Principal Scientist, Head of Agri-Environmental Science, GWCT

Type of appointment: From July 2024, permanent

Reporting to: Director of Research; Director of the Allerton Project 

Location: The Allerton Project Centre, Loddington, Leicestershire, LE7 9XE. Full time (37.5 hours per week). Flexible work pattern or part-time role negotiable.

Applications to: Dr Andrew Hoodless ahoodless@gwct.org.uk via the ‘Apply’ button above.

This role will bring together the skills and specialist knowledge from the GWCT Farmland Ecology Unit (FEU) and the Allerton Project along with external collaborators to develop a research portfolio to improve understanding of the trade-offs between food production and the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in farming systems and the associated environment.

We welcome applications from candidates with excellent leadership skills who can inspire, co-ordinate, develop and manage a small team of multi-disciplinary scientists within the FEU and Allerton Project teams, collectively focussing on farmland environments. Key to success will be the ability to harness the team’s considerable yet diverse individual talents and co-ordinate these to achieve success in funding applications and production of scientific papers across a range of journals. The FEU and Allerton Teams have an historic and substantial reputation, which sets us apart, for the delivery of applied science, providing ecologically based knowledge and practical solutions to the agricultural community.

The Head of Agri-Environmental Science will be a forward-thinking individual who can identify research needs, policy drivers and bring expertise together, along with the required funding, to deliver innovative solutions. The ability to collaborate with academic, NGO and industry partners is essential, as is the ability to consistently prepare, monitor and deliver to agreed budgetary targets.

Candidates will be at post-doctorate level in agricultural and/or environmental science disciplines including, for example, agricultural or environmental sciences, agroecology, farmland ecology (grassland, arable and associated habitats), entomology, aquatic ecology, soil science, biology and ecology, agronomy, agriculture and agricultural systems, or other related disciplines.

Candidates should have significant post-doctoral experience, a proven track record of peer-reviewed publications and demonstrable success in external grant capture, collaboration, staff management, and budgetary skills.

Specific skills, experience and knowledge

• Experience of directing, organising and undertaking research, including preparing research proposals, working on research projects, and meeting research project deliverables on time, including the publishing of research results.
• Experience of leading and managing research teams, including PhD and Masters students.
• Ability to source funding and match that to expenditure, including allowances for overhead costs.
• A track record in identifying research opportunities and developing these into funded projects.
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to manage a diverse and busy workload, plan effectively, prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Good analytical skills and judgement with the ability to analyse and resolve problems, identifying practical solutions.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent IT skills and ability to carry out statistical data analyses and modelling in relevant software e.g. R statistical software.
• Specialist technical / research area, with notable research record through research publications.
• An understanding of agricultural systems and the policy environment.

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