Job Description

Scotland\xe2\x80\x99s International Environment Centre is looking to appoint a highly motivated, forward-looking Data Scientist with expertise in backend development to join a multidisciplinary team working on the Forth Environmental Resilience Array (Forth-ERA) which is a programme pioneering the development of a world-leading digital environmental observatory for the Forth Valley Region in Scotland in collaboration with a range of regional and national stakeholders.

You will join a dynamic, innovative team of scientists and technical specialists focussed on delivering a programme that will help deliver on Scotland\xe2\x80\x99s net zero and broader environment targets.

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized Science Coordinator to join our growing team. As Science Coordinator, you will play a key role in the delivery and development of the Forth-ERA programme and related projects. You will work closely with the Science Director and the wider science and technical team to ensure the programme realises its ambition to transform environmental monitoring, management, and regulation through digital innovation and partnership working.

The ideal candidate will have a strong scientific background and be able to apply their knowledge and skills to help deliver our ambitious research and innovation programme and build our digital solutions portfolio for external partners and clients.

You will be responsible for the efficient planning, coordination, and execution of programme activities working closely with professional services colleague in Scotland\xe2\x80\x99s International Environment Centre. This will involve coordinating and managing meetings, liaising closely with programme partners and stakeholders, contributing to project deliverables and outputs, disseminating progress, results and findings, and ensuring effective communication among team members and to external audiences.

You will be an ambitious, highly motivated individual with a passion for the environment with the ability to thrive working at the interface between academia, and the wider environmental sector.

Description of Duties

Innovation & Impact

• Support project design and planning activities to help shape the research and innovation agenda for Forth-ERA
• Work with colleagues to translate research outputs into real-world products and services for project partners and commercial clients
• Liaise with and support our Business Engagement and Innovation team to promote and market our portfolio of digital products and services

Programme Coordination & Delivery

• Work with colleagues to develop, review and implement project delivery plans
• Coordinate activities within and across workstreams to ensure timely delivery of project objectives
• Monitor and track project progress, identifying and addressing any issues or bottlenecks

Developing & Managing Relationships

• Work with colleagues to foster positive and productive relationships with external partners, stakeholders, and clients including managing relationships with landowners
• Proactively promote Forth-ERA and SIEC to new audiences, partners and clients including representing at meetings, conferences, and other events
• Work closely with colleagues in Business Development and Engagement to develop our commercial strategy

Team Collaboration & Communication

• Foster effective communication and collaboration among programme team members and colleagues across the organisation
• Organise and help facilitate project meetings, including preparing agendas and documenting actions
• Deputise for the Science Director and other team at meetings and events

Supporting Research and Development

• Contribute to research activities across workstreams, taking the lead on specific tasks and projects as appropriate
• Coordinate the design and build of digital platforms for the visualisation of data and communication of programme news and results working closely with project partners and subcontractors
• Contribute to and lead the authorship of scientific papers, reports and other publications and communications
• Contribute to the generation of content for social media platforms and other media campaigns

Essential Criteria

Postgraduate degree in geography, environmental science, biology, or a related subject and experience coordinating projects. Lesser qualified candidates with highly relevant work experience are also encouraged to apply.

• Broad appreciation of the challenges facing the environment underpinned by scientific knowledge in one or more fields (e.g., water resource management; air quality and health; ecology and conservation)
• Proven experience in coordinating or managing complex projects, ideally with a strong focus on research and innovation
• Excellent organisational skills, meticulous attention to detail and the ability to multitask, prioritise work, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Skills in the management, analysis, and presentation of environmental data with strong working knowledge of common software packages and tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, QGIS)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the confidence to present to external audiences
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience contributing to projects involving the assessment and monitoring of the environment, habitats, or species
• Familiarity with cutting-edge monitoring technologies such as wireless sensor networks, satellite imaging, or artificial intelligence and a professional interest in the \xe2\x80\x98digital environment\xe2\x80\x99
• Proficient in project management tools and software for scheduling and resource allocation (e.g., Microsoft Project)

Behaviours and Competencies

The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.

• Managing self and personal skills

Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly. * Delivering excellent service

Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.

• Finding solutions

Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation. * Embracing change

Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles. * Using resources effectively

Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets. * Engaging with the wider context

Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values. * Developing self and others

Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential. * Working together

Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process. * Achieving Results

Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.

About Us

Faculty of Natural Sciences

The Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS) encompasses the Divisions of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Computing Science and Mathematics, Psychology and the Institute of Aquaculture. FNS is a distinctive academic arena where new fundamental understandings of the complex and challenging inter-relationships between human behaviours, technologies, biological and environmental systems are created, explored and tested. The most recent national assessment of research - REF2021 -confirmed that 80% of our research is classed as world leading and internationally excellent. It is supported through UK Research Councils, European Union and a range of research charities We work with businesses and public service organisations both at home and overseas to achieve direct and positive outcomes for society across a range of critical problems. Substantial investment aligned with the City, Region, and Growth deals is supporting major new infrastructure developments linked to the Faculty including Scotland\xe2\x80\x99s International Environment Centre and the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub.

Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES)

Our research interests are broad, ranging from conservation and evolutionary ecology to environmental processes including carbon and nutrient cycling, aquatic and catchment sciences, landscape and forest ecology, evolutionary biology, environment and human health, energy and environmental sustainability. Research activities are led by principal investigators who seek to understand the fundamental processes driving the evolution and maintenance of the natural environment and its interactions with human populations. We develop and exploit a range of technologies from Earth observation through to molecular techniques to understand how environments function and ecosystems are impacted from local to global scales and over annual to millennial timescales. Our research and impacts are found in all continents of the world and position us as a leading institution in Environmental Protection and Biological Conservation. In REF2021 all 100% of our research was rated as having either outstanding or very considerable impact.

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe \xe2\x80\x93 addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society \xe2\x80\x93 and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University \xe2\x80\x93 also home to 1,700 staff \xe2\x80\x93 is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland\'s University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University\xe2\x80\x99s sports scholars \xe2\x80\x93 many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games \xe2\x80\x93 and for students, staff, and the wider community.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen\'s Anniversary Prize \xe2\x80\x93 the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

The University is a signatory to the \xc2\xa3214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
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