Park Ranger

An exciting opportunity has become available to join a team dedicated to delivering a high level of customer service within our Parks Service across the borough. The post would suit someone who is enthusiastic, self-motivated, enjoys working outside, and is motivated to provide a great customer service for our park visitors and sports hirers.

Your duties will include unlocking and locking of parks, regular patrols of parks and park buildings, and maintaining a customer friendly environment for visitors at all times. You will be highly visible and proactively engage with members of the public, event organisers, community groups and sports teams.

In addition to these duties, you will assist with the day-to-day operation of seasonal facilities including the Stoke Park Visitor Point, paddling pool and Chantry Wood campsite.

With excellent verbal communication skills, you will be able to interact with members of the public in a tactful and diplomatic manner. You will be flexible and reliable with the ability to organise and prioritise workloads. You will be required to keep written records and ensure that administrative tasks are completed in a timely, efficient and accurate manner.

To be successful as a Ranger, candidates should be professional, polite, and committed to delivering a high level of customer service. You must feel confident to challenge the misuse of facilities, complete general administration tasks and have good time management skills with the ability to work to fluctuating demands. You must have a clean driving licence and have a reasonable level of fitness for patrolling parks and driving around the borough. A Council vehicle will be provided.

The Ranger Team operate seven days a week between the hours of 7am and 8:30pm.

The post is based at the Parks depot in Stoke Park, Guildford.

Key Accountabilities

• Be a positive presence in parks and open spaces, and promote greater use of the Borough's parks and green spaces by the local community
• Have an enthusiastic work attitude
• Be able to work alone and be happy as part of a team
• Represent Guildford Borough Council and patrol the open spaces in uniform to protect the site and visitors from potential harm, enforcing the byelaws. This will involve reporting incidents, challenging misuse, resolving conflicts, preventing damage, removing hazards, liaising with the emergency services and reducing risks to maintain a safe environment.
• Be the first on-site point of contact for the public within parks and countryside sites. Deal with customer enquiries and emergencies, ensuring full and accurate records, and timely follow-up of enquiries
• Ensure that all areas of the Parks are maintained and presented to the highest standards, are clean and litter free at all times, removing risks to public health and safety; such as broken glass or litter
• Ensure that sites are opened and closed as necessary and maintain security to all park buildings preventing damage/theft to Parks and Leisure property
• Attend meetings, make presentations, and collect information from representative users to inform fellow officers about the management or potential development of parks or countryside sites
• Be responsible for basic maintenance of vehicles, machinery, equipment and tools; reporting any defects and completing necessary documentation
• Manage sport facilities, issue tickets and sports equipment. These duties include managing the paddling pool in Stoke Park to the standards required as per the National Pool Plant Operators Foundation level II qualification
• Maintain an efficient working relationship with internal Guildford Borough Council departments and external partners
• Drive and be responsible for Guildford Borough Council vehicles
• Any other duties of a similar nature, as may be requested by management

Interviews: If you do not receive an invitation to interview, please assume you have not been shortlisted.

CVs will not be accepted without a completed application form.

The benefits include:

• Competitive pay
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Full training
• Good variety of work
• A supportive Employee Assistance Programme

Job Profile

Your duties will include unlocking and security of parks, regular patrols and maintaining a safe environment for visitors at all times. You will be highly visible and proactively engage with members of the public, event organisers, community groups and sports teams.

In addition to these duties, you will assist with the day-to-day operation of seasonal facilities including the Stoke Park Visitor Point, paddling pool and Chantry Wood campsite.

With excellent verbal communication skills, you will be able to interact with members of the public in a tactful and diplomatic manner. You will be flexible and reliable with the ability to organise and prioritise workloads. You will be required to keep written records and ensure that administrative tasks are completed in a timely, efficient and accurate manner.

To be successful as a Park Ranger, candidates should be professional, polite, and committed to delivering a high level of customer service. You must feel confident to challenge the misuse of facilities, complete general administration tasks and have good time management skills with the ability to work to fluctuating demands.

Key skills and requirements:

• Full, clean UK driving licence
• Committed to delivering excellent customer service
• Self-motivated with the ability to prioritise workload
• Enthusiastic work attitude
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage with a wide variety of people
• Confidence and professionalism to challenge inappropriate behaviour and misuse of facilities
• Ability to understand and implement operational procedures and risk assessments
• Strong team working skills
• Physically fit to carry out some manual tasks and patrol parks

Interviews: Applicants will be notified within one week of the closing date if they have been successfully shortlisted. If you do not receive an invitation for interview, please assume you have not been shortlisted.

CVs will not be accepted without a completed application form.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact the Senior Parks and Leisure Ranger on 01483 444771 or by email: fin.wakefield@guildford.gov.uk

Application guidance

Take time to read the person specification and job description before you apply.

Ensure that you include relevant examples on your application form to demonstrate your experience against the job competencies and job description.

Make sure all the information you supply in your application form relates to the job description and person specification.

Remember to spend time on your application form and check spelling and grammar.

Ensure you complete the application form in full and include all employment history for the last 3 years.

If you are successful in making it to the interview stage, it will be competency based. We strongly advise that you use examples during the interview to demonstrate the competencies required.

Closing date for applications: 22nd April 2024

About Guildford

Guildford is a regional centre for leisure, business, education, shopping and culture set in beautiful countryside that includes the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Guildford is a thriving market town and is a principal shopping destination with a vibrant night time economy. The town’s geographical location provides excellent transport links in all directions, London is just 30 minutes away on the train and the town is well-served by frequent bus routes and subsidised Park and Ride facilities. All of this contributes to a quality of life that attracts many people to live, work in and visit Guildford.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and post-holders to share this commitment. To fulfil this commitment we have robust systems in place for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £28,724.00-£31,724.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: 10728