Assistant Waterway Ranger

Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Temporary (12 months)
Interview Date: w/c 18 August & w/c 25 August 2025

Are you passionate about our inland waterways and the outdoors? We are looking for a self-starter with good communication skills to join our small team managing the Basingstoke Canal.

The Role:

The 32-mile-long Basingstoke Canal is a largely tree lined and tranquil navigable waterway providing an important recreational resource both on the towpath and on the water. Crossing through Hampshire and Surrey, it is a designated SSSI. With 29 Locks and numerous bridges, structures and embankments, and a long-standing water supply problem the 230-year-old canal demands constant attention.

The role will require you to assist with the delivery of an agreed programme of practical, ecological, recreational, safety, administrative and business-related works in order to provide a high-quality management of the Basingstoke Canal and appropriate service to the public.

What you’ll do:

The Assistant Waterway Ranger will assist the Ranger team in all manner of practical maintenance tasks and will take a lead in managing lock use. This is an opportunity to develop and widen your range of site management and practical skills on a distinctly ‘different’ countryside and heritage site renowned for its Odonata and aquatic plants. You will need to be a good communicator as the post holder will regularly work with volunteers and engage with the public as the face of the organisation. 

The post is based at the Basingstoke Canal Centre at Mytchett, near Camberley, Surrey but the post holder will be outdoors on the canal for a significant proportion of the time. The post holder will be required to work weekends and Bank Holidays on a rota basis and occasionally assist the Ranger teams out of hours.

What we’re looking for:

• Ability to demonstrate basic practical skills in conservation, practical estates management and/or countryside recreation. Note this can be gained either through employment, voluntary work or during academic qualifications such as a certificate, diploma or degree in a relevant countryside, conservation, recreation, estates or waterways related subject
• Valid clean UK Driving Licence
• You must be able to demonstrate a good level of physical fitness including prolonged periods of manual handling and being able to swim 50m
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Ability to be self-starting taking responsibility for actions and work as part of a team
• You are a confident user of common IT packages including Word and Excel – knowledge and use of GIS packages or CAMS an advantage

Why join us?

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.

Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance. We invest in you through our internal development programmes and training and offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Tarun Ingvorsen, Canal Operations Manager on 01252 370073 or James Taylor, Strategic Manager - Basingstoke Canal on 0370 779 5594