Sustainability Specialist

Who We Are

Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.

About The Role

Following the UK Government's policy announcement on Northern Powerhouse Rail, Network Rail is growing its team to develop this multi-billion pound rail investment which will improve rail connectivity in the North of England.

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme spans from Liverpool, through Manchester and on to Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York and builds on the benefits planned from the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) programme.

This job is one of several exciting opportunities to join the growing team in NPR in this early stage of development. You will be part of the challenge and innovation required to drive efficiency and value for money for the UK taxpayer. It is important that our product is an affordable and sustainable railway that brings our passengers and freight users more frequent, faster, greener trains, running on a better, cleaner, and more reliable railway.

We recognise that flexibility is necessary for helping our people excel, both professionally and personally. At Network Rail we have a flexible working policy which allows up to 40% of our working hours, to be completed from home. Alongside this, most of our team benefit from some form of individual working arrangement including reduced or compressed hours, to balance business and individual needs.

We recognise the importance of flexibility in attracting and retaining great people to work on NPR and are very happy to consider proposals to meet individual needs.

This role can be based in Manchester or York.

Job Purpose

NPR is committed to developing the future railway network for the North of England, embedding environmental and social sustainability into programme development and delivery so that the portfolio supports an affordable, resilient and lower‑carbon railway that is fit for the future, cares for the environment and helps communities thrive.

Reporting to the Head of Safety & Sustainable Development you will provide sustainability expertise to support compliance with Network Rail (NR) standards and the ongoing development, implementation and assurance of the NPR Sustainability Strategy, Contract Requirements and related requirements for whole‑life carbon, circular economy and resource efficiency, Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation (WRCCA), biodiversity and natural capital, environmental protection, social value and inclusive community outcomes.

Working across the portfolio the principal activities of the role include:

• Collaborating with the Safety & Sustainability Leadership Team, supplier sustainability specialists, Network Rail (NR) programme, engineering and management teams, Eastern Region Environment & Sustainability colleagues and Department for Transport (DfT) stakeholders.
• Providing specialist advice and support on sustainability, environmental management, whole‑life carbon, circular economy, WRCCA, biodiversity and natural capital, social value and inclusive community outcomes to programme teams and other stakeholders.
• Supporting review and improvement of portfolio sustainability documents and supplier deliverables, including input to the NPR Sustainability Strategy, Contract Requirements - Environment, Environmental Management Plan, Carbon Management Plan, WRCCA outputs and circular economy studies.
• Working with colleagues in Eastern Routes Capital Programmes, Trans‑Pennine Route Upgrade and Eastern Region to align NPR requirements with regional sustainability expectations, biodiversity net gain, social value measures, circular economy opportunities, climate resilience planning and wider carbon reporting arrangements.
• Engaging with DfT stakeholders to respond to review comments, provide evidence and resolve queries on environmental milestones, carbon roles and responsibilities, WRCCA requirements, common reporting requirements and programme business case inputs.
• Developing assurance plans and conducting assurance activities to help confirm that suppliers meet Contract Requirements, NR standards and portfolio sustainability commitments.
• Playing a significant role in developing and driving sustainability initiatives across the portfolio, including coordinating and chairing the Sustainability Forum and sharing learning across programmes.

