Job Description

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.
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.
We champion diversity and inclusion, creating safe, innovative workplaces. We also support flexible and hybrid working - if it works, we'll make it happen. .
Brief Description
Join our team as a Senior Arboriculturist, where you'll provide expert guidance to Works Delivery and Maintenance teams. You'll play a key role in embedding Network Rail's Environment Policy and management systems, ensuring projects meet environmental legislation and drive continuous improvement in environmental performance.
About the role (External)
We are seeking a proactive and experienced leader to oversee a team of Arborists delivering a variety of arboriculture projects across railway infrastructure. This role involves managing the planning and execution of national tree surveys, ensuring compliance with Network Rail standards, and producing clear, concise vegetation management documentation for procurement purposes. You will be responsible for providing regular project updates, identifying risks and issues, and supporting business reporting to ensure smooth project delivery.
The successful candidate will also play a key role in coordinating ecological guidance, working closely with environmental specialists, statutory bodies, and local authorities to ensure legal compliance and effective mitigation strategies. You will lead on data analysis from surveys, support vegetation removal processes, and act as a liaison between internal teams and external stakeholders. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a tangible impact on the safety and sustainability of the railway network.
In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:

• 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 Arboriculture reports that fulfil the varied remits.

• Knowledge of rail maintenance delivery process and techniques for vegetation removal

• Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisation skills and be a task orientated leader.

• Comprehensive field experience

• A relevant qualification in arboriculture i.e. National Certificate of Arboriculture or Royal Forestry Society Diploma or Level 3 City & Guilds

• In-depth experience of Arboricultural practice within the railway environment is essential.

• Demonstrable knowledge of the identification and implications of structural weakness, decay, pest diseases and the effects of tree root systems on rail infrastructure and adjoining land

• Working knowledge of CDM Regulations

We would also like but it isn't crucial to have/to be:

• Knowledge and experience of operational railway environment

• Knowledge of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard

• Membership of a relevant professional body

• 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
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?
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.
Closing date: 5th August 2025. 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