Location: Tonbridge, Kent (base office location), with some travel to sites in the region, some remote working also possible. Expenses can be claimed for travel to locations other than the base location in line with Network Rail expenses policy.
Working hours: Mainly standard office hours, with rare occasions of weekend/night work required.
To provide ecological expertise to key internal and external stakeholders, including support and guidance to enable the Kent route to effectively manage ecological risks and constraints. This includes the identification, assessment, and mitigation of ecological receptors, support with integration of ecological compliance and assurance into the Southern region environment management system, and ecological risk assessment and risk management. This role is responsible for providing practical ecological advice to enable the safe and sustainable running of the railway and input towards mitigation licensing for protected species, ensuring legal compliance across all disciplines, and working within a wider community of practice across the region, including mentoring junior ecologists and managing ecological subcontractors.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Lead and mentor less experienced Ecologists to undertake a range of railway infrastructure ecological field surveys, including protected species surveys, habitat surveys, and ecological impact assessments.
2. Provide and oversee specialist ecological advice and guidance to ecologists, site managers, engineers, planners, and others associated with surveys and assessments.
3. Liaise with the Environmental Specialist team on project surveys and agree appropriate mitigation strategies to comply with current legislation.
4. Direct the completion of data analysis from survey results to support the delivery of remitted works to programme.
5. Lead the liaison process for ecological compliance requirements with statutory bodies and local authorities, developing effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
6. Manage contributions to the production of sustainability periodic and ad-hoc reports, supporting the Regional Sustainability Team with information for periodic business reporting.
7. Accountable for the production of environmental and ecological appraisal and recommendations reports.
8. Analyse and interpret survey data using specialist software programs, producing reports to a high technical standard within prescribed timescales.
9. Manage implementing and embedding recommendations to deliver continual improvement.
10. Manage and advise on appropriate mitigation strategies and enhancement measures, utilising survey results and liaising with Environmental Specialists and the Arboriculture team.
11. Undertake assurance activities to confirm compliance with company and legislative obligations.
Minimum Requirements:
1. Full/associate/graduate membership of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) (depending on experience).
2. Experience in providing mitigation advice in accordance with best practice guidance and legislation.
3. Experience in delivering projects to specified timescales and within agreed budget parameters.
4. Experience in managing teams to deliver within prescribed timescales.
5. Experience in interpreting and presenting gathered survey data and delivering Ecologist reports that fulfil varied remits.
6. Knowledge of rail maintenance delivery processes and completing protected species surveys.
7. Good interpersonal, influencing, communication, and organisation skills; a task-oriented leader.
8. Full understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation and best practice guidance.
9. Comprehensive field experience with the ability to identify ecological constraints during site visits.
10. A relevant higher degree in Ecology, Zoology, Biological Sciences, or other relevant Environmental Sciences.
11. In-depth experience of Ecologist practices within the railway environment is essential.
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