Handa island, with no residents, aims to lure staff with an attractive salary, free housing and just one qualification: the ability to drive.
Handa Island, situated off the Sutherland coast in the far north west of Scotland and managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is hiring a new ranger to live amongst breathtaking scenery, crystal clear waters and golden sandy beaches. The only permanent residents are birds, whales and dolphins – and one member of staff.
Successful applicants will be paid £25,600 ($31,600) a year pro rata, and offered a free home as part of a six month contract starting in March. According to the advert, the ranger will help keep the island’s 8,000 annual visitors happy, manage a small team of volunteers and deliver an annual report to the management group.
They will also monitor the seabird population, maintain buildings and be responsible for health and safety. Despite the location, anyone looking to trade their daily grind for solitude should probably look elsewhere – the job advert specifically requests someone comfortable in a “highly sociable” environment, thanks to the thousands of visitors that come to Handa each year.
They’ll also need to be comfortable trading the rat race for monitoring actual rats. No qualifications are required aside from being able to drive.
In return, the role offers “an outstanding opportunity for a passionate, highly motivated and skilled job-share couple or individual person to effectively manage this remote and beautiful island”, the Scottish Wildlife Trust said.
The “stunning location” also offers sweeping views of the beautiful landscape, and local wildlife includes minke whales, bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins, grey seals and even the occasional orca or basking shark. Previous volunteers have also fondly reflected on time spent watching otters and dolphins.