Duration:

Temporary Externally Funded Non Grant-in-Aid contract post, the indicative duration of which is 22 months, subject to contract. A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.

Basic Function

This competition seeks to recruit a research Technician focused on monitoring soiled water and slurry production on a range of commercial farms, quantifying the factors which contribute towards said volumes and establishing benchmarks from which national inventories of soiled water and slurry production can be estimated. The successful candidate will join a team of permanent and contract staff conducting applied research. They will provide technical support to help improve our understanding of how different management approaches affect storage requirements in farmyards. This position will be based in the Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork. Teagasc - Moorepark is Ireland’s leading dairy research institute with national responsibility for all aspects of dairy production research which include dairy cow breeding and reproduction, dairy cow health and welfare, milk composition and dairy cow nutrition, grassland and grazing management, milking technology and milk production systems plus economic analysis.

Background

The management of organic manures, especially slurry, is an important area for the reduction in losses of nutrients to the environment. In Ireland, as elsewhere, environmental indicators for water are deteriorating despite policies, investments and actions intended to prevent and reverse deterioration. A strong and healthy water ecosystem offers vital goods and services, such as the provision of drinking water and also protection against flooding and the impacts of climate change. The DAFM funded WASP (Soiled Water And Slurry Production) project aims to support the Nitrates Action Programme to control nutrient and sediment losses from agriculture. A fundamental aim of the project is to quantify soiled water and slurry volumes produced on dairy farms to help refine storage requirements.

• Work with research scientists in developing and implementing an on-farm monitoring programme across multiple study sites.
• Monitor and collect data from farm studies and sensors deployed to quantify volumes of soiled water and slurry produced on a range of farms
• Oversee the functioning of on-farm monitoring equipment
• Work with farmers on the collection of on-farm data
• Support the research programme through data collation and interpretation
• Contribute to the management of samples, equipment and consumables
• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
• To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
• To fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of oneself, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations, including full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
• To carry out other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• Health & Safety Co-ordinator Duties or such other Health & Safety Duties as may be assigned from time to time.

• This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive. It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.

Note: The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.