Jobs

JOB PURPOSE

The Seasonal Ranger will support the Culzean Ranger team during the busy summer months. Specifically, to combine responsibilities on nature conservation, visitor services, outdoor learning and community engagement to help deliver the strategic objectives of the property and wider National Trust for Scotland.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Visitor Services
• Welcoming and engaging visitors, enhancing their experience by providing information about Culzean, its geology, natural and cultural heritage, including strong messages around safety and respect for wildlife.
• Encourage people to further contribute to caring for Culzean through donating or taking up membership of NTS.
• Assist with practical countryside management including litter picks, emptying bins, maintenance of countryside estate infrastructure (e.g. paths, gates, signs, vegetation management), safety checks of visitor & access infrastructure (including play parks).
• Assist with events such as public gatherings, NTS events and weddings.

Nature conservation
• Contribute to biological survey & monitoring programmes.
• Manage and collate biological information in a consistent manner compatible with Trust and national datasets.
• Assist with the delivery of habitat restoration works within the Country Park including the management of woodland, grassland, heathland and freshwater habitats.

Outdoor Learning & Community Engagement
• Provide educational and other outreach activities on site or for the local community (and for volunteers) including the delivery of formal outdoor education sessions to schools, guided walks and talks etc.

Marketing & Communications
• Enthusiastically promote awareness and understanding of the role that NTS plays in protecting and caring for Culzean and wider work across Scotland.
• Regularly update and contribute positive stories to NTS social media and other communication outlets relevant to Culzean.

Livestock Management
• Will support the team with feeding and care of the property’s livestock; deer and llama.

Other responsibilities
• Supervise volunteers and Project Search interns.
• 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.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications

Essential
• A full, clean driving licence valid for driving in the UK is essential.
• Graduate level qualifications or equivalent experience in one or more of the following subject areas: heritage or cultural studies, visitor services, rural land management, nature conservation, environmental studies.
• Criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) checking and clearance will be 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.

Experience

Essential
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interact positively with a wide range of people in person and through other written or visual forms.
• Ability to implement work in a lone working and challenging environment, and within a small team.
• Willingness to initiate conversational relationships with visitors and community partners, be approachable and welcoming.
• Excellent organisational, time-management skills with the ability to prioritise and be flexible according to weather and changing demands.
• Ability and willingness to undertake strenuous physical work.
• The ability and willingness to learn and try new things, to be flexible and step outside of your comfort zone.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office and social media.
• A sound knowledge of issues affecting the conservation and management of Scotland’s environment (landscapes, habitats, and wildlife).
• Proven track record of delivering visitor experience within a countryside context.
• Experience of managing safety in the countryside.
• An understanding and commitment to the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.
• Living the values of the National Trust for Scotland and encouraging colleagues to do the same.

Desirable
• Experience of delivering education sessions, talks, guided walks & activities to a wide range of different audiences.
• Working knowledge of ecological survey and monitoring techniques.
• Practical land management and maintenance of small-scale rural estates infrastructure.
• Ability to think and act quickly when confronted with emergencies.
• First Aid, Strimmer, Pesticide, Chainsaw certification.

Application Deadline: Sunday 25/01/2026