Senior Ecologist

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The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula. 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.

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As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!   

•Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members. 

• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.

• GWR ticket alliance – Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network 

• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.

• A range of Pension schemes to choose from

• Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, flexible leave, and enhanced family friendly support. 

• 5 days paid volunteering leave.

• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

• In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

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Brief Description 

Network Rail are expanding their in-house Ecology expertise and have a fantastic new opportunity available on the Wales Route.  We are recruiting for an experienced Band 3 Senior Ecologist to provide maternity cover for 18 months and to provide support and become part of a wider dedicated and hardworking team at Network Rail within this time period. 

This role is based in Shrewsbury, and we will consider Agile Working.

The Senior Ecologist role will be based within the Shrewsbury Maintenance Delivery Unit (DU) which covers the North and Mid Wales area depots; Shrewsbury, Hereford, Machynlleth and Llandudno, reporting directly to the Off-Track Maintenance Engineer.  The role will mainly involve providing ecology survey support, advising on appropriate mitigation strategies and enhancement measures, utilising results of surveys and liaising with Environmental Specialist’s and the Arboriculture team, as well as providing technical support to the current Band 4 Ecologists based in Hereford, Machynlleth and Llandudno, within their roles.

The Senior Ecologist will work alongside the vegetation management and drainage maintenance teams. The Senior Ecologist will undertake fieldwork and produce ecological reports, to identify constraints to inform the delivery of works.  In addition, their role will be to provide project management to existing protected species licenses across the North and Mid Wales area and support the IMDM license holder with their legal obligations. There will be opportunity for the Senior Ecologist to be involved with habitat management work and to develop and maintain effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including contractors, statutory bodies, local authorities, and members of the public to include liaison with stakeholders on biodiversity enhancements to our lineside vegetation as well as support with our biodiversity net gain strategy. The role also involves supervision of works as an ecological clerk of works, as well as attendance at off track business reviews and work planning meetings.

Network Rail has recently released a National Environment and Sustainability Strategy: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NR-Environmental-Strategy-FINAL-web.pdf and the ecologists working in-house at Network Rail are integral to implementing the objectives of this strategy, in relation to Biodiversity.  There are five Ecologist roles working in the Maintenance Teams in Wales, each Ecologist covering a different geographical area, but also working in collaboration with the other Ecologists working in Wales.  We also have Ecologists working in other areas of the business, so this is a great opportunity to join Network Rail’s expanding Ecology team and develop in this role.

This role requires a task-orientated team-player with excellent communication and project management skills. The role involves working with other relevant teams on the procurement of subcontractors, tender evaluation, and management of ongoing surveys. You will be expected to support in the planning and preparation of surveys with section managers and supervisors across the DU that aligns to the Environmental Standard, and to ensure timelines are met with respect to license conditions. You will be expected to review in-house work to a high technical standard that aligns with best practice and Network Rail standards and lead on best practice to ensure all our work falls within the confines of the law. 

The Senior Ecologist role will also involve survey fieldwork, and this will require some travel in order for the applicant to be able to undertake site visits across the North Wales area, therefore a full driving licence is essential. The successful candidate will be provided with use of a vehicle for work purposes. 

• Lead and direct a team of Ecologists to undertake a range of railway infrastructure Ecological field 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.  

• Oversee the specialist ecological advice and guidance provided to senior leaders, project management teams, Works Delivery and Maintenance teams.

• Lead the provision of regular project updates and deliver progress reports including, risks and issues, to the relevant project / programme management team.

• 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.

• Liaise with the Environmental Specialist team on project surveys and agree appropriate mitigation strategies to comply with current legislation.

• Direct the completion of data analysis from survey results to support the delivery of remitted works to programme.

• Lead the liaison process for Ecological compliance requirements with statutory bodies and local authorities.

• Support the production of periodic business reporting.

• Accountable for the production of environmental and ecological appraisal and recommendations reports.

 

• Experience working within the field of ecology, with extensive relevant work experience. 

• Experience of leading and/or independently undertaking extended phase 1 habitat surveys and extensive experience of providing supervision of works in the role of project ecologist, and/or ECoW.

• A relevant undergraduate degree in Ecology, Zoology, Biological Sciences, or other relevant Environmental Sciences.

• An excellent understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation and experience in the application of best practice guidance.

• Be fully versed in standard ecological survey protocols and methodologies.

• Ability to complete protected species surveys.

• Hold one or more protected species survey licenses for hazel dormouse, great crested newt, bats.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisation skills.

• Task orientated team player.

• Strong report writing skills, including experience of writing method statements. HRA, ECIA, BNG and survey reports and the ability to review to a high technical standard, both ecology and arboriculture reports.

• Line management experience.

• Full/associate/ membership of Chartered Institute of Ecology Environmental Management (CIEEM) (depending on experience) or eligible for this / equivalent Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (Full/practitioner)

• Full UK driving licence. 

• A relevant Masters degree in Ecology or other relevant discipline.

• Knowledge of operational railway environment and PTS qualified.

• Experience attending client meetings and working with multi-disciplinary teams.

• Competent with Microsoft Office and GIS.

• Botanical skills to a Level 4 FISC - BSBI (or working towards).

• Knowledge of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard.

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide.

Salary: This role is a band 3B – £46,701 - £52,538 per annum.

Closing date: 24 March 2024.

Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications.  Late applications will not be accepted.

Click ‘apply now’ to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. Click here for more information.

Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzz words for us. We’re constantly striving to make sure we provide a welcoming and safe environment for everyone.  

We recognise that certain groups are under-represented within our team and we’re working closely with our regional diversity and inclusion networks to make sure we support these groups as best as we can.

We are working in conjunction with the Cultural Fusion team. If you would like support with your application or interview please contact Wales&WesternCulturalFusion@networkrail.co.uk or visit the connect page: Wales and Western Cultural Fusion (sharepoint.com). For all other support please contact your HR Business Partner.

Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and we’ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit Evenbreak’s Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you’re unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

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Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates 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. 

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.  You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.