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Countryside officer Green Job

Countryside officers manage, protect and improve the rural environment.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £34,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

39 to 41 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays;

2.4%
Future employment

There will be 2.4% more Countryside officer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a countryside officer, you could:

  • advise landowners on how to manage their land
  • conduct environmental surveys, carry out research and analyse data
  • manage staff and volunteers
  • prepare and advise on funding and planning applications
  • promote the countryside at events, visitor centres and on social media

Working environment

You could work in an office, in a park, in woodland or in the countryside.

Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree before applying for work as a countryside officer.

Relevant courses include:

  • countryside or environmental management
  • ecology and geography
  • environmental studies
  • plant biology
  • conservation

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
College

You may be able to start as a trainee countryside officer after completing a course at an agricultural college, such as:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Countryside Management
  • T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
For more information
Apprenticeship

You could begin your career by doing a Countryside Ranger Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

This can take a minimum of 2 years and 2 months to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
Work

You may be able to join an organisation as a countryside ranger or assistant officer and work your way up through on-the-job training and promotion.

Volunteering and work experience

Volunteering is a good way to get practical experience, meet new people and develop your network of contacts.

You can find opportunities with:

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • have a full driving licence

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Countryside Management Association for professional development training.

Further information

You can get more details about working in the countryside from Lantra and Grow Careers.

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With experience and further qualifications, you could:become a senior officer, countryside manager or estate manager; move into forestry management or wildlife conservation; work in leisure and tourism in the National Parks

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with others
  • analytical thinking skills
  • knowledge of biology
  • knowledge of geography
  • customer service skills
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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