Research Associate - Ecologist and Field Survey Coordinator

NERC - the Natural Environment Research Council - is the UK’s leading public funder of environmental science.

We are looking for a flexible and enthusiastic ecologist with good taxonomic skills and experience of supporting field surveys to join an active research team based at our Wallingford site. This is a dedicated training post and you must be flexible and willing to learn new skills in a variety of disciplines. The primary responsibilities of the post will be:

• supporting the delivery of large-scale, integrated field surveys by co-ordinating teams of surveyors, liaising with land owners over access, developing protocols and undertaking quality assurance
• undertaking field survey and laboratory identification to a high degree of taxonomic precision for a number of taxonomic groups
• carrying out data management and performing basic statistical and GIS analyses to support reporting of the survey findings
• willing to learn new skills in ecological survey and identification and data management and analysis.

You will be based within the Community & Restoration Ecology group at CEH Wallingford. The focus of the role will be supporting a strategically important national survey concerned with understanding the landscape-scale effects of agri-environment schemes on biodiversity. You will support the project manager by managing a large team of field surveyors to ensure effective and efficient working; contacting land owners to arrange access; writing survey protocols and undertaking training and quality assurance.

In addition, you will undertake ecological survey as required so will need to demonstrate good identification skills in a number of groups including some of the following: vascular plants, butterflies and moths, pollinators and other invertebrates.

You must have a degree (2:1 or higher) in an environmental science, good taxonomic skills in the field and lab and a good understanding of ecology and conservation. The ability to rapidly learn new skills in taxonomy and data management is absolutely essential. Good time management skills are also important, with a proven ability to manage a workload of short and long term tasks and flexibility to work away from CEH Wallingford for several days at a time. You will have skills in managing your own projects and in co-ordinating a teams of field researchers.

What we offer

NERC offer a public sector pension scheme, 30 days’ annual leave and 10½ days’ public and privilege holidays per annum. NERC has an equal opportunities policy and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. People with disabilities and those from ethnic minorities are currently under represented and their applications are particularly welcomed. Guaranteed interview scheme for applicants with disabilities.

Eligibility 

To work for CEH, you must be eligible to live and work in the UK without the requirement for a work permit. 

How to apply:

Applications are handled by UK SBS; to apply please click here. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone.

Closing date: 13^th April 2018

Interview date: 8^th May 2018