Network Rail
Assistant Ecologist
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Who We Are
At Network Rail, we're the publicly owned operator of Britain's rail infrastructure.
We're trusted custodians of one of our nation's most critical public assets: Scotland's Railway.
We keep Scotland moving - connecting people and places, supporting businesses, public services and communities - driving economic, social and environmental success.
Our work spans almost 20% of the UK network and between 2024 and 2029, we're investing £4.8 billion to enhance our stations and routes, supporting new passenger and freight rolling stock.
Working together with train operators, our investment will mean a more reliable, climate resilient railway; a better customer experience; and greener, more sustainable travel that links cities, towns, urban and rural communities with each other and with the wider UK.
But it's our people who make this progress possible. At Network Rail Scotland, you'll find an inclusive, supportive and flexible working culture where your ideas are valued, your growth is encouraged, and your impact is real. Join us.
This is your railway - and it's moving forward. For more information about Network Rail click here.
About The Role
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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Salary: Starting at £28,000 and rising to £29,000 per annum.
Closing date: Midnight of 22nd of July 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
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.
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 visit Evenbreak'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.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Your Experience And Skills
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 strategies by the ecology team.
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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
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