The Research officer will be responsible for day to day delivery of IFI’s climate change mitigation research programme (CCMRP). He/she will be responsible for providing high quality scientific data to support management, conservation and protection of fish species and their habitats for climate change amelioration.
The broad objective of the programme is to build an evidence based research programme to assess the impact of climate change on the Irish fisheries sector in both freshwater and estuarine environments.
The successful candidate will have demonstrated an excellence in planning and execution of applied scientific studies in field situations. The work will involve both desk and field investigations. The appointee will produce detailed scientific reports and papers on the progress of the project.
The successful candidate will also have project management experience including managing teams and will have demonstrated networking and communication skills.
Responsibilities of the Post
Main responsibilities will include:
- Day to day delivery of the project under the guidance of the senior research officer.
- Working with the Senior Research Officer to develop a comprehensive and innovative research programme to examine climate change impacts on fish species and their habitats in Ireland.
Management
- Manage, mentor, train and motivate research staff, encouraging high performance and contributing to a culture of continual improvement
- Account management and monitoring to ensure programme is completed within the allocated budget, including reporting on a monthly basis
- Tendering and procurement of equipment.
- Provision of task schedules for all survey work.
- Compile standard operating procedures (SOPs) for any new work activities
Research
- Undertake innovative research to bridge a significant knowledge gap related to Ireland’s fish species and their habitats and climate change impacts in freshwater and estuarine ecosystems.
Data Collection Responsibilities
- Collect data on fish populations (distribution, biology and ecology) and relevant environmental and abiotic data from designated waterbodies as part of a long-term monitoring network.
- Identify, prepare, install and maintain new or existing technologies where appropriate to support the programme.
- Develop/refine appropriate sampling methods in line with best practice.
Data Processing
- Data mining, data processing, collation and aggregation of all datasets and all sample materials to parameterise and validate models and or analyses.
- Quality assure and review all datasets for entry to databases/GIS. Maintain raw data and all other records in a clear concise manner and in line with IFI’s database structure.
Data analysis
- Supervise and undertake data analysis of all relevant datasets, including using relevant statistical/modelling techniques.
- Liaise with GIS team to calculate landscape coviariates and develop vulnerability maps, etc.
- Develop models to predict the impacts of climate change associated changes in temperature and other parameters on Irish fish species and their habitats
Reporting
- Collate and write reports and scientific publications where necessary to agreed deadlines.
- Provision of weekly and monthly updates to the programme manager.
Other Responsibilities
- Carry out other responsibilities as may be assigned to the post from time to time by the Senior Research Officer.
- Ensure that all elements of the programme are achieved in a timely and efficient manner.
- Demonstrable capacity to communicate positively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders
Note: The above attempts to outline in a broad sense the range of duties associated with the Research Officer post. However other duties may arise as the requirements of the project and our stakeholders change over time.
Job requirements
Experience and Qualifications
Essential:
- A relevant Diploma or Degree or equivalent
- Full current driving license valid in the state
- Excellent inter-personal and team working skills, with particular emphasis on motivation and leadership and a proven track record of achieving objectives
- Self -directed and able to work independently
- Excellent attention to detail with the ability to spot errors and question information received
- Proven project management experience in a multi-disciplined team essential (including budgeting, scheduling, risk management, etc.)
- Demonstrable experience in report and scientific writing
- Demonstrable experience of field survey and data collection in aquatic habitats.
- Demonstrable experience in sampling and identification of fish species.
- A strong expertise in IT skills is required (GIS Software in addition to MS Office skills).
- Demonstrable experience in the use of relevant statistical software (e.g. R package).
- Knowledge of climate change and the potential impacts on Ireland’s fish species.
- Experience in planning, executing and reporting on original research studies.
Desirable:
(note: if numerous candidates have all the above essential requirements then the selection panel will assess candidate experience in some, but not all of the areas below)
- Postgraduate qualification in relevant area
- Demonstrable experience and good knowledge of at least one of the following areas: spatial modelling; fish habitat modelling; spatial stream network models; fish habitat suitability models or environmental flows; analysing/modelling time series or spatial data)
- Full EB driving licence
- Published at least two scientific papers as first author in a relevant scientific field
- Experience in using remote technology (e.g. temperature loggers, data buoys, etc.)
The position will require flexibility regarding working hours.
The position is based in IFI’s head office in Citywest, Dublin. However, there may be considerable travelling and residing in locations across Ireland. Transport will be provided for field duties and full Civil Service subsistence rates will be paid while working in the field.
Field work will involve physical exertion, including walking over rough terrain, lifting equipment, wading in streams/rivers and working in boats. This work will be conducted in all weather conditions.
SALARY
Research Officer, appointments will be made at the first point of the scale:
€35,151, €36,883, €38,941, €40,865, €43,630, €45,926, €47,801, €49,619, €53,738, €55,689, €57,745, €59,797, €61,839, €63,908, €65,426, €67,575
TENURE
Appointment to this position will be on a Specific Purpose Contract until April 2022 with a possibility of extension if required.
CLOSING DATE: 5pm 10th September 2020. Late applications will not be considered
