver projects to make a step-change in our properties’ maintenance, conservation, environmental and visitor experience standards. Work in line with CDM regulations, as required.

• Champion environmentally responsible practices to minimize our wastage, carbon footprint and impact on the landscape.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Essential

 Substantial experience in a wide range of maintenance/DIY tasks, including practical skills in basic plumbing, electrical, joinery and grounds-keeping.

 Degree or vocational qualifications in a relevant discipline, like facilities management, building work, project management or health and safety.

 Experience of leading, managing, and motivating staff and/or volunteers.

 Excellent interpersonal communication skills with experience of engaging with a variety of audiences, including colleagues, contractors and the public.

 Strong organizational, forward planning and multi-tasking skills with an ability to prioritise and respond to emergencies.

 Experience of risk management and championing health and safety at work.

 Driving license and competence with off-road and winter driving, use of trailers and ATVs.

 Computer literacy, including email, internet, word-processing, spreadsheets and online Microsoft finance and HR systems.

Desirable

• Awareness and interest in heritage buildings or landscape conservation.

• Experience of designing and executing projects.

• Experience of being a key-holder with out-of-hours duties in a work environment.

• First Aid certification (or willingness to train and use).

• An appreciation for the work and mission of the National Trust for Scotland.

The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.

JOB PURPOSE

To assist in the maintenance of Branklyn Garden as an internationally-recognised garden of outstanding horticultural importance, contributing to its conservation and development and to its enjoyment by visitors and supporters. The post holder will take the lead in managing the propagation needs of Branklyn, ensuring its significant collection of plants, including National Collections, is conserved and enhanced.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:
 Manage the propagation, conservation and enhancement of the Garden’s plant collection in accordance with Trust policy and the Head Gardener’s direction.
 Manage the propagation areas (including glasshouse, cold frames, potting area and associated equipment) for plant production, to ensure they are efficient and maintained to a high standard.
 Monitor compliance with the Trust’s health, safety, and environment policies and procedures, in particular that Branklyn’s propagation activities conform to acceptable standards of environmental protection, e.g. in the use of pesticides, peat free growing media, and in methods of refuse disposal.
 Ensure that all aspects of plant recording, are recorded onto the Trust’s Iris plant records database, and that plant labelling is routinely and efficiently processed.
 Support the plant sales facility as directed, including raising selected “Branklyn” stock for sale.
 Assist with maintenance of garden areas to the required standards expected by the Trust, for the maximum safety and enjoyment by visitors.
 Supervise and work with volunteers and /or students to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit / satisfaction from their activities.
 Assist with delivering education and interpretation activities such as introductory talks and guided walks.
 Contribute to the review and development of property action plans and operational workplans for the garden.
 Promote positive relationships with local communities to promote the work of the Trust.

The current duties of this job do not require a criminal record (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications

Essential
 NVQ/SVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in amenity horticulture or demonstrably significant and high quality directly relevant experience, including working in a similar garden or nursery with specialist collections.
 Driving Licence, valid for driving within the UK.

Desirable
 PA1 and PA6a spraying certificates.
 Current First Aid certificate.

Experience

Essential
 Demonstrable skills and experience in a broad range of propagation techniques.
 Competent IT skills sufficient for maintaining plant records, producing labels, use of the internet / intranet, assisting trainees / apprentices and distance learning.
 Experience of managing and instructing staff and volunteers.
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; confident and competent in interacting and dealing with a wide range of people, and able to represent the Trust.
 Self-motivated with good organisational and time-management skills, including the ability to prioritise work.

Desirable
 Knowledge of a broad range of plants: alpines, woodland, and woody plants.
 Sound knowledge of basic tool and machinery use and maintenance.
 Knowledgeable about general amenity gardening.
 Practical knowledge of Health and Safety procedures and the ability to work effectively within them.

DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE OF JOB

People Management
 Not a line manager but will supervise volunteers and staff regularly under instruction from the Head Gardener.
 Will work closely with other property colleagues and will have some interaction with other technical / specialist advisory colleagues based in other locations and departments (e.g. other NTS gardeners in the region).
 Will have regular daily interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities.

Finance Management
 Not a budget-holder.

Tools / equipment / systems
 Frequent user of plant propagation facilities such as mist unit and hydropod as appropriate.
 Frequent user of garden hand-tools.
 Regular user of powered equipment such as mower, strimmer, hedgecutter, leafblower, power barrow, soil steriliser.
 Frequent user of Iris BG to maintain plant records.

Place in organisational structure:

The Purpose, Context, Key Responsibilities, and Person Specification reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.