“For over 30 years Aigas Field Centre has been giving young, highly-dedicated naturalists a huge step up in the ultra-competitive environmental sector. For the participants, the rewards are many—first encounters with otters or eagles; tracking pine martens in the snow; or delivering that first lecture on pinewood ecology. For us the rewards are two-fold: firstly we provide ourselves with educated, trained staff for the operative season ahead; secondly, we have the pleasure of watching them develop and grow before finally fledging our nest and going on to forge their own way ahead.” – Sir John Lister-Kaye Bt OBE
Why work at Aigas Field Centre?
For 50 years, Aigas Field Centre has been at the forefront of wildlife conservation, environmental education and ecotourism. Since our founding in 1976, we have built a reputation for excellence, combining high standards of professional training with hands-on experience in wildlife guiding and active nature conservation.
Over the past five decades, approximately 400 Aigas Rangers have trained with us before going on to build careers across the conservation sector in the UK and around the world. Today, this forms an exceptional network of Aigas alumni working across conservation, ecology, environmental education and wildlife tourism.
But Aigas is more than a place to work and train — it is a community. We live and breathe what we do, united by a shared enthusiasm for the natural world and its conservation. Our close-knit team creates a supportive, stimulating environment in which people are encouraged to learn from one another, develop new skills and take real responsibility.
Working at Aigas means becoming part of a 50-year tradition of conservation, learning and adventure — and joining a community whose connections last long after your time here.
LISTINGS:
Aigas Field Centre Ranger/Naturalist Guide Posts
Seasonal Aigas Rangers – remuneration £25,704 + per annum, pro rata.
Hours: 168 hours a month as a maximum, working 5 days a week. You will receive one three day weekend per month.
This role is ideal for people with a passion for the Scottish natural world who are hard-working, adaptable, and, most importantly, skilled communicators able to share that passion with our adult guests.
The post will begin with the Aigas Ranger Training Scheme, which runs for eight weeks from 1st February until 26th March. During this time, you will learn about a wide range of subjects through instruction from the senior ranger team and external specialists. This will be followed by a six-week shadowing period, during which you will accompany our experienced guides and observe how we deliver high-quality interpretation of Scotland’s natural landscape.
From 8th May until 29th October, you will work as a naturalist guide, leading groups of adult guests through the Scottish Highlands on a variety of programmes. You will share your knowledge and insight into the landscape through guiding whilst driving a minibus or on foot. Topics will range from local ecology to historical and cultural context, as well as current conservation issues and projects. Although most of the role involves guiding adult guests, you may also be required to support our environmental education team with activities for children from nursery age through to eighteen years old, so a willingness to work with children is essential. You will be based at Aigas Field Centre, where you may also assist with practical conservation work and animal husbandry tasks, including support for our Wildcat Conservation Breeding Programme.
The ideal candidate will be:
- Comfortable speaking to groups throughout the day, answering questions on a range of subjects, and holding engaging conversations. Effective communication is one of the most important aspects of this role.
- Knowledgeable about a wide variety of aspects of Scottish natural history. Specialisms are encouraged, but this role requires you to interpret many different elements of the natural world.
- Eager to learn. During the training period, you will absorb a significant amount of detailed information across a variety of subjects. It will be your responsibility to develop that knowledge so you can communicate it to guests in an approachable and engaging way.
- A strong team member. In this role, you will be living and working alongside your fellow rangers, so it is important that you are sociable, hard-working, and willing to support the team wherever needed.
Please do not apply if either of the following applies to you:
- You do not have a full, clean driver’s licence.
- You would not be prepared to live in shared accommodation on site at Aigas.
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to jobs@aigas.co.uk, with your name in the subject line, for example: [YOUR NAME]: Aigas Seasonal Ranger 2027. You will receive an automatic reply containing a list of questions; please respond with your answers.
Closing date: 25th October 2026.
Initial interviews: to be conducted by phone from 1st November 2026.
Formal interviews: to be held at Aigas in the week commencing 7th December 2026.
Unfortunately we are not able to offer visa sponsorship and can only accept applications from those with the appropriate right to work in the UK.
For more information, visit https://www.aigas.co.uk/contact-booking/jobs/
