This is a permanent Senior Scientific Officer post. The post holder will report to the Head of Beef and Sheep Research. The main duties of the posts will be to:

 

• Undertake scientific leadership of the Beef and Sheep Research unit mainly based at Hillsborough and Loughgall including the development of research priorities, proposals (including funding proposals), and strategic partnerships.

• Management & delivery of DAERA & externally funded scientific work on time & to budget including the Assigned Work Programme, E&I projects & externally funded research & commercial projects.

• Liaise closely with the Unit manager to help ensure high levels of livestock performance with upmost efficiency.

• Ensure maintenance of ISO 90001 status within the unit and identify and implement improvement in procedures.

• Ensuring a high standard of scientific outputs & industry impact including achievement of publications & press release associated KPIs; & undertaking representational duties at local, national & international level.

• Undertaking driving duties such as farm visits, travel to field sites, knowledge transfer events, visiting collaborators and key stakeholders.

• Leadership & management of quality systems, health & safety & associated issues within the unit.

• Ensure good governance within the unit in relation to AFBI policies including procurement, HR to include absence & performance management & recruitment; hospitality; vehicles; etc.

• Provision of specialist advice to AFBI senior management, liaison with & advising DAERA, other government departments, & bodies external to government, including farming & industry groups.

• Manage staff, resources and supervise/co-supervise postgraduate (and on occasion undergraduate) students involved in research programmes.

• Support and assist the Head of Beef and Sheep, in maintaining high standards of corporate governance, budget planning and control and staff management, and responding to AFBI senior managers and DAERA Policy leads.