Hampshire County Council

Farm Ranger - Staunton Farm

HCC608818

Job Details:

Salary Range: £23,703 - £26,401 per annum
Work Location: Staunton Farm, Havant
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 28 May 2023
Interview Date: 9 June 2023

The Role:

Part of Hampshire County Councils Countryside Service, Staunton Farm is a unique site offering visitors a chance to meet a range of animals, explore the walled gardens and Victorian glasshouse before adventuring into the 1,000-acre listed Regency parkland. Staunton Farm is a busy site with over 170,000 visitors each year. The site has a dedicated farm team who care for the animal collection on a day-to-day basis.

At Staunton we are passionate about animal welfare and our team go above and beyond to ensure all the animals receive the very best care. We are looking for someone to join our team as a full-time Farm Ranger.

The Farm Ranger is responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of every animal on site including daily health checks, monitoring of behaviour, selecting suitable diets, creating engaging and enriching environments for the animals, selecting animals for breeding, assisting with births, implement routine preventative procedures and treatments, treating medical conditions and injuries, administering drugs and working alongside our vet to create annual herd health plans.

The Farm Ranger is responsible for overseeing the assistant farm rangers and our volunteer team, ensuring that daily tasks are divided up according to ability and that they have been completed to an acceptable standard.

The Farm Ranger works together closely with the Country Parks Business Manager to implement best practice in animal care on site. They also devise interactive sessions for visitors, create interpretation, train animals for handling, assist other countryside sites within Hampshire with herd and flock tasks, ensure essential paperwork is kept in accordance with DEFRA regulations and undertake routine maintenance tasks.

The team are out caring for the animals in all weathers, including storms and snow. Staff will be present for animals that are due to give birth, animals that are being hand reared or animals that are poorly and need some TLC, meaning you will often undertake late evening, late night and early morning checks. This also means the team cover 7 days a week, 365 days a year, working every third weekend and a rota of bank holidays including Christmas day. The role is physical in its nature with loads in excess of 20kg having to be moved, large animals weighing over 500kg to be handled and distances of 15km walked daily, whilst some farm vehicles are used including a tractor and ATV.

The right candidate for the role would ideally hold an animal care or agriculture qualification. However, applications from people with relevant experience, an excellent work ethic and compassion for animals would equally be considered.

What we can offer you

We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace, where talent is truly recognised and developed. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of and where you are empowered to be your best and believe in creating a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.

If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!

To find out more about what we can offer you in return, please see our Benefits Package.

Additional Information:

Farm Ranger- Staunton Park Job Description and Person Specification

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Steve Jenner Countryside Parks Business Manager - steve.jenner@hants.gov.uk

Apply here: Farm Ranger - Staunton Farm

Closing Date: 28/05/2023  Location: Havant PO9 5HB