Job Opportunity: Science Manager, Taxonomy

• Management: Manage all Taxonomic Workshops for Ocean Census globally (duration 1-3 weeks) – see details below including the development of future activities.
• Attendees selection (with colleagues), logistics (with logistics team) and management pre, during, post.
• Risk Assessments and risk management on site (with partners)
• Shipping (consumables, equipment and biological specimens) – with logistics team.
• Post Workshop Taxonomy: Management of post workshop and ongoing taxonomic research activities (undertaken by participating scientists)
• Data: Oversight of data collection and input of all data into OC Species Data Management System (with Data Coordinator) – and subsequently direct to OC Cyber-biodiversity System).
• Process development: Develop standardised processes for Ocean Census Workshops to support scaling of operations and partners being able to implement their own workshops.
• Workshop Leadership: Lead some Workshops undertaken by Ocean Census as the representative of Ocean Census, and support Workshop leaders when leadership is undertaken by another member of the Ocean Census team.
• Species curation: lead the curation of Ocean Census samples and related biological specimens from Workshops in host nation / partner archives – ensuring robust and long-term systems.
• Reporting: contributing to reporting for Annual Reports, Board Reports and other papers, including where needed direct reports.

• Innovation: Works with colleagues and to generate new ideas / approaches to accelerate species discovery
• Expedition support: Coordinate, contribute to and / or participate in science planning for Ocean expeditions (including writing science plans, science permit applications, science team selection and management (with Science Manager (Science Network)), science risk management and participation in field operations.
• Represent Ocean Census and attend and present at science events and other networking opportunities to develop the Science Network and promote Ocean Census.

A confident, proactive, and independent self-starter able to work quickly, flexibly and responsively in a fast-changing environment.

ESSENTIAL:

• Passionate / enthusiastic taxonomist with at least 3+ years postdoctoral experience or relevant experience
• Proven experience of management (projects, teams, budgets, reporting) specifically related to taxonomy – notably related to own activities and those under line management including experience of data management.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to lead Workshops, with the ability to be confident and assertive in communicating with people at all levels and from different cultures, in order to build good working relationships across the organisation and with partners.
• Evidence of understanding integrated taxonomy using morphological and molecular approaches.
• Confident with data management systems, Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookups, and pivot tables.
• IT literate with good knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications.
• Able to work using their own initiative as well as being able to follow direction from the Head of Science and other members of the team.
• Highly organised, and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple areas of work.
• This role requires a high level of physical fitness due to the demands of expedition work and candidates will need to be able to pass an ENG1 seafarer medical fitness certificate.
• Able to undertake remote fieldwork and run taxonomic workshops internationally.

DESIRABLE:

• Has a strong network of collaborative scientists in relevant areas of experience (taxonomy)
• Logistics experience: shipping, equipment, biological specimens
• Experience in managing the distribution of biological specimens for long-term curation in museums or other appropriate archives, including knowledge of Nagoya Protocols and other relevant regulations.
• Experience of working with logistics and insurance.
• Located in the Oxford area or able to locate there.
• Valid UK driving license.