Job profile

This is an exciting chance to be part of a progressive and cutting-edge University in a beautiful location and work within a supportive team of world-leading coastal researchers.

Based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the School of Biological and Marine Sciences is primed to enable students to achieve their ambitions by linking research to real world problems. Students are equipped with the skills they need to make a positive impact on the sustainability of our environment and society.

With many amazing ecosystems right on our doorstep in the UK’s first National Marine Park, Plymouth boasts one of the highest concentrations of world-leading marine scientists in Europe and benefits from world-class research facilities such as the Marine Station, the fleet of research vessels and LABplus.

About the role

The University of Plymouth is inviting applications for a Junior Research Consultant position in the Coastal Marine Applied Research (CMAR) consultancy https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/cmar within the Coastal Processes Research Group (CPRG). The group specialise in collecting coastal field data in challenging conditions, and in modelling coastal processes such as coastal erosion, rip currents, and coastal flooding.

You will have experience in coastal processes and numerical modelling. Your principal role will be to support the consultancy activities of CMAR by delivering numerical modelling tasks of coastal hazards and/or hydro- and morpho-dynamic processes. You will have responsibility for the delivery of numerical modelling, data processing/analysis, technical report writing, and continuous development of CMAR’s client base under the guidance of CMAR’s Senior Research Consultants and academics.

You will:

• Contribute to CMAR’s consultancy and research activities, particularly supporting numerical modelling tasks under guidance from senior staff.
• Research, interpret, and process data; analyse results and identify issues requiring further investigation.
• Support the delivery and ongoing development of an effective and flexible technical service, following relevant financial and regulatory procedures.
• Assist with planning and administration of meetings/visits and associated logistics and budgets where required.
• Provide professional engagement with stakeholders and clients, offering proactive advice and guidance to help identify appropriate solutions.
• Contribute to guidance/training on designated activities and associated policies/procedures (as appropriate to experience).
• Ensure all work is undertaken in line with university safety policy and contributes to the University’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

For more information on School of Biological and Marine Sciences please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools

For this role, you will need to be on site 3 days a week. Although we can accommodate working from home for this role, flexibility to be on-site will be expected due to business needs.

This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 12 months due to funding.

A current full driving licence (manual transmission) is essential as you will be driving University of Plymouth vehicles.This role is also subject to health surveillance with our Occupational Health team.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Dr. Arya Iwantoro arya.iwantoro@plymouth.ac.uk or Prof. Gerd Masselink gerd.masselink@plymouth.ac.uk

What we’re looking for:

Applicants must have:

• Eligibility to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract (Right to Work in the UK).
• MSc degree (minimum requirement) in a relevant discipline such as coastal science/processes, coastal engineering, oceanography, environmental science, or physical geography.
• Experience with marine and coastal modelling tools such as SWASH, SWAN, Delft3D, XBeach and/or SFINCS.
• Advanced working knowledge of MATLAB and/or Python, and experience with QGIS (with confidence using Microsoft Office and handling datasets/databases).
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks and deliver to deadlines with attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate professionally with stakeholders/clients (in writing, by phone, and/or in meetings).

Experience in one or more of: field data collection, technical report writing, data processing/analysis, working in research projects or a customer-facing/consultancy environment is highly desirable.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

About us

The School of Biological and Marine Sciences holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education.

The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our two strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Earth Institute. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today’s global challenges.

Application Process

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Our Offer

We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:

• Generous annual leave: 25 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays & Closure Days
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.

Additional Information

The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter, please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.