Job Description

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Location

Glasgow, GB#

Department Name

Scotland's Railway#

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.


We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer 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.












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Brief Description

Network Rail are looking for an Assistant Ecologist to join our growing in-house ecology team. In this hands-on role, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of ecological services across the rail network in Scotland. Working closely with the established ecology team, you'll assist in providing ecological advice and support to a range of project and maintenance activities, helping to ensure compliance with environmental legislation and best practice.



The varied role offers a range of fieldwork and desk-based tasks, including desk studies, ecological surveys, data collection, reporting and mapping, which will be undertaken across the rail network in Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual to learn from the experienced in-house team, develop practical field skills and gain valuable experience of applying their ecological knowledge within a major infrastructure organisation. You will work collaboratively with the ecology and sustainability teams to help protect and enhance biodiversity across Scotland's railway network.











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About the role (External)

Here are some of the duties your role will include: -

Undertake basic desk studies to help identify required future ecological input for projects and help gather relevant ecological data. Gather supporting ecological data by undertaking basic protected species, habitat and monitoring surveys to inform both projects and the requirement for further specialist ecology surveys. Provide Ecological Clerks of Works support on site for low impact works. Collate and process gathered ecology data and submit this to relevant Network Rail systems and ecological databases to support the appropriate sharing, assurance and governance of ecology data. Produce a range of preliminary baseline ecological reports and presentations, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Constraints and Opportunities reports, site supervision summaries and toolbox talks. Support the wider ecology team to deliver ecological project support by attending project meetings, producing any required meeting minutes and checking that ecology delivery trackers are up to date for assurance and compliance requirements. Collaborate with delivery teams, management teams and sustainability teams to help them integrate Network Rail standards, policies and strategies with environmental best practice in project delivery. Liaise with a range of stakeholders, including statutory bodies, Local Authorities and members of the public regarding works and the wider Network Rail strategies to progress projects being undertaken by the ecology team. Produce the basic structure of habitat management plans and biodiversity enhancement plans to enhance the decision making and allowing the future input of addition of specialist management

What you will bring to the role: -

A degree in Ecology, Zoology, Biological Sciences, or other relevant subject area. Experience of undertaking a basic baseline ecology survey, including those for protected species and habitats. Experience of supporting the production of robust ecological technical reports. Good understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation. Strong written and verbal skills. Ability to work well as both part of a team and occasionally independently where this is required for site visits. A full UK driving licence is essential due to the need to access remote locations not served by public transport. Good knowledge of basic IT skills, including usage of software (e.g. Microsoft Office applications).

It's desirable if you have it to help give you context to the role: -

Knowledge of operational railway environment. Qualifying membership of Chartered Institute Ecology and Environmental Management. Experience of working as an Ecological Clerk of Works. Holder of protected species licences. Experience of using GIS software to produce survey figures and report figures. #

How to apply (External)

Salary:

28,000- 29,00 per annum.

Closing date:

03.12.2025


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.


Please note the recruitment process for this role is a competency-based interview.




We're dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from everyone!


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 visitEvenbreak'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.




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.