Job Description
Ecologist Rail Infrastructure Salary: TO £40,000 DOE
Location: Essex / Kent / South East (home & field-based)
Contract: Permanent Full-time (40 hrs, Mon Fri)
We are a specialist provider of environmental and infrastructure services to the UK rail industry, delivering holistic vegetation and biodiversity management across high-profile contracts, including the Channel Tunnel, HS2, and other Mainlines in partnership with Network Rail.
Unlike our competitors, we don t just maintain or strip back we improve. From introducing living snow fences to pioneering biodiversity solutions, we are shaping the future of sustainable rail environments.
The Role:
We are looking for a motivated and independent Ecologist to join our busy Environmental Team. This is a solo role offering significant autonomy and exposure across the full national footprint of the business, with a focus in Kent, Essex, Sussex and East Anglia.
Reporting to our Environmental Manager, you ll split your time between:
What You ll Do
Location: Essex / Kent / South East (home & field-based)
Contract: Permanent Full-time (40 hrs, Mon Fri)
We are a specialist provider of environmental and infrastructure services to the UK rail industry, delivering holistic vegetation and biodiversity management across high-profile contracts, including the Channel Tunnel, HS2, and other Mainlines in partnership with Network Rail.
Unlike our competitors, we don t just maintain or strip back we improve. From introducing living snow fences to pioneering biodiversity solutions, we are shaping the future of sustainable rail environments.
The Role:
We are looking for a motivated and independent Ecologist to join our busy Environmental Team. This is a solo role offering significant autonomy and exposure across the full national footprint of the business, with a focus in Kent, Essex, Sussex and East Anglia.
Reporting to our Environmental Manager, you ll split your time between:
- Fieldwork (50%) site surveys, assessments, biodiversity scoring.
- Desktop studies (50%) report writing, habitat plans, compliance work.
- Occasional office visits to our HQ in Essex.
What You ll Do
- Conduct ecological surveys, assessments, and biodiversity scoring across rail infrastructure projects.
- Prepare high-quality ecological reports, habitat management plans, and compliance documentation.
- Support the delivery of Network Rail s biodiversity targets (net zero by 2026, 10% biodiversity gain by 2035).
- Provide practical ecological advice to project teams and clients.
- Drive innovation in biodiversity enhancement, from desktop studies to field solutions.
- Communicate effectively with managers and clients, ensuring deadlines are met.
- Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 2 years ecology experience.
- Associate Membership of CIEEM (ACIEEM), or working towards this within 6 months.
- Strong report writing skills and ability to manage projects independently.
- Excellent communicator with good common sense and a solutions-focused approach.
- Full UK driving licence; willing to travel.
- A protected species licence is desirable but not essential.
- Keen to learn and develop into a Principal Ecologist role.
- Salary: To £40,000 DOE.
- 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays.
- Company pooled car (so no personal tax implications) & fuel card.
- Flexible working (home, site, office).
- Training & development, including PTS Track Safety Training.
- Progression to Principal Ecologist (+ generous salary uplift & team leadership).
- Autonomy, flexibility, and the chance to make a real impact.
About CV Bay Ltd