Senior Ecology Manager

A little bit about usEast West Rail is an infrastructure programme connecting communities between Oxford and Cambridge, a region currently underserved by transport. We have a once in a generation opportunity to change that, improving prosperity for people and places along the way.

East West Railway Company (EWR Co) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee delivery of East West Rail, from construction through to services running, making sure the railway comes together in the right way. The programme is projected to deliver a 6.7 billion annual boost to the regional economy by 2050.Role Summary As Senior Ecology Manager, you will lead the delivery and assurance of EWR Co's ecology and biodiversity assets through construction.

This includes biodiversity net gain, habitat creation and long-term management, protected species licensing and mitigation, and the ecological management of construction on site.

Function The Technical function owns the specification for the scheme, interpreting the business case and purpose and translating these into a system requirements set. Its work falls into two broad areas: establishing standards and requirements, and assuring that these are met during both design and delivery. This work spans a number of domains, each requiring specialist technical capability to provide the right level of knowledge, support and innovation.

Key Responsibilities In this role, you will:

Contribute to delivery of the biodiversity net gain strategy, securing and creating on-site and off-site units and ensuring habitats are delivered, managed and monitored to achieve the required net gain.

Manage protected species licensing and mitigation, including European Protected Species licences and monitoring, and assist with the Habitats Regulations Assessment.

Provide technical assurance of contractor ecology deliverables and manage the Ecological Clerk of Works function on site, ensuring ecological compliance during construction and managing seasonal and species constraints.

Represent EWR Co at conferences, networking events, and external and internal presentations, promoting EWR Co's activities in ecological management.

Take responsibility for your own and others' health and safety, adopting and working to EWR Co's Health and Safety principles.

Keep taxpayers' money at the forefront of your decisions, bringing a cost-conscious mindset to your work.

Seek creative solutions to challenges and opportunities, bringing a commitment to innovation.

Act as a role model for EWR Co's vision and behaviours, working in line with EWR Co's Ways of Working and encouraging others to do the same.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

Essential Criteria You will bring:

A career as a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist, delivering biodiversity net gain and ecological mitigation on major infrastructure or construction projects.

Knowledge of the statutory biodiversity metric and the preparation of biodiversity gain plans.

Experience of developing and delivering biodiversity net gain strategies, including the commercial acquisition of units.

A background in protected species survey, licensing and mitigation, including European Protected Species licences.

Site-based ecology experience on construction sites, acting as or managing an Ecological Clerk of Works.

Work securing and managing long-term biodiversity assets, including securing mechanisms and 30-year management and monitoring.

GIS proficiency (ArcGIS or QGIS), alongside the ability to translate technical ecology for non-specialist site teams, regulators and stakeholders.

A valid CSCS card.

Desirable Criteria It would also be great if you have:

A degree in ecology or a related subject, or equivalent qualification or experience.

Full membership of…