Temporary Research Officer (Hydromorphology)
Please note that the deadline for applications passed on 5pm Monday 11th September 2017
5pm Monday 11th September 2017Late applications will not be processed
Responsible to: Senior Research Officer
Location: Based in IFI Dublin Head Office Citywest Dublin 24, but may be required to travel nationwide on occasion.
Background to this position:
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. IFI was formed on July 1, 2010 following the amalgamation of the Central Fisheries Board and the seven Regional Fisheries Boards into a single agency. Ireland has over 74,000 kilometres of rivers and streams and 128,000 hectares of lakes all of which fall under the jurisdiction of IFI.
The presence of man-made barriers to fish migration in rivers has been identified by IFI as a significant issue in regard to the conservation status of migratory and resident fish species and is relevant, therefore, in regard to both the EU Habitats Directive and the EU Water Framework Directive.
IFI has identified the need for a national geo-referenced database of barriers in rivers and streams and has been progressing this process in pilot studies over the past 5 years. We have now been tasked by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (DHPCLG), with accelerating this process as a management measure under the Water Framework Directive Second Cycle of actions and measures.
IFI proposes to recruit a person at Research Officer level to address this challenge and to lead in development of tools and processes to deliver on the tasks.
The task is identified by Government as one to be delivered during the 2nd cycle WFD River basin management Plan, up to 2021. The initial appointment will be to end-2017
The successful candidate will be report to one of the Senior Research Officers with IFI’s Research Division. They will be based at IFI’s HQ at Citywest Business Campus in Dublin but will find themselves engaged in extensive travel within the state.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons with academic training in a relevant area and with a track record in management and roll-out of projects at a large scale. It is envisaged that relevant background experience may come from candidates qualified in the areas of river ecology management, fluvial geomorphology, environmental engineering or other relevant area.
The remit for this post covers the following key tasks:
- Development of a barrier assessment tool consistent with current EU best practise
- Comprehensive programme of barrier survey and risk assessment in line with available resources
- Database storage of a national inventory of barriers for the purpose of interrogation and prioritising barriers for mitigation
- Prioritisation of structures for mitigation and a schedule of proposed works to be undertaken during the third cycle River basin Management Plan
- Production of guidance documents on structural mitigation options and permissions/surveys required for barrier mitigation
Education and experience:
Each candidate should possess:
Essential:
- A primary degree in a relevant area.
- Demonstrable experience of field survey and data collection in water / outdoors
- Demonstrable experience in data processing and analysis and in use of statistical packages
- Demonstrable experience in all aspects of project administration
- Demonstrable experience in operating with GIS- and database software
- Demonstrable experience of managing staff, working in teams and on one’s own
- Demonstrable self-motivation and flexibility
- Demonstrable presentation skills, development and delivery of training
- Demonstrable capacity to network with personnel in other public authorities and the voluntary sector
- Demonstrable experience in report writing, scientific writing for peer-review journals etc.
- Full driving licence valid in the state
Desirable:
- Postgraduate qualification and experience in a relevant area.
- Familiarity with hydromorphology – ecology interface and with the specific topic area of barriers to river longitudinal connectivity
Tenure: Temporary – initially to end 2017
Salary:
Research Officer Salary Scale (1.4.17): €33,866 – €65,104 (14 point scale plus 2 LSIs)
Appointment will be at the first point of the scale.
Applications
Please note that the deadline for applications passed on 5pm Monday 11th September 2017
5pm Monday 11th September 2017Late applications will not be processed
Canvassing will disqualify
Inland Fisheries Ireland is an equal opportunities employer
