The successful candidate will play a key role in a variety of marine ecological activities associated with seagrass restoration, supporting and leading fieldwork both from shore and boat, acting as subject matter expert and technician for marine technology such as our ROV, USV and sonar. The individual will be solutions driven with the ability to organize complex field logistics and have a passion for marine technology, presenting a friendly Project Seagrass face to all volunteers and partners. The successful candidate will be comfortable working long hours on fieldwork regularly throughout the year along with assisting with routine laboratory tasks. With good data management, analysis and report writing skills, they will work professionally to support the wider Project Seagrass and aligned research projects. The preferred candidate would benefit from having Welsh language skills.
The research technician provides operational support to the organization in the undertaking of its core activities associated with the RESEARCH, ACTION and COMMUNITY aspects of the charity’s aims and objectives. They act as lead technician and subject matter expert for monitoring technology such as ROV, USV and sonar.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES
Essential
- Provide logistical and marine biological support for all Project Seagrass UK marine field operations including intertidal, boatbased and diving work.
- Ensure all teams embarking on fieldwork are adequately resourced and provisioned, are provided appropriate accommodation and transport, and operation-specific equipment is available.
- Lead on the charity’s technology-based operations for fieldwork and survey expeditions, ensuring all equipment is properly maintained, and fieldwork staff are suitably trained to utilize.
- Co-ordinate with volunteers and external partners to ensure cohesive logistics planning and project/objective delivery.
- Manage and supervise junior staff assigned to support delivery of fieldwork.
- Create and maintain policies to ensure the smooth running of fieldwork operations and marine technology.
- In collaboration with project leads, ensure all required licenses, permissions, insurance, risk assessments and other documentation as required in legislation is complete.
- Manage health and safety processes such as near miss and RIDDOR.
- Research and stay up to date with developments that can impact fieldwork including, but not limited to weather, etc.
- Collaborate with science leads, the Skipper & Boat Officer, Mapping and other stakeholders to ensure all equipment and operators are available as and when required.
- Responsible for the reporting of all operational activities and projects and ensuring accurate and up to date records are maintained of work undertaken.
- Responsible for maintaining and developing systems of monitoring that can capture and analyze performance data to track progress of projects.
- Collect, analyze and summarize environmental data including GIS mapping.
Preferred
- Act as Project Seagrass’ HSE Dive Contractor.
- Ensure that diving activities are undertaken in a safe and efficient manner to HSE Scientific Diving ACOPs and that all diving operations follow Project Seagrass relevant Standing Operating Procedures.
- Maintain all diving equipment and dive store. Keep equipment and dive store maintenance records.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
Essential Criteria
Values
- Demonstrable evidence of working with marine technology
- Ability to work together in an environment of equity, trust and respect
- A commitment to improving the environment and acting in a responsible environmental manner
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in marine biology, environmental science, oceanography or related fields.
Essential experience
- Practical experience working with marine technology such as sonar, ROVs and/or USVs
- A minimum of two years’ experience of operational and logistic support
- Field experience of UK marine systems
Knowledge and skills
- Leadership skills, always leading by example
- Detail oriented, self-motivated with strong research and data analysis skills
- Proven ability to engage and work both independently but also collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including community organizations and policymakers.
- Knowledge or proficiency of data analysis, GIS and/or R software
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience in report writing and public presentations.
Desirable
- HSE diving experience
- Boat handling ability or experience working onboard boats.
- Experience operating in the charity, conservation or third sector in the UK
- Ability to speak Welsh
- Seagrass knowledge/experience
All applicants will need to have an existing right to work (visa) in the UK.
Application Deadline: 11th April 2025
Salary range: £30,000 – £38,000 (Grade 3)
