The post provides an opportunity to join an internationally respected, dynamic, and active team leading on fisheries science and management advice.
The team delivers leading science and advice to both national and international marine management organisations including Defra, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, the International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES), and a variety of research projects to assess sustainability and support advice on fisheries management.
This post offers an opportunity to develop highly valuable skills in fisheries science fields, specialise in pelagic finfish stocks assessments, work on research and development to support national and international scientific advice needs, as well as gaining an international reputation. Cefas actively supports staff development and opportunities for additional professional training and the successful candidate will work in a team of prolific fisheries scientists.
Job description
The post holder will actively contribute to the development and delivery of analyses and assessments of pelagic finfish stocks considering stock dynamics and factors influencing stock productivity to support scientific advice for sustainable fisheries.
Duties will include:
- Contribute to the development and interpretation of scientific analyses to provide science and advisory support on the assessment of marine pelagic finfish stocks.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of methods, including models, to assess and forecast pelagic finfish stocks and address questions on recruitment and population dynamics as well as sustainable fisheries.
- Contribute to the development of spatially explicit methodologies for pelagic fisheries assessments and the application of data limited assessment methods to assess the early life history dynamics of pelagic fish (e.g., young stages, recruitment indices, egg surveys), in support of fisheries management.
- Contribute to the development and application of statistical and mathematical models, writing of reports, presentation of results for a range of national and international customers, and contribute to scientific publications of high impact.
- Contribute to the development of pelagic fisheries assessments in the context of ongoing offshore wind farm developments.
- Support delivery in assessment working groups and support advice on fisheries and marine ecosystem management to Cefas, Defra and other national and international bodies within multi-disciplinary international teams based in the UK or in overseas locations where Cefas has project work.
- Participate in surveys focussing on pelagic stocks, such as the PELTIC survey (southwest of the British Isles), mackerel egg survey, international Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting surveys, etc.
Responsibilities
The following are essential criteria required for this role and you must be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in the following areas:
- A scientific background and knowledge in marine ecology and/or biology;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with experts and non-experts alike;
- The ability to work effectively either as part of multi-disciplinary teams or with minimal supervision within a professional working environment;
- Willingness to undertake field work at sea on research vessels;
- Research experience in quantitative marine ecology;
- Understand machine learning approaches;
- Use spatial modelling approaches which could be applicable to fisheries scenarios;
- Effectively present results and support advice on fisheries and marine ecosystem management;
- Have the required skills to present results to a wide range of audience from colleagues and collaborators to customers;
- Competence in writing reports and publications; and
- Undertaking collaborative interactions with other scientific institutes.
Academic qualifications required for this Cefas Pay Band 5 post are a postgraduate science degree with a high level of biological or marine ecology with significant numerical content. Relevant work experience will be accepted.
Location: We welcome flexible working and are open to a hybrid approach of working and in an office. The location for this role is also flexible, though some travel to Cefas sites will be required. Please be aware that this role will be contractually based at one of the Cefas sites. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time unless travelling for business purposes.
Salary: £29,267 - £32,766
Application Deadline: January 31st
