Field Coordinator - TERN| Biological Sciences

Job no:513549
Work type:Fixed term - Full-time
Campus:Adelaide
Categories:Technical, Laboratory and Research Support, HEO8

(HEO8) $106,561 - $119,550 per annum plus an employer contribution of 17% superannuation applies.

2 Year Fixed Term | Full Time

TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network) is Australia’s field-based ecological observatory; collecting, recording and sharing data and samples using highly instrumented monitoring sites, surveys and remote-sensing techniques such as drones and satellites. TERN’s model-ready data enables researchers, land managers and policy-makers to detect and interpret changes in ecosystems from continental scale to field sites at more than 1000 representative locations. Since 2012, TERN’s Ecosystem Surveillance group, based at The University of Adelaide, has collected soil and vegetation data and samples according to standardised, widely endorsed and consistent protocols. The TERN Australia Soil and Herbarium Collection houses over 150,000 vegetation and soil samples, which are freely available for researchers to access on request along with the associated contextual data. TERN’s world-class surveillance monitoring infrastructure supports long-term ecological and biodiversity inventory, environmental monitoring and prediction, reporting and assessment, underpinning decisions about our greatest environmental challenges. TERN is enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

The Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) is seeking a Field Coordinator with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills to plan and organise biodiversity surveillance field surveys. The Field Coordinator will:

• Coordinate multiple small teams of Field Leads and Field Officers
• Coordinate field works to be undertaken by the UAV Team
• Planning field trips
• Oversee and contribute to preparing field equipment vehicles
• Oversee resources such as fuel and camping equipment
• Assisting with curation of data
• Assist with soil samples and plant specimens

Interstate and remote travel, including camping in remote locations for extended periods of time for up to two weeks, indicatively six – eight times per year. When not in the field, the Field Coordinator will spend time at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus at the TERN Surveillance facility planning field surveys and assigning tasks to team members. This includes the sorting and cataloguing of soil samples and plant specimens along with managing volunteers and students.

To be successful you will need:

• Demonstrated experience in leading ecological surveys, including soil surveys, flora identification and vegetation classification. 
• Demonstrated experience following established survey protocols taking scientific measurements, herbarium quality voucher specimens, and/or soil samples.  
• Demonstrated experience leading remote area operations, incorporating effective communications, navigation, management of health, safety and wellbeing, and the environment.  
• Experience supervising and providing on-ground training to field staff on ecological survey techniques. 
• Experience operating four-wheel-drive vehicles in various terrains, including basic maintenance, or willingness to undertake relevant training.  
• Demonstrated experience solving complex problems with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and environments.   
• Knowledge or experience using MS Office (Excel, Access, Word, Outlook), and collecting field data digitally with a working knowledge of GIS and analysis. 

Qualifications / Licences

• Completion of a degree in a relevant field (science, agricultural science, ecology, environmental studies etc.), or a combination of other levels of training with relevant experience. 
• Current first aid qualification (Provide First Aid / Advanced First Aid / Remote Area First Aid), or willingness to undertake relevant training. 
• Current C (car) class drivers licence, and experience driving manual vehicles. 

Relocation assistance may be available for the right candidate. 

Enjoy an outstanding career environment

The University of Adelaide is a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaborations - offers you vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-calibre people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work's cutting-edge nature - not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

We embrace flexibility as a key principle to allow our people to manage the changing demands of work, personal and family life.

In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive staff benefits. These include: salary packaging; flexible work arrangements; high-quality professional development programs and activities; and an on-campus health clinic, gym and other fitness facilities.

Learn more at: adelaide.edu.au/jobs

Your faculty's broader role

The Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology is a multidisciplinary hub of cutting-edge teaching and research. Many of its academic staff are world leaders in their fields and graduates are highly regarded by employers. The Faculty actively partners with innovative industries to solve problems of global significance. 

Learn more at: set.adelaide.edu.au

If you have the talent, we'll give you the opportunity. Together, let's make history.

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to be taken through to the online application form. Please ensure you submit a cover letter, resume, and upload a document that includes your responses to all of the selection criteria for the position as contained in the position description or selection criteria document.

Applications close 11:55pm, Sunday 21 April 2024. 

The University reserves the right to close this advertisement before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

For further information

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, contact:

Caleb Coish
TERN Business and Finance Manager
P: +61 (8) 8313 1142
E: [email protected]

You'll find a full position description and/or selection criteria below: (If no links appear, try viewing on another device)

The University of Adelaide is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Female applicants, people with a disability and/or and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the requirements of this position are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application. 

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