Location
Milton Keynes, GBDepartment Name
OY Route PWAY Engineer WCMLS (542911) G2About Network Rail
Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway.
We're proud to be named as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equity for the fourth year running. Find out more from our people here.
West Coast South: Keeping Britain Moving 🚆
Stretching from Crewe to London Euston, West Coast South is part of Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway—moving millions of passengers and 10% of the UK’s freight each year. With over 1,000 miles of track and 64 stations, it's a vital link between major cities and local communities.
As part of the North West & Central region, we serve 1.3 million passengers daily and move 700,000 tonnes of freight weekly—covering a quarter of the national network.
We’re focused on delivering safe, reliable journeys and building a better railway, while championing diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We also support flexible and hybrid working — if it works, we’ll make it happen. Please click here for more information.
Brief Description
Your role of a Senior Ecologist is to lead the provision of ecological expertise to within our West Coast Route team. You will 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.
About the role (External)
Every day will be different, but you can expect to be involved in the following activities:
As Senior Ecologist, you will lead on a wide range of ecological activities across railway infrastructure projects. This will include overseeing protected species surveys, Phase 1 Habitat Surveys, ecological impact assessments, biodiversity accounting, and the development of habitat management plans, ensuring all work is completed to a high technical and professional standard.
You will provide expert ecological advice and guidance to senior leaders, project managers, Works Delivery and Maintenance teams, playing a pivotal role in shaping environmentally compliant project outcomes. This includes leading engagement with statutory bodies and local authorities to ensure ecological compliance, and working closely with the Environmental Specialist team to agree appropriate strategies in line with current legislation.
The role will require you to lead project reporting, providing regular updates, progress reports, and clear visibility of risks and issues to programme and project management teams. You will also support the production of habitat management strategy and plan , periodic business reporting and ensure delivery of remitted works remains on programme.
You will be accountable for the management and delivery of high-quality environmental and ecological appraisal reports and recommendations. This includes working with our supply chain, our Works Delivery and maintenance colleagues t to advise on the delivery of survey reports, and documentation aligned with relevant Network Rail standards and to support Contracts and Procurement tendering processes.
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 crucial to have/to be:
• 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 (External)
We are a Disability Confident Leader and want to make the most of the skills and talents disabled people bring to the workplace - skills and talents we need in our business Click here for more information
Salary and benefits:
· Salary: £46,701 - £55,411
- Pro-rata annual leave entitlement (28 days)
- My benefits – our discounted online shopping site
- A range of discounted offers including, childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits
- Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets
- 75% discount on leisure travel (discretionary)
- A choice of contributory pension schemes
- 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community
Want to find out about what fantastic benefits we offer? Find out here
Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Closing date: 8th May 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Click ‘apply now’ to apply.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision
We will endeavour to offer a diverse interview panel wherever possible.