Sampling, Sorting and Identification of Sediment Invertebrate Macrofauna

Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number: /
Job Description
School/Department: / Ocean and Earth Science
Post Title: / Research Technician
Please enter Level under appropriate Career Pathway / ERE / TAE / MSA / CAO / R.Nurse / Clinical
3
ERE & Clinical Posts: Please indicate the category / Academic Posts / Non-Academic Posts
Teaching & Research / Research
only / Teaching
only / Enterprise / Education Development
Posts Responsible to (and Level): / Grant holder (Level 6)
Posts Responsible for (and Level): / None
Job Purpose: To carry out large-scale biological and physical surveys, perform laboratory and field experiments and compile species inventories.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities (6-10 bullet points maximum)

To plan and oversee the provision of specialist technical support for defined research projects, interpreting and meeting the requirements of the research grant, and deploying defined resources to ensure operational and cost-efficiency, this will cover:
sampling, sorting and identification of sediment invertebrate macrofauna
biological and physical surveys in the field
assist with project logistics and laboratory and field experiments

Accountable to grant holders (PI and Co-PIs). / % Time
70
20
10
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)

Grantholders (PI and Co-PI, Solan, Godbold and Hawkins) will manage the activity of the post holder in support of University of Southampton deliverables.
Prof. David Paterson (University of Southampton) – lead PI for the NERC consortium, responsible for management and delivery of consortium and for responsibilities of each consortium partner.

Special Requirements:
Knowledge and experience of marine sediment invertebrate sampling, sorting, and identification.
Ability to work occasional unsociable hours.
Seasonal activity required at remote field sites.
Experience of working in the field (intertidal areas, including mudflats).
Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
Tertiary level education (University or equivalent) or equivalent qualification or experience within marine biology, ecology or related subjects
Able to demonstrate a good understanding of technical processes relating to work area.
Degree in marine biology, ecology or related subjects Experience of marine invertebrate faunal identification
Experience of fieldwork
Basic laboratory experience/skills
Ambition to carry-out part-time higher degree / X
X / X
X
X
X
Planning and Organising:
Ability to plan and organise own time to ensure work is completed to a high standard and to deadline.
Experience in co-ordinating and planning field sampling/survey or similar campaigns
Ability to plan and deliver technical support of projects over a period of several months. / X
X / X
Problem Solving and Initiative:
Experience of contributing innovative ideas in order to solve technical problems.
Ability/willingness to follow clearly defined instructions or procedures
Ability to work independently, including decision making / X
X
X
Management and Teamwork:
Experience of working as a team player
Willingness to be an active participant of a team / X / X
Communicating and Influencing:
The ability to accurately exchange information
The ability to motivate themselves and others
Willingness to communicate with immediate team, and that of the consortium / X
X
X
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Enthusiasm/motivation
Numeracy / X / X
Special Requirements:
Driving licence
Ability to work away atweekends and non standard hours due to tidal sampling in remote locations (occasional)
Fitness sufficient to perform duties in mudflat environments (e.g. equivalent to ENG1 certification) / X / X
X

Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification

Please tick one of the following statements:

This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if ticked, no further information needs to be supplied)
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of VDU / X

Please tick all those that apply, and put N/A if not applicable

Environmental Exposures / O* / F / C
Outside work / X
Extremes of temperature (eg fridge/ furnace) / X
Potential for exposure to body fluids ##
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ##
Exposure to hazardous substances (eg solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify …………………………………………………………. ## / X
Frequent hand washing / X
Ionising radiation.
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling ##
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) ## / X
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ##
Vibrating tools ( e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) ##
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling. / X
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping / X
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing
Repetitive Lifting / X
Standing for prolonged periods / X
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting) / X
Gross motor grips
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public
Lone working
Shift work/night work/on call duties ##

O – Occasionally (up to 1/3 of time); F – Frequently (up to 2/3 of time); C – Constantly (more than 2/3 of time) ## denotes to HR the need for a full PEHQ to be sent to all applicants for this position.

FOR SCHOOL/SERVICE USE ONLY / ResourceLink Post Number
Which post does this job report to
Is this post a Line Manager? / Yes / No
If yes, which posts directly report into it? / ResourceLink Post Number
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