Senior Ecologist

Overview

• Ecologist
• Location – Basingstoke
• Permanent
• Vacancy ref IRC2284576
• Closing date: 10th July 2024
• Salary £43588 – £49036

An opportunity to influence the biodiversity of over 1,000 miles of railway bank across the Wessex Route, home to a multiplicity of habitats. Wessex Route Cover the railways from London to Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire and westwards through Wiltshire and Dorset into Devon.

We at network rail are dedicated to becoming one of Britain’s best employers and believe this starts with placing the candidate at the heart of everything we do!

Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users, drives us every day and we’re empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues and protecting safety and wellbeing.

We’re passionate about great service and we ask ourselves, what can we do to put our passengers and freight users at the centre of everything we do? With this in mind, we pull together as one industry because we care about people and teamwork is key. For more information about Network Rail click here

Job Brief / Purpose – 

Lead the provision of ecological expertise to Wessex Route infrastructure teams. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Integrate the Network Rail Environment Policy and environment management systems to deliver legislative compliant projects and to contribute to continuous improvement in environmental and ecological management.  Participate in developing practical ways of managing the lineside estate for the benefit of biodiversity without compromising the operational requirements of the railway.  Oversee management of the licencing obligations and requirements related to protected sites and species.

Key Accountabilities –

1. Surveys, including protected species surveys, Phase 1 Habitat Surveys, ecological impact assessments, support the completion of biodiversity accounting and the production of habit management plans.
2. Oversee the specialist ecological advice and guidance provided to senior leaders, project management teams, Works Delivery and Maintenance teams.
3. Lead the provision of regular project updates and deliver progress reports including, risks and issues, to the relevant project / programme management team.
4. Write clear, concise surveys, map target notes, and have the ability to compile vegetation management scoping documents in line with the relevant Network Rail standards and suitable for the Contracts & Procurement tendering purposes.
5. Liaise with the Environmental Specialist team on project surveys and agree appropriate mitigation strategies to comply with current legislation.
6. Direct the completion of data analysis from survey results to support the delivery of remitted works to programme.
7. Lead the liaison process for Ecological compliance requirements with statutory bodies and local authorities.
8. Support the production of periodic business reporting.
9. Accountable for the production of environmental and ecological appraisal and recommendations reports.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Full/associate/graduate membership of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) (depending on experience)
• Experience in delivering projects to a specified timescales and within agreed budget parameters
• Experience in managing teams to deliver within prescribed timescales
• Experience in interpreting and presenting gathered survey data and delivering Ecologist reports that fulfil the varied remits
• Knowledge of rail maintenance delivery process and completing rare species surveys
• Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisation skills and be a task orientated leader
• Full understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation and best practice guidance experience
• Comprehensive field experience with ability to identify Ecological constraints during site visits
• A relevant higher degree in Ecology, Zoology, Biological Sciences, or other relevant Environmental Sciences
• In-depth experience of Ecologist practices within the railway environment is essential

Desirable

• Working knowledge of CDM Regulations
• Knowledge and experience of operational railway environment
• Knowledge of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard
• Experience attending client meetings and working with multi-disciplinary teams
• Full UK driving licence
• A good working knowledge of Network Rail IT systems and mapping tools

How to apply Internal –

Salary:  Band 3B, £46701 – £52539

Closing date: 10th July 2024

Late applications will not be accepted. This vacancy is also being advertised externally.​

​We Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail.  Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision

Network Rail positively embraces flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life.

Click ‘apply’ and login to Employee Self Service to submit your CV.  If you do not have an Oracle account, email your CV to recruitmentsupport@networkrail.co.uk quoting the IRC number of the vacancy.

For further information please contact Marcus Goldsmith on Marcus.Goldsmith@networkrail.co.uk

How to apply External –

Salary: £46701 – £52539

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Drugs and Alcohol Standard:

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard is changing as of 16.01.2023. All propective candidates who have not been offered a conditional role by 16.01.2023 will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Network Rail adheres to pre-employment Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS), this is government standard for pre –employment vetting. BPSS government standard pre-employment vetting requires Network Rail to screen a potential employee’s unspent criminal convictions and undertake 3 year career checks. Employment at Network Rail is subject to employees meeting the BPSS government standard pre-employment vetting.

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail.  Applicants should demonstrate their personal commitment to safety in their application.

Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual subsidy on season tickets.

Network Rail positively embraces flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life.

Closing date 10th July 2024, late applications will not be accepted.  We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.