Marine Institute Job Description
Position
Scientific & Technical Officer (STO) – Benthos Ecology
Contract
Contract of Indefinite Duration (Start Date: 5th May 2015)
Service Group
Marine Environment & Food Safety Services (MEFSS)
Location
Oranmore, Galway
Brief Description of the Marine Institute:
The Marine Institute is a non commercial semi-state body, which was formally established by statute
(Marine Institute Act, 1991) in October 1992.
Under the Act, the Marine Institute was given the responsibility:
“to undertake, to co-ordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to
provide such services related to marine research and development, that in the opinion of the Institute
will promote economic development and create employment and protect the marine environment ”.
The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for marine research, technology,
development and innovation (RTDI). The Marine Institute seeks to assess and realise the economic
potential of Ireland’s 220 million acre marine resource; promote the sustainable development of
marine industry through strategic funding programmes and scientific services; and safeguard the
marine environment through research and environmental monitoring.
The Institute works in
conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) and a network of other
Government Departments, semi-state agencies, national and international marine partners.
The vision of the Marine Institute is
“ a thriving maritime economy in harmony with the ecosystem and supported by the delivery of
excellence in our services “
In order to achieve this vision, the MI have six service areas; (1) Ocean Science and Information
Services, (2) Marine Environment & Food Safety Services, (3) Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services,
(4) Irish Maritime Development Office, (5) Office of the CEO and (6) Corporate Services.
The Marine Institute 3 Year Strategic Plan (2013 to
www.marine.ie/Home/.../MI%20Strategic%20Plan%202013-2016.pdf
2016)
is
available
on;
Harnessing our Ocean Wealth (HOOW) is an Integrated Maritime Plan (IMP) for Ireland. HOOW sets
out a roadmap for the Irish Government’s vision, high level goals and integrated actions across policy,
governance and business to enable our marine potential to be realised. Goal 2 of HOOW focuses on
healthy marine ecosystems and specifically; to protect and conserve our rich marine biodiversity and
ecosystems; manage our living and non-living resources in harmony with the ecosystem; implement
and comply with environmental legislation (see www.ouroceanwealth.ie).
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Brief Description of Service Group:
Marine Environment & Food Safety Services (MEFSS), a service area of the Marine Institute, provides
essential scientific advice and a range of food safety and marine environmental monitoring services
to help ensure Irish seafood products meet approved standards and that the marine environment is
managed in a sustainable manner.
These services are carried out by a team of scientific personnel engaged in a range of monitoring and
research programmes including benthos ecology, aquaculture, finfish and shellfish health, shellfish
safety and marine chemistry.
Summary of the Role:
The successful candidate will work within the Benthos Ecology Group as a Scientific and Technical
Officer, with responsibility for carrying out the day to day duties associated with the activities of the
Group.
The successful candidate will be responsible for a range of services conducted within the group.
Specifically, investigating and assessing the likely impacts of aquaculture activities on the marine
environment (including Natura 2000 sites), reporting and providing benthos ecology/monitoring and
general advice to the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine in relation to aquaculture and
foreshore licensing. In addition, the candidate will be involved in the execution and analysis of
benthic monitoring in coastal and transitional waters under the Water Framework Directive. These
tasks will be achieved through a combination of desk-based exercises, laboratory and field work.
Background to the Requirement
The inshore fisheries and aquaculture industries are important economic activities on all coasts of
Ireland. As a consequence, the activities and licensing associated with these industries must be
planned in order that any risk they pose to the environment can be identified, risk assessed and
managed such that any potential long-term impacts are mitigated. In addition, interaction with other
marine sectors (users) must be assessed. To provide for adequate protection of the marine
environment (and the constituent habitats and species) it is important that a good understanding of
pressures resulting from such activities are known and the sensitivity and response of various
habitats (e.g. Natura 2000 qualifying features) to these pressures are understood in order to
formulate robust advice to DAFM.
The goal of Water Framework Directive (WFD) is to preserve the aquatic ecosystem in a state
approaching the natural condition (good status). As a result of this it is necessary to obtain a detailed
understanding of the health of different elements of the State’s waterbodies, in particular the faunal
and floral communities. A broad monitoring program is carried out in coastal and transitional waters
which includes sampling designated waterbodies for marine macro-invertebrates. These samples are
processed and the data is analysed using designated assessment tools. The classification from the
benthos monitoring tool is combined with others (e.g. phytoplankton, macroalgae) to determine the
overall health of the waterbody in question. A good understanding of benthos invertebrate analysis
methods and classification tools (indictors) is necessary in order to fulfil this task.
