Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

Job Title: Nature Recovery Ranger (x3) 

• Salary: £24,720 for 4 days/week (£30,900 FTE)
• London weighting: £3,708 (£4,635 FTE)
• Hours: 0.8 FTE (4 days/week)
• Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 202 
• Location: NHS sites in Manchester, Stockport, Bradford or London

Job Title: Senior Nature Recovery Ranger (x1) 

• Salary: £36,050 FTE 
• London weighting: £5,407.50
• Hours: Full time (5 days/week)
• Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2028
• Location: NHS sites in Manchester, Stockport, Bradford or London

Why Join Us? The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, inspires and empowers people to transform healthcare for a sustainable future. Our Green Space for Health programme transforms NHS sites into vibrant outdoor spaces that support biodiversity, wellbeing, and connection.

As a Nature Recovery Ranger, you’ll help bring these spaces to life — planting trees, creating wildlife habitats, and leading inclusive activities that welcome patients, staff, and local communities. You’ll be part of a passionate team working to make healthcare more connected to the natural world.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We warmly welcome applications from people of colour, disabled people, and those with lived experience of marginalisation. If you need any adjustments to take part in the recruitment process, just let us know — we’ll do everything we can to support you.

This is more than a job. It’s a chance to grow something beautiful — for people, for places, and for the planet.

About the roles

As part of our Healthy by Nature programme, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, we are looking for 3 rangers and 1 senior ranger to join our team. These 4 roles make up cohort 2 of the programme, joining our existing 5 rangers who  began in the Spring and Summer of 2025. Each ranger will be based at one of 4 NHS: 

Trusts: • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (Based in Wythenshawe with travel to other sites in Manchester)  • Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and Stockport Foundation Trust  • Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust  • Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (London) 

Their job is to create, improve and sustain greenspaces at healthcare sites within the Trust and to connect people with those spaces for their health and wellbeing.

Job Responsibilities

Community Engagement

• Build relationships with NHS staff, patients, carers, local residents, schools and community groups • Design and lead inclusive outdoor events like nature walks, planting days and wildlife workshops • Support volunteers to participate safely and meaningfully

Green Space Enhancement

• Deliver practical conservation projects, such as tree planting, food growing, meadow creation, wildlife habitats
• Maintain and improve site features, such as walking routes, therapeutic gardens, pollinator-friendly planting
• Conduct biodiversity surveys and share findings

Project Delivery & Safety

• Co-create activity programmes with NHS partners
• Manage tools, materials and safety protocols
• Carry out risk assessments and ensure accessibility for all participants
• Support funding bids 

Communication & Impact

• Capture stories and images to showcase project impact
• Attend meetings and events to represent the programme
• Collect data for monitoring and evaluation

Additional Responsibilities for Senior Ranger

• Lead and provide line management support to the team of Nature Recovery Rangers
• Coordinate ranger activities across the different Trusts 
• Oversee reporting and work with external consultants
• Lead funding bids and identify new opportunities

Person Specification

We’re looking for passionate individuals who care deeply about nature, community, and equity. You don’t need to tick every box — if you feel excited by this role and believe you can make a difference, we encourage you to apply.

Community Engagement & Inclusion

• Experience designing and leading inclusive activities
• Commitment to involving marginalised groups 
• Strong communication and volunteer management skills

Nature & Conservation Skills

• Knowledge of urban wildlife and habitat management
• Experience in gardening, food growing and conservation tasks
• Safe use of hand tools and machinery (e.g. strimmers and drills) (training can be provided where necessary)

Practical & Creative Skills

• Confidence leading hands-on activities like building raised beds or installing benches
• Experience conducting biodiversity surveys or habitat assessments
• An understanding of health and safety requirements 

Personal Qualities

• Passionate advocate for nature and wellbeing
• Creative and self-motivated
• Comfortable working independently and in emotionally sensitive environments

Additional Criteria for Senior Ranger

• Proven project management experience
• Collaborative leadership across dispersed teams
• Skilled in monitoring, reporting and funding bids

Locations

These roles are based across NHS sites in one of the following cities:

• Manchester
• Stockport, Tameside and Glossop 
• Bradford
• London
• We encourage sustainable travel wherever possible.

Application information

How to Apply

• Complete the application form (including details of 2 referees) •
• Upload your CV (no more than 2 pages) 
• Send your completed application form and CV to recruitment@sustainablehealthcare.org.uk

Please include in the email: 

• The location you’re applying for
• Whether you’re applying for the Nature Recovery Ranger, Senior Ranger, or both

Key Dates

• Closing date: 12th Jan 2026
• Interview dates: Week commencing 26th Jan 2026
• Start date: 1 April 2026

For questions, contact: recruitment@sustainablehealthcare.org.uk

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs