Ecologist
About Network Rail
At Network Rail, our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!
Scotland's Railway is part of this large family and it covers a large geographical area from the Borders to Thurso at the far tip of the North East of Scotland, accounting for almost 20 per cent of the UK rail network. We provide rapid access along busy commuter routes to our seven cities, servicing the varied needs of our business and leisure commuter services, including cross border services and rural services. We have up to 50 freight services operating every day and we are steadily building capacity for this to grow. 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.
Our colleagues are encouraged to work flexibly as we know that busy lives don't always fit around a traditional working pattern, if you need flexibility to complete your role just let us know and we will do our upmost to help you to invest in your career with us while balancing other aspects of your life.
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We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here
Brief Description
We are looking for a dedicated and experienced ecologist to join our growing in-house ecology team. In this hands-on role, you will not only provide ecological expertise to Scotland's Railway's internal and external delivery teams but offer guidance to seamlessly integrate Network Rail standards, policies and strategies with environmental best practice, legal requirements and emerging innovation. Your role will support the delivery of cost-effective projects against a robust ecological specification, showcasing your professional stewardship of our lineside environment and the biodiversity it contains.
This is an exciting opportunity for an individual to support a diverse range of railway projects, including vegetation and tree management, geotechnical and drainage works, maintenance and renewal activities, the installation of new infrastructure and feeding into the wider ecology strategy. Given the types of work you will support, the role would ideally benefit from the individual having demonstrable experience of working as a professional ecologist, being at least Associate level of membership of CIEEM and have your own protected species licences or be a subject matter expert in another area.
About the role (External)
Here are some of the duties your role will include: -
1. Providing specialist ecological advice and guidance to project managers, site managers, engineers, planners, and others associated with the undertaking and completion of ecological surveys and / or assessments.
2. Undertaking a range of ecological field surveys, including protected species surveys, habitat surveys and Ecological Clerks of Works supervision and support during works.
3. Collating and reviewing survey data and producing robust ecological reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Environmental Impact Assessments, Habitat Regulations Appraisals, Constraints and Opportunities reports, and species-specific technical reports and protection plans.
4. Designing and advising on mitigation measures appropriate to the species and / or habitat, liaising with Environmental Specialists and the Arboriculture team where appropriate, and produce robust documentation to support licensing. Recommending biodiversity enhancement measures where appropriate.
5. Demonstrating excellent communication and problem-solving skills to liaise with project teams and suppliers to offer expert ecological advice, respond to queries and attend progress meetings.
6. Reviewing and providing quality assurance on ecological reports and deliverables produced by internal and external ecologists.
7. Writing robust ecological scope of works to support documentation being issued for tender.
8. Working to tight deadlines and responding quickly to support reactive railway works.
9. Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including statutory bodies, local authorities, and members of the public.
10. Taking ownership of the ecological aspects of a project and overseeing this to project completion, including working with the Commercial team to manage the budgetary aspects of this.
What you will bring to the role:
Essential
• Comprehensive field experience
• A relevant higher degree in Ecology, Zoology, Biological Sciences, or other relevant Environmental Sciences
• Good understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation and best practice guidance experience
• Be able to identify baseline Ecological constraints during site visits
• Have significant experience of standard survey protocols and methodologies
• Ability to complete rare species surveys
• Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisation skills
• Task orientated team player
• Strong report writing skills
Desirable
• Knowledge of operational railway environment
• Knowledge of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard
• Full/associate/graduate membership of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) (depending on experience)
• Experience attending client meetings and working with multi-disciplinary teams
• Competent with Microsoft Office
• Full UK driving licence
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