Principal Tasks:
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Identify and review (QA/QC) data currently available that is relevant to the assessment of the
impact of aquaculture and fisheries activities in estuarine and coastal waters (with some
emphasis on Natura 2000 sites and WFD designated waterbodies).
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Liaise closely with the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife
Service (NPWS) and other agencies to ensure that the risk framework protocols are agreed
between agencies.
Provide expertise on benthic ecology and in the choice of impact indicators to be used in
assessment of effects and indicators of quality status.
Provide input into development and application of risk assessment frameworks for activities
in marine areas.
Compile appropriate data and input into risk assessment protocols.
Use these datasets to prepare reports detailing the likely impact of aquaculture and fisheries
activities with respect to impact on the conservation features among others of sites for
consideration by relevant licensing authorities.
Draft site-specific advisory reports for DAFM (including Appropriate Assessment reports).
Preparation of project reports and scientific papers.
Liaise with other Member States on WFD classification tool application and continued
development.
As necessary, participate in data collection exercises as part of statutory monitoring (WFD) or
targeted research projects.
Any other duties as relevant to the position and grade.
Reporting Structure:
The successful candidate will be based at the Marine Institute HQ in Oranmore and will report
directly to the Benthos Ecology Team Leader.
Contacts:
Marine Institute: Benthos Ecology team members within MEFS. Section Manager Advisory Services.
Data services Team and Contractors. FEAS Inshore Fisheries Team. WFD monitoring Team within
MEFS. Director MEFS.
Externally: Regular liaison with aquaculture industry members (shellfish and finfish operators);
Members of NPWS Science and Biodiversity Section. Aquaculture and Foreshore Management team
members from Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. EPA WFD liaison group. Contractors for
tendered work.
Education, Professional or Technical Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, Aptitudes,
Experience, and Training
Essential:
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A relevant third level degree in a biological science with relevant work experience.
Understanding and knowledge of risk assessment frameworks.
Working knowledge of benthic impact and benthic habitat sensitivity indicators.
Field experience in sampling benthos habitats.
Familiarity with key benthic taxonomic groups.
Effective numerical and literacy skills including report writing skills.
A high level of computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet/Email, GIS) including
database software (e.g. Access).
The ability to be well organised and work to deadlines identifying priorities and managing
time effectively.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels both in
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writing and verbally with technical and scientific and non technical groups from the
aquaculture industry, government officials and stakeholders.
The ability to work unsupervised and to work well with others.
Sea going experience or sufficiently fit to pass an ENG II Medical.
A full clean Driving License.
Desirable:
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A MSc / PhD in a biological science or related discipline.
Statistical analysis of invertebrate macrofaunal datasets, e.g. PRIMER
Familiarity of marine legislation (EU, national and conventions, e.g. OSPAR)
Record of publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals
Working knowledge of the Irish Aquaculture and inshore fishery sectors
Strong interpersonal skills.
Special personal attributes required for the position:
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An analytical approach to problem solving.
An ability to work in an organised manner and progress work independently.
Dynamic and reliable.
Self-sufficiency, while being a good team player.
Good interpersonal skills.
Ability to effectively communicate results of teamwork in written and audiovisual
formats.
Salary:
Remuneration is in accordance with the Public Sector, Department of Finance approved Salary
Scale for Scientific and Technical Officers, with a starting salary of €29,085 per annum pro-rated
with time worked. You will become a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
Annual Leave:
The annual leave entitlement for a Scientific and Technical Officer is 25 working days per annum
prorated to reflect time worked. Annual leave entitlements are exclusive of Public Holidays. All leave
must be approved by your manager or their authorised representative in advance of being taken and
in line with Marine Institute leave policies.
Duration of Contract:
The successful candidate will be on probation for the first 6 months of this contract.
How to Apply:
A C.V. and letter of application, summarising experience and skill set applicable to the position should
be emailed to recruitment@marine.ie or posted to Human Resources at the Marine Institute, Rinville,
Oranmore, Galway. All correspondence for this post should quote reference MEFS/STO/BEN/Feb
2015
Closing date for applications. All applications for this post should be received by the Marine Institute
in advance of 12:00 Noon on Wednesday 11th March 2015. Please note that late applications will not
be accepted.
The Marine Institute is an equal opportunities employer
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