Nature Recovery Ranger / Senior Nature Recovery Ranger

About The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) inspires and empowers people to transform healthcare for a sustainable future. Since our establishment in 2008, our work has been underpinned by CSH’s Principles of Sustainable Clinical Practice: prevention, patient empowerment, lean care systems, and low-carbon alternatives.

Our vision is for everyone in the health system to be empowered to shape and deliver sustainable healthcare that benefits both people and the natural world. Our mission is to inspire and equip people with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to play their part in this transformation.

Our Green Space for Health programme transforms NHS sites into vibrant outdoor spaces that support biodiversity, wellbeing, and nature connection.

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.

Role overview

Nature Recovery Ranger

• 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 31st March 2028
• Location: Across healthcare sites in London (with some home working)

or

Senior Nature Recovery Ranger

• Salary: £36,050 FTE
• London weighting: £5,407.50
• Hours: Full time (5 days/week)
• Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2028
• Location: Across healthcare sites in London (with some home working)

About the role

As part of our Healthy by Nature programme, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, we are looking for either a Nature Recovery Ranger or Senior Nature Recovery Ranger to join our team.

The successful candidate will work across healthcare sites within Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, supporting patients, staff and local communities to benefit from stronger connections with nature.

This is a unique role that combines community engagement, green space enhancement, food growing, health and wellbeing activities, and partnership working. You’ll collaborate with clinical teams, sustainability leads, volunteers and community organisations to explore how nature can be embedded as a meaningful part of healthcare.

The role forms part of the second cohort of the Healthy by Nature programme and joins an established team of Rangers working across NHS sites in England.

This is a predominantly site-based role, with some home working. Travel between the London sites will be required (see specific sites below), alongside occasional travel for team meetings, training and events. Rangers are expected to attend CSH office meeting days in person in Oxford at least once a quarter. Travel costs for attending these meetings are reimbursed. We encourage the use of sustainable travel wherever feasible.

Pilot sites and pathways

The Ranger will work across multiple sites, exploring different ways that nature can support health, wellbeing and patient recovery. These pilots are designed to test what is practical, beneficial and scalable across different healthcare settings.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping and delivering these approaches alongside NHS partners. The nature of the pilots at each site is outlined in further detail below.

St. Thomas’ Hospital

Work with ward teams within emergency care services to develop nature-based, creative activities that can complement patient care and improve patient experience.

Evelina Children’s Hospital

Collaborate with clinical teams to explore ward-based activities that bring the benefits of nature to children, young people and families in ways that are safe and engaging.

Harefield Hospital

Work with healthcare teams to explore how nature can support transplant patients throughout their recovery journey. Deliver the planned site habitat improvement and creation projects, linking in with community partners to support delivery.

Community Sites

Work alongside community healthcare teams (e.g. Occupational Therapists, Dietitians) to explore how gardening, food growing and nature-based activities can support rehabilitation, learning, wellbeing and healthier lifestyles.

What you’ll be doing

Connecting people with nature

• Building positive relationships with NHS staff, patients, carers, volunteers and community organisations.
• Designing and facilitating inclusive activities that encourage participation and connection with nature, including creating welcoming opportunities for people who may face barriers to accessing nature.
• Support volunteers to participate safely, confidently and meaningfully.

Improving green spaces for health and nature

• Deliver hands-on nature recovery and wellbeing projects, including food growing initiatives, therapeutic gardening and habitat creation and improvement.
• Work with site teams and partners to assess green spaces, identify improvement opportunities, and develop plans that increase their ecological, social and health benefits.
• Carry out biodiversity monitoring and surveys where appropriate.

Building partnerships and supporting delivery

• Work closely with clinical and sustainability teams and community partners to plan, coordinate and deliver activities.
• Support healthcare teams by providing practical input to management plans, policies and operational procedures where appropriate and as opportunities arise, helping to sustain green space projects and activities over the long term.
• Coordinate resources, materials and equipment.
• Carry out risk assessments and maintain high standards of health and safety.
• Contribute to funding applications and project development opportunities where required.

Capturing learning and demonstrating impact

• Collect feedback, stories and case studies from participants and stakeholders.
• Document project outcomes through photography, data collection and evaluation.
• Share learning across the Healthy by Nature programme.
• Represent CSH and the programme at meetings, events and community activities.

Additional responsibilities for the Senior Ranger

In addition to the responsibilities above, the Senior Ranger will:

• Provide day-to-day leadership and line management support to a team of 3 Rangers across the programme remotely.
• Coordinate shared learning opportunities for the Ranger team.
• Support programme planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Manage relationships with external consultants.
• Lead on funding applications and identify opportunities for programme development and growth.
• Support strategic development of the Healthy by Nature programme.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for a passionate individual who cares deeply about nature, community and equity. We recognise that people bring different experiences and strengths, and we don’t expect candidates to meet every criterion. If this role excites you and you believe you can make a positive contribution, we encourage you to apply.

Community engagement and relationship building

• Experience working with a range of people and communities.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with confidence engaging and working collaboratively with clinical staff, partners, volunteers and community stakeholders.
• Strong communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to inclusive practice and reducing barriers to participation.
• Experience recruiting, supporting, coordinating and supervising volunteers.

Nature recovery and practical delivery

• Experience of gardening, food growing, conservation or habitat management.
• Knowledge of urban wildlife and habitat management.
• Confidence and experience leading practical outdoor activities.
• Understanding of safe working practices and risk management.
• Some experience of, or interest in, monitoring and recording biodiversity.
• Emergency Outdoor First Aid qualification (or willingness to undertake training).

Project coordination

• Experience organising and delivering projects and community activities.
• Some experience of, or an understanding of, plans, policies or operational procedures and their role in supporting effective green space management, nature recovery and people’s wellbeing.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and workload across multiple sites.
• Confidence working independently and using initiative.
• Good organisational and administrative skills.
• Experience collecting data and reporting on project outcomes.
• Experience working within, or alongside, healthcare organisations, or a good understanding of the NHS and wider healthcare sector.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate advocate for nature and wellbeing.
• Creative, adaptable and proactive approach to problem solving.
• Ability to work sensitively within healthcare or similar environments.
• Enthusiastic team player with a collaborative approach.
• Basic IT knowledge (e.g. SharePoint, Teams, Office 365).

Additional criteria for Senior Ranger

• Proven project management experience.
• Experience providing line management and leadership support to staff working across multiple locations.
• Strong planning, reporting and performance monitoring skills.
• Experience securing funding, writing bids or supporting programme development.

Key dates

• Closing date: 31st August
• Interview date: Wednesday 9th September
• Start date: Preferred date is 5th October, although we’re happy to be flexible to accommodate people’s circumstances.

For any questions about the role, please contact: [email protected]