Vacancy Overview
Position: Senior Ecologist – Network Rail, York or Newcastle.
Location: York, GB (or Newcastle).
Salary: £46,701 to £55,411 per annum.
Role Type: Full time, Permanent.
Responsibilities
The Senior Ecologist will provide expert ecological leadership across Network Rail Infrastructure, ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, planning requirements, and internal standards. Operating at a Senior level, the role demands an experienced professional with a strong track record of delivering high‑quality, pragmatic ecological advice in complex and evolving environments. The Senior Ecologist will support route and project teams from early design through to construction and operation, coordinate ecological inputs across multidisciplinary teams, the external supply chain, and regulatory bodies, and act as a key advisor and influencer throughout the organization.
Key Accountabilities
* 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, biodiversity accounting and habitat management plans.
* Oversee specialist ecological advice and guidance provided to senior leaders, project management teams, Works Delivery and Maintenance teams.
* Provide 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 compile vegetation management scoping documents in line with Network Rail standards and suitable for Contracts & Procurement tendering purposes.
* Liaise with relevant teams 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.
Essential Qualifications
* Full or associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) (depending on experience).
* Experience delivering projects to specified timescales and within agreed budget parameters.
* Experience managing teams to deliver within prescribed timescales.
* Experience interpreting and presenting survey data and delivering Ecologist reports that fulfil varied remits.
* Knowledge of rail maintenance delivery process and experience with rare species surveys.
* Strong interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisational skills; task‑oriented leadership.
* Full understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation and best practice guidance.
* Comprehensive field experience with the ability to identify ecological constraints during site visits.
* Relevant higher degree in Ecology, Zoology, Biological Sciences or other environmental science discipline.
* In‑depth experience of ecological practices within the railway environment (essential).
Desirable Qualifications
* Working knowledge of CDM Regulations.
* Knowledge and experience of the operational railway environment.
* Knowledge of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard.
* Experience attending client meetings and working with multi‑disciplinary teams.
* Full UK driving licence.
* Proficiency with Network Rail IT systems and mapping tools.
* One or more protected species survey licences.
Benefits
* 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
* 75% discount on rail leisure travel for you and your family.
* 75% subsidised Season Ticket for work travel (includes Underground).
* Range of pension options.
* Annual Performance‑Related Pay package.
* Flexible and agile working arrangements.
* Healthcare package.
* Discounts on shopping and gym memberships.
EEO Statement
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 factors. We are a Disability Confident Leader employer and will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
Closing Date
27 April 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
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