Senior Ranger

Location: Rye Harbour (East)
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday with some out of hours work as required
Closing Date: 26th June 2026
Interview Date: 7th July, Rye Harbour Discovery Centre

Sussex Wildlife Trust

To deliver our new strategic plan – Our Wild Sussex – we need people with bold and innovative ideas to help us to achieve our ambitions for local wildlife and wild places.

We are committed to restoring and protecting at least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people to take meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger more inclusive and diverse organisation and becoming a net zero and climate resilient organisation.

We are looking for the best and most talented people to join our team and help us deliver this exciting and ambitious strategy. We are keen to hear from you even if you don't have all the skills and experience outlined in the Job Description but have the potential to grow into a role.

So, if you are someone who is determined to see a Sussex rich in wildlife and you have drive, energy and commitment to our values of Innovation, Passion, Collaboration and Inclusion why not apply now to join our great team, working together to deliver Our Wild Sussex.

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environment sector, we particularly welcome applications from people who have an ethnically or geographically diverse background, who are non-graduates and/or are living in economically deprived areas.

The East Portfolio

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is one of the most important wildlife sites in the UK. It has a unique blend of vegetated shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoons, reedbed and grazing marsh that supports an exceptional diversity of birds and other wildlife. Recognised for its conservation significance and visitor appeal, the reserve provides outstanding opportunities for wildlife conservation and public engagement, making it a rewarding and inspiring place to work for anyone passionate about nature, conservation, and connecting people with the natural environment.

Filsham Reedbed is one of the largest reedbeds in Sussex. It sits at the southern end of the Combe Haven Valley, the green space between Bexhill and Hastings. The valley contains a range of wetland habitats and is an important resource for water and flood storage. Much of the valley is grazing marsh, but reed, reed-fen, and swamp communities are all present as well as areas of ancient woodland.

Flatropers Wood is a tranquil 38-hectare nature reserve situated in the far east of East Sussex, near the villages of Beckley and Peasmarsh, just outside Rye. It is one of the quietest and most densely wooded parts of the county, featuring a diverse mix of ancient semi-natural woodland, streams, ponds, and open heathy rides.

Marline Valley is a wonderful mix of semi-natural ancient woodland, unimproved meadows and a classic Sussex ghyll stream situated on the edge of Hastings.

The Role

Sussex Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Nature Reserves team are undergoing an exciting team expansion; three new Senior Ranger positions have been created. One for each of the area nature reserve management teams: Western Reserves, based at Woods Mill; Central Reserves, based at Southerham Farm; and Eastern Reserves, based at Rye Harbour. SWT Nature Reserve Map

These roles are part of significant investment by SWT, prioritising care of our dynamic, highly designated nature reserves, delivering effective action for wildlife in Sussex by undertaking practical habitat management delivery and engagement activities.

Responsible for the delivery of day-to-day management of the nature reserves in the area teams’ remit, line management of a small team of Rangers, and assisting in overseeing annual Traineeships.

This will be an integral role in translating management plans and projects in to on the ground delivery of maintenance and habitat recovery works; through a combination of your own practical skills, being able to manage a team of staff and volunteers, recruit and oversee contractors, and coordinate conservation grazing – in partnership with our in-house Grazing team. Working closely with our Monitoring and Evidence team will be essential in ensuring appropriate ecological monitoring is conducted and management is adaptive where necessary. Close teamworking with your Area Manager, Rangers, and neighbouring Senior Rangers will ensure that work is well planned and prioritised.

The Person

We are looking for an experienced Ranger with a broad background in managing dynamic nature reserves. Who is passionate and can inspire inter-team and cross-department working. Confident in acting as a visible presence, to undertake public engagement and communication relating to nature reserves to external partners and the wider public. The perfect candidate will have a demonstrable personal commitment to wildlife and proven action for wildlife; possessing the ability to have challenging and constructive conversations while maintaining professionalism, to foster relationships with neighbours, tenants and recruiting new members.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays each year (pro-rated for part time staff)
• Pension – company contribution from 6% and employee contribution of 3%
• Life Assurance - Pension Scheme Members 2 x Salary, Non-Pension Scheme Members 1 x Salary
• 2 days paid leave for volunteering each year
• Flexible working policy
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• EAP
• Employee discounts
• Informal car share arrangements

For more detailed information see what we offer page in the Recruitment Pack, and for an informal chat about the role contact [email protected].

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the vacancy early so please get you application in as soon as possible.