Assistant Countryside Officer

Salary

Scale 5, SCP 12-17, £28,598 - £31,022

Package

37 hours per week, permanent

Job category/type

Council

Post Ref: CC725

Please note: Internal at risk or redeployee applicants will be seen in the first instance.

The Countryside and Woodlands team is seeking to recruit an Assistant Countryside Officer to provide site management and improvement of countryside sites on behalf of the Council. A key element of the post is supervising and leading volunteer work parties carrying out practical management tasks using a variety of machinery and hand tools.

This work will support the Council Ecological Emergency Action Plan and strategic nature priority.

The role includes training and supervising volunteers in practical management and tool use.

The role will be responsible for maintaining and updating tools and machinery records, completing documentation, monitoring, report writing and ensuring all works are completed as specified.

The role requires delivery of a wide range of practical conservation management and maintenance tasks.

If you have recent experience of a variety of countryside management, supervision of volunteers and ecological knowledge we would welcome your application.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate strong organisational and communication skills, monitoring, working with volunteers, practical habitat management including woodland and grassland, use of a variety of machinery and be familiar with collaborative working.

The post holder may be required to work occasional evenings and weekend to meet the needs of the service. The majority of the work is outdoors.

• Applicants must hold a UK driving licence Category B for 2 years – ideally with C1 + E (and CPC) , or be willing to undertake training and achieve C1+E within 6 months of starting.
• Applicants must also hold a Chainsaw certificate up to 380mm.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact 07841 784185 or 07769 954956.

Closing Date: Sunday 28th June 2026 Interview Date: Thursday 16th July 2026

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year (unless exceptions apply) and meet the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

We may utilise digital interview methods.

As part of our Vision https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision/ we aim to be a talented, resilient and inclusive community. We welcome applications from all and offer a variety of flexible working / job share opportunities.

All applications are anonymised before being seen by the selection panel.

As part of our fair recruitment process, we ask that all applications are written by the candidate and that Artificial Intelligence (AI) use is limited, unless assistance is required as a reasonable adjustment for a disability. Content should be truthful, accurate, evidence based and not embellished – see guidance.

For support on your application please read our Application Booklet or visit our Employment Hub.