Key Accountabilities

• Deliver functional support to enable the discharge of the client role through input to project remits, supplier tender reviews, pre‑construction information, diversity impact assessments, input to supplier account meetings and support key project assurance, working closely with project management, engineering, construction management and supplier sustainability teams to facilitate compliance with legislation, standards, processes and NPR portfolio sustainability requirements.
• Implement the sustainability aspects of the Safety and Sustainability strategy, working with all relevant business areas, programme teams and the supply chain to facilitate successful delivery across the NPR sustainability pillars, including whole‑life carbon, circular economy and resource efficiency, WRCCA, biodiversity and natural capital, environmental protection and social value, and helping to coordinate activities, monitor compliance and report progress.
• Develop the desired sustainability culture throughout NPR by leading by example on behaviours, providing initial engagement and ongoing support to programme teams and suppliers, and delivering the NPR culture maturity improvement programme at a delivery level to achieve continuous improvement and adoption of best practice.
• Develop internal and external sustainability communications such as cascades, briefings, lessons learnt, case studies and newsletters to facilitate a learning culture within NPR, support Safety & Sustainability Leadership Team inputs, and share best practice through the Sustainability Forum and other portfolio engagement routes.
• Provide expert technical advice on environmental management and sustainability requirements as part of the planning, design and delivery of projects, including sustainability certification, environmental surveys, consents, whole‑life carbon, circular economy, WRCCA, biodiversity and natural capital requirements to facilitate successful execution of the programme and support local operation of the environmental and social management system.
• Provide Capital Delivery and Network Rail specialist support to assurance reviews, supplier self‑assurance, contractor‑led investigations and sustainability deliverable reviews where required to facilitate maximum learning from events and improve sustainability performance.
• Provide support to the teams in becoming a learning organisation through supporting implementation of outcomes from assurance activities, supplier reviews, Sustainability Opportunities Register actions and learning from accidents, incidents and sustainability good practice.
• Develop and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including programme teams, supplier sustainability leads, regional sustainability leads, DfT stakeholders, regulatory bodies and other agencies, developing partnerships with NGOs, education centres and local charities to support sharing of key information required for sustainability performance of the delivery team.

Essential Criteria

• Practitioner member of the Institute of Sustainability & Environmental Professionals (ISEP) or equivalent professional institute e.g. Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or equivalent through experience.
• Degree level qualification (minimum UK level 6) in environment / sustainability or other relevant subject, or equivalent through experience.
• Demonstrable and recent experience in managing environment and/or social value matters, with involvement in construction programmes across multi discipline areas.
• Demonstrable in‑depth understanding of environmental or social value legislation, policy and standards.
• Demonstrable experience of implementing successful sustainability improvements.
• Demonstrable experience of working with management systems (e.g. ISO or equivalent)
• Demonstrable knowledge of project management and/or understanding of the project management lifecycle within the railway industry, or a similar operating environment.
• Demonstrable skills in initiating and building positive working relationships with customers, their team, and stakeholders through excellent interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisational skills.
• Demonstrable experience of bringing different people together; promoting working as one team.
• Demonstrable experience of challenging self and others to improve services and approaches.
• Demonstrable experience of thinking through the cost, business priorities, and customer implications of their decisions.
• Demonstrable experience of positively representing themselves/ their team within and external to the business.

Desirable Criteria

• Masters level qualification in environment, sustainability, ecology, carbon management, social value or another relevant subject.
• Full membership of the Institute of Sustainability & Environmental Professionals (ISEP), Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) or an equivalent professional institute.
• Qualification in incident investigation
• Experience applying certification or frameworks to projects (such as BREEAM or Common Social Impact Framework)
• Demonstrable experience of collaborating with other external organisations for a positive sustainability outcome.
• Strong data analysis and presentation skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong knowledge of NR standards, systems, and processes for the management of Sustainability.
• Working knowledge of ecological survey techniques, Environmental Impact Assessment, and/or Diversity Impact Assessments.
• Experience in major infrastructure, rail or other complex programme environments.
• Working knowledge of Network Rail sustainability governance and assurance arrangements.
• Experience using project certification, assessment or reporting frameworks.
• Applied knowledge of carbon, circular economy, biodiversity, WRCCA and social value outcomes.
• Experience facilitating forums or working groups to share learning and resolve issues.
• Ability to influence, coach and challenge teams and suppliers constructively.
• Ability to interpret assurance findings and performance data to identify risks and themes.
• Strong planning and briefing skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.

Please note:

Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.

External How To Apply

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.

We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.

We positively embrace flexible