Looking for a career that gets you closer to the countryside, conservation and the natural world? Here are ten current vacancies from across the UK that caught our eye this week...
Senior Ranger Team Leader – Peak District National Park Authority
Location: Bakewell, Derbyshire
Salary: £40,444 to £43,149 pro rata
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Closing date: September 26 2026
The Peak District National Park Authority is looking for an experienced countryside professional to take a senior role within its Ranger Service.
The successful candidate will oversee ranger teams working across access, public engagement and nature conservation, while helping deliver the National Park Management Plan and the Authority’s wider volunteer and audience strategies.
There is also a partnership element to the role, including work with United Utilities and Severn Trent Water.
It’s a substantial opportunity for an experienced ranger or countryside professional looking to move into a leadership position while remaining closely involved with practical management of one of Britain’s most important landscapes.
Apply directly: Peak District National Park Authority – Senior Ranger Team Leader
Tayside Warden – RSPB
Location: Loch Leven, Perth and Kinross
Salary: £30,977 to £39,359
Contract: Permanent, part-time – 15 hours per week
Closing date: September 27 2026
This is one of the more unusual vacancies in this week’s round-up because it offers a permanent conservation position on a part-time basis.
The warden will work across three important Scottish wetland sites: RSPB Loch Leven, Loch of Kinnordy and the Tay Reedbeds.
The work covers habitat management and conservation across landscapes supporting breeding waders, wildfowl, migratory geese and swans, red squirrels, ospreys, otters and beavers.
The Tay Reedbeds are particularly notable, being the UK’s largest continuous reedbed and an internationally important wetland habitat along the River Tay.
Apply directly: Tayside Warden – RSPB
Species Recovery Officer – Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Location: Matlock, Derbyshire
Salary: £31,365
Contract: Full or part-time, fixed-term
This is a chance to become directly involved in one of Britain’s most interesting large-mammal conservation projects.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is recruiting a Species Recovery Officer to help bring wild beavers back to the Humber catchment as part of the Humber Beaver Partnership.
The role is focused particularly on the licensing process required for future beaver reintroductions. That means working with conservation organisations, landowners, communities and other stakeholders across the catchment.
The successful candidate will help develop licence applications, coordinate the project across partner organisations and build support for the return of a species that can have a significant impact on wetland habitats and ecological resilience.
Apply directly: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust – Species Recovery Officer
Conservation Officer – GrubsUp! – North York Moors National Park Authority
Location: Helmsley, North Yorkshire
Salary: £36,580
Contract: Full-time, two-year fixed term
Closing date: 20 September 2026
The North York Moors is looking for a Conservation Officer to deliver GrubsUp! – an ambitious project designed to restore and connect habitat for insects and other invertebrates.
The project covers almost 200 square miles and involves creating and restoring species-rich grassland, hedgerows, wetlands, orchards, woodland and other habitats.
The successful candidate will work with land managers, volunteers, communities and partner organisations, while also supporting ecological monitoring, invasive species control and agri-environment funding.
There is a practical side to the role, but also considerable responsibility for project management, budgets, contracts and ecological reporting. The job will involve occasional evenings and weekends, as well as lone working in remote areas.
Apply directly: North York Moors National Park Authority – Current vacancies
Reserves Manager – North – Scottish Wildlife Trust
Location: Inverbroom, Northwest Highlands
Salary: £35,000
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Closing date: September 28 2026
For someone wanting to work at landscape scale, this is one of the standout jobs in this week’s selection.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is looking for a Reserves Manager to lead conservation across 6,800 hectares and nine wildlife reserves in the North Reserves Management Area.
The landscapes involved include peatlands, temperate rainforest, heathland and montane habitats.
The successful candidate will lead staff, volunteers and contractors, oversee habitat restoration and land management, build relationships with landowners and communities and manage budgets, risks and ecological monitoring.
It is a senior position, but one that remains firmly rooted in practical conservation and the management of some exceptionally wild landscapes.
