Job Description
Duration:
Temporary contract post, the indicative duration of which is 41 months, subject to contract. A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.
Basic Function:
We wish to recruit a dynamic and suitably qualified contract research scientist to support the Better-Calf project with particular focus on: assembling and managing data related to dairy-beef systems; detailed analysis of the economic, environmental and social aspects of dairy-beef systems; supporting the running of Better-Calf events, and assisting with the overall management of the project. There will be opportunities to acquire new skills, continued professional development and for travel to conferences within the duration of the role.
Background:
Teagasc have a large research programme on dairy-beef production which is focused on improving production efficiency and profitability of dairy calf-to-beef systems. This programme encompasses the development and validation of technologies to enhance the genetic merit, nutrition, and health and welfare of the dairy-beef herd. Research farm dairy-beef systems have been operated at Teagasc research facilities, predominantly at Grange, for a number of decades to create and test innovations in dairy-beef production technologies at farmlet level. There continues to be opportunities to further innovate within these farm systems studies in the context of evolving economic (low farm incomes, market volatility, etc.), environmental (biodiversity decline, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate stresses, etc.), and societal (e.g. perceptions of animal welfare) challenges for dairy-beef farms.
Background to Better-Calf:
The Better-Calf project (Dairy calf systems for resilience, welfare and sustainability in rural territories) is a multi-jurisdictional EU-funded (Interreg North-West Europe) project which aims, through a combination of experimental farm studies, farm systems simulation, farmer focus groups and multi-stakeholder groups, to design, test and deploy innovations in grass-based dairy-beef systems. The project brings together partners from six European countries where dairy-beef systems are at different stages of development to develop and test dairy-beef systems under a range of the soil and climatic conditions which prevail in north-west Europe. The transnational project led by Teagasc permits the involvement of a large number of partners according to their expertise.
Job Objectives
- Compiling data and reviewing literature on dairy-beef systems across the project regions of north-west Europe.
- Working closely with the dairy-beef research team at Teagasc Grange and Johnstown Castle, including the assembly of data from ongoing and recently completed experimental studies.
- Carrying out farm systems modelling including life-cycle assessment of novel grass-based dairy-beef systems across a range of soil and climatic conditions that prevail in north-west Europe.
- Day-to-day management of the Better-Calf project. This successful candidate will be a key member of the project team and will support the partners in adhering to the work-programme, its constituent tasks, deliverables, and milestones.
- Attend project technical and steering group meetings and support the organization of Better-Calf events.
- Assistance with budgets, administration, and management/coordination, report writing, engaging with partners and relevant stakeholders and project dissemination activities.
- To disseminate project findings and engage in project reporting duties.
- To contribute to the teamwork and team-spirit within Teagasc and partner institutes and to foster and add to further collaboration and integration.
- To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
- To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
- Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
- Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
- This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive. It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.
Skills Requirement
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
- An honours Level 8 degree, (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in Agricultural Science, Environmental Science or a related discipline.
- Postgraduate Research experience in Animal Science, greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and farm systems analysis would be a distinct advantage.
- A level 10 PhD in Animal Science, agricultural systems, environmental science or a related discipline.
Skills
- Excellent organization and project management skills.
- Research skills: experimental design and implementation, animal performance measurement, data management, statistical analysis and modelling.
- Planning, monitoring and evaluating the literature in the area.
- Dissemination skills: verbal presentation/communication skills, scientific (peer-reviewed journals) and technical report writing skills.
- Capacity to successfully develop collaborative research links with national and international organisations.
- Experience managing a multi-institution project.
- Proven record of scientific communications.
- A demonstrated ability to engage with national and international stakeholders and research partners.
Knowledge
- Dairy-beef systems in grassland regions
- Agri-GHG emissions and mitigation strategies.
- National and EU agri-food and agri-environmental policy.
- Factors affecting the adoption of grass-based technologies on livestock farms
- Commercialization strategies for novel agri-food products.
Behavioural Competencies
- Appetite to engage in research and generation of high quality research outputs with partners and agri-food stakeholders nationally and internationally.
- Ability to take initiative.
- Ability to work as part of a team, including consulting, collaborating and building relationships with key stakeholders.
- Strives for high quality of work and demonstrates commitment to the agreed research programme.
- Ability to communicate effectively to enable knowledge and technology transfer.
Note: The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.
Note: Alternative location(s) may be considered solely at the discretion of Teagasc management.
