Senior Ecologist

Senior Ecologist

**Location**:
Milton Keynes, GB

**Department Name**:
OY Route PWAY Engineer WCMLS (542911) G2

**About Network Rail**:
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Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. We do work that matters to millions. And we do it in millions of different ways.

This is an exciting time to join Network Rail. We’re passionate about great service and commit to our service equation vision by “putting passengers first”. Performance, safety and getting the fundamental basics right, is something we strive for as well as asking ourselves - what can we do to put our passengers and freight users at the centre of everything we do?

You will be part of the NW&C Region which consist of three routes:

- North West Route, covering Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire and Cumbria.
- Central Route, covering the West Midlands and Chiltern areas.
- West Coast South Route, covering the south of Crewe to London Euston.

There is also a Regional Team which supports Regional Major Programmes & Professional services.

To find out more about us - **Take a look here**

For us, ‘**Diversity'** means recognising differences between people while valuing the contribution they make. ‘**Inclusion’** means creating safe and welcoming workplaces with fair cultures that encourages innovative and fresh ways of thinking.

**Brief Description**:
**Every day will be different, but you can expect to be involved in the following activities**:
To lead the provision of ecological expertise to Works Delivery. To provide support and guidance to integrate the Network Rail Environment Policy and environment management systems to deliver legislative compliant projects and to contribute to continuous improvement in environment and ecological management.

East West Rail Phase 2 will provide the first direct rail link in more than 50 years between Oxford and Bletchley/Milton Keynes, transforming connectivity and journey times for people and businesses across the heart of the country.

Main construction work started in Spring 2020 and is due for completion in **Spring 2024.**

This role will be the key interface between East West Rail and Off-Track, therefore you’ll be empowered to make decisions which can help shape the future of this new railway at this exciting time

**About the role (External)**:
1. 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.

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

**In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be**:

- 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

**We would also like but it isn’t cru