Ecologist - Baglan

Network Rail; Baglan; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Privileged staff travel

Rail season tickets subsidy

GWR ticket alliance passes

Healthcare and pension options

Hybrid/work-life balance

Volunteer leave

PROUD recognition scheme

Job summary

Network Rail in Wales seeks an Ecologist to provide expert ecological guidance for the Baglan Maintenance Delivery Unit. The role supports maintenance teams to meet legislative compliance and deliver a safe, reliable railway across South Wales and beyond.

The successful candidate will undertake field surveys, develop mitigation strategies, and collaborate with Environmental Specialists. A higher degree in Ecology or related fields is essential, with strong survey and reporting skills.

Qualifications

• Higher degree in Ecology, Zoology, or Environmental Sciences.
• Understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation.
• Experience with standard survey protocols and rare species surveys.

Responsibilities

• Undertake ecological field surveys including protected species surveys.
• Collate, write up and review survey results and mapping target notes.
• Manage implementation and embedding of recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Undertake environmental impact assessments.
• Lead development of mitigation strategies with Environmental Specialists and Arboriculture team.
• Analyse and interpret data; produce high-standard reports within deadlines.
• Provide ecological advice to site managers, engineers and planners.
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders including statutory bodies.
• Assist in production of environmental appraisal reports.
• Carry out research as required.

Skills

Field experience

Report writing

Interpersonal skills

Site surveys

Education

Ecology/Environmental Sciences degree

Job description

Who We Are

At Network Rail, We're Part Of a Large Family Serving Millions Of Passengers And Freight Users Throughout The UK Every Day. Our Service Impacts Millions Of People And We Strive To Become More Efficient As We Enhance, Maintain And Operate Our Network. Now Is a Fantastic Time And Join Our Team In Wales And Western Region As We Finalise The Reforms To Our Maintenance Organisation Which Will Deliver

• A safer and more reliable and punctual service for passengers and employees - quicker fault fixes by more agile multi-disciplined response teams.
• Individual rostering - enabling us to send the right number or people to fix a fault.
• Multi-skilling - investing in the knowledge and skills of our people so they are better equipped to fix the most common faults themselves.
• Accelerated and improved technology deployment - we have a raft of labour and life-saving technology ready to be rolled out.

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. When your part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions.

About our people and the recruitment process

We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We look for opportunities to offer great opportunities to learn and grow through personal and professional development. And, if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor's 2021 Best Places to Work.

We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone.

Overview

About the role

To provide ecological expertise to the Baglan Maintenance Delivery Unit, this will include providing advice, support and guidance to enable maintenance teams to deliver legislative compliance. Being an integral part of the delivery team where you will help identify solutions that will assist in delivering a safe and reliable railway across the South Wales area and beyond.

Your Main Responsibilities Will Be To

• Undertake and complete a range of Ecological field surveys, including protected species surveys and UK Habitat Classification System (UKHab) and condition assessment.
• Collate, write up and review survey results and mapping target notes and review to identify appropriate recommendations.
• Manage the implementation and embedding of recommendations to deliver continuous improvement.
• Undertake and complete environmental impact assessments.
• Lead the development of appropriate mitigation strategies, utilising results of surveys and liaising with Environmental Specialist's and the Arboriculture team.
• Analyse and interpret data, using specialist software programs. Produce periodic and ad hoc reports to a high technical standard within prescribed timescales.
• Provide specialist ecological advice and guidance to site managers, engineers, planners, and others associated with the undertaking and completion of surveys and / or assessments.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including statutory bodies, local authorities, and members of the public.
• Assist in the production of environmental appraisal reports.
• Carry out research as required.

Pay and Rewards

Salary: This role is a band 4C, £43,588 - £53,167 per annum.

35 hours a week. The role is based in Baglan, but will be a mix of on site, depot and home working.

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!

• Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• GWR ticket alliance, Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year)
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
• A range of Pension schemes to choose from
• Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, flexible leave, and enhanced family friendly support.
• 5 days paid volunteering leave.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
• In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

More About The Role And Your Application

Closing date: 8th October 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know by contacting the recruitment helpdesk.

Your Experience And Skills

You will ideally have

• Comprehensive field experience
• A relevant higher degree in Ecology, Zoology, Biological Sciences, or other relevant Environmental Sciences
• Good understanding of UK and European wildlife legislation and best practice guidance experience
• Be able to identify baseline Ecological constraints during site visits
• Have significant experience of standard survey protocols and methodologies
• Ability to complete rare species surveys
• Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisation skills
• Task orientated team player
• Strong report writing skills
• Keeping people safe on the railway is at