Apply directly: Scottish Wildlife Trust – careers and vacancies
Project Officer – Dee Trust
Location: Llangollen, North Wales
Salary: £30,862
Contract: Full or part-time, permanent
Closing date: September 30 2026
A good one for anyone whose interests lie with rivers, fishing and practical habitat restoration.
The Dee Trust is recruiting Project Officers to help deliver river restoration, water-quality and conservation projects across the River Dee catchment.
The work involves collaborating with landowners, fishing clubs, communities and other organisations, with projects ranging from habitat restoration and water-quality improvements to practical river surveys.
The Trust’s work includes monitoring such as electrofishing and river walkover surveys, making this a particularly hands-on opportunity for somebody who wants to spend a meaningful proportion of their working life outdoors.
Apply directly: Dee Trust – Project Officer vacancy
Operations & Community Engagement Manager – Arkaig Community Forest
Location: Clunes, Spean Bridge, Scottish Highlands
Salary: £34,000
Contract: Full-time, fixed term – November 2026 to March 2028
Closing date: September 25 2026
This is rather different from a conventional conservation job.
Arkaig Community Forest is a community-led organisation working to restore Loch Arkaig Pine Forest. Alongside Woodland Trust Scotland, it manages more than 1,000 hectares, operates a native tree nursery and runs a community venison larder.
The organisation is also working with partners towards landscape-scale restoration across more than 30,000 hectares of Scottish rainforest, Caledonian pinewood and peatland.
The new manager will combine operational responsibility with communications and community engagement. The job includes organising events, supporting volunteers, maintaining relationships with partners, managing administration and finance, and producing website, newsletter, social media and press material.
For someone who combines an interest in environmental restoration with strong organisational and communications skills, this is an unusually broad opportunity.
Apply directly: Arkaig Community Forest – Operations & Community Engagement Manager
Nature Reserves Officer – Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Location: Horncastle, Lincolnshire
Salary: Approximately £27,000
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Closing date: September 28 2026
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust manages around 100 nature reserves, and this role sits within the team responsible for looking after them.
The Nature Reserves Officer will support reserve wardens and office staff across a broad range of work, including agri-environment schemes, woodland plans, reserve management plans, reporting and maintaining records and mapping through ArcGIS.
The Trust is looking for somebody with a broad ecological understanding of Lincolnshire’s habitats, together with attention to detail and ideally some specialist knowledge of an appropriate taxon.
Although advertised as full-time, the Trust says it operates a flexible working policy and encourages prospective applicants to discuss their requirements.
Apply directly: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust – Nature Reserves Officer
Ecologist – Surrey Wildlife Trust
Location: Pirbright, Surrey
Salary: £27,000 to £32,000 plus benefits
Contract: Full-time, permanent; hybrid working
Closing date: September 25 2026
Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Ecology Services team is looking for an experienced ecologist to work across a varied portfolio of projects.
The role combines protected species surveys, habitat assessments, Biodiversity Net Gain work, ecological reporting and site visits, with the successful candidate helping clients find solutions that balance development with nature recovery.
Applicants need at least two years’ relevant experience and should be comfortable managing smaller projects, producing technical reports and communicating with clients.
The role is based at Pirbright but combines office, home and site-based working.
Apply directly: Surrey Wildlife Trust – Ecologist vacancy
Parkland Operations Officer – Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Location: Waltham Abbey, Essex
Salary: £30,896 to £38,661 plus benefits
Contract: Full-time, permanent – 35 hours per week
Closing date: September 28 2026
This is an interesting combination of practical countryside management, fisheries and nature conservation.
The Lee Valley Regional Park stretches for 26 miles from Hertfordshire through Essex to the Thames and includes wetlands, nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and internationally important protected habitats.
The Parkland Operations Officer will assist with the day-to-day management of open spaces and waterbodies, with particular responsibility for operational and technical issues relating to licensed fisheries.
The role would suit someone with an angling background combined with practical conservation experience. An important part of the job is balancing angling opportunities with biodiversity and public access.
A full driving licence is required, with B+E preferable, together with experience of driving larger vehicles and towing trailers.
Apply directly: Lee Valley Regional Park Authority – Parkland Operations Officer
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