Lecturer in Marine Ecosystem Services (Teaching & Research)

Applications are invited for the above permanent, full-time post working in the School of Ocean Sciences, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Environment Centre Wales in Bangor.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop their own programme of funded research in this area, and actively contribute to the School’s interdisciplinary ethos and exploit the wide range of expertise available in the School, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and across Colleges within the University. Working locally, regionally and internationally, the postholder will build links with Welsh and UK-wide industry, coastal communities and governments and international organisations to inform policy development and sustainable resource management. Teaching and Research Lecturers supervise postgraduate research students. The candidate may take advantage of the RV Prince Madog (a 35m offshore research vessel) and fleet of smaller boats for inshore field work.

Teaching and administrative duties will include research and teaching of marine science at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels across a range of modules.

The successful candidate will be educated to PhD level in Marine Biology, Marine Environmental Science, or related subject

This role will be located on campus at Bangor and Menai Bridge.  Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis (equivalent to 100% FTE). 

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, www.jobs.bangor.ac.uk . However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.

Please ensure that the Questionnaire section of the online Application Form addresses all Essential criteria, and where appropriate, Desirable criteria listed in the Person Specification.  A cover letter is not required. You may wish to attach a CV, but please do not attach additional material, such as publications and reports. 

Closing date for applications: 16th June 2023.  Interviews will be held further on in the month of June.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor John Turner, Head of School (email: [email protected]).

Committed to Equal Opportunities

Overview

The School of Ocean Sciences has an international reputation in multi and interdisciplinary research in the areas of earth system science, climate change and marine conservation and resource management. Over 95% of our outputs were ranked as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. Bangor’s research is changing the world in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences and is 1st in the UK for the impact of its research. With one of the largest groups of environmental scientists in the UK, our research is ranked sixth in the UK and 1st in Wales for research power.

Research ranges from Marine Biology and Ecology, Aquaculture and Fisheries through to Earth System Modelling, Physical Oceanography, Sediment Bioremediation and Dynamics, Marine Mammal Science, Tropical Ecology, Marine Renewable Energy, Ecosystem Service Provision and Geological Oceanography. Stakeholder and industry relevant work in the School and Marine Centre Wales has used fundamental understanding to guide applied areas of research, such as Marine Renewable Energy, fisheries &; aquaculture, improved weather forecasting, flood risk assessment, and coastal defence.

The School has large modern teaching laboratories, research laboratories for marine biology, marine chemistry; sedimentology; geotechnics and geophysics; hydrodynamics;  and workshops to support sea going instrumentation. We have larval rearing facilities, cold and tropical aquaria, 3 small coastal vessels and a purpose built 35m research vessel (RV Prince Madog) equipped with multibeam, scientific echosounder, underway water sampling, ‘A’ frame for trawling and 1000m winch.

The School currently offers 10 undergraduate programmes, 6 MSci. programmes and 5 postgraduate taught programmes across the marine sciences with further programmes under development.

The Project

Ecosystem services are increasingly used to understand the wider set of non-monetised benefits that the natural environment provides to society, and to support holistic decision-making for marine management. This umbrella concept includes a range of related topics, including natural and human capital, benefits and human wellbeing, ecosystem services and nature’s contributions to people.

The post will involve teaching students about fundamental aspects of ecosystem services in marine systems, including but not limited to: the role of underlying functions and processes in the marine environment which help deliver ecosystem services; an understanding of the different framings of the ecosystem services concept; how marine management can work with natural processes to achieve more efficient ‘nature-based solutions’ to achieve multiple co-benefits at the same time as minimising hard-engineering and human capital inputs; how marine and coastal systems provide the suite of non-material benefits including those which improve human health and physical and mental wellbeing.

UKCEH is a strategic delivery partner for the Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.  UKCEH delivers impartial environmental science to benefit the UK research community, governments, businesses, and wider society. Science infrastructures and national capability programmes enable researchers to observe, experiment, measure, understand and predict environmental processes, inter-connection, status and change. UKCEH takes a whole systems approach to address three major environmental and societal challenges: Creating and enhancing sustainable ecosystems; Reducing and preventing pollution; Mitigating and building resilience to climate and environmental change. It is envisaged that the successful candidate will develop projects in collaboration with UKCEH based in Environment Centre Wales in Bangor.

Purpose of the Job

• To teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including tutorials and supervision of research projects. 
• To conduct research of an international standard in a relevant field, with substantial evidence of quality and international peer recognition.
• To develop and maintain research networks and collaboration with stakeholders in government and industry.
• To work in partnership with UKCEH.
• To provide pastoral and academic support to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• To conduct administrative tasks as designated by the Head of School.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching duties will include :

• Plan, prepare and deliver lectures and tutorials, responding effectively to a variety of student backgrounds, learning styles and class sizes.
• Motivate students to proactive engagement in learning, and provide meaningful and constructive feedback on the quality of their work.
• Keep abreast of new professional, educational and related social, economic and technological developments.
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
• Act as personal tutor to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• To participate and plan the development of new teaching and learning materials.
• To initiate and take forward the development of new programmes.

Research duties will include :

• Personal research, and/or collaborative research with colleagues in the School, across the College, University and externally with emphasis on research with UKCEH.      
• Secure funding for, and build a research team conducting, research in Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services.        
• Management of research projects including PhD supervision. Disseminate and publish results of research in high quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Work towards developing world leading research impact.
• Contribute towards the School’s capability to attract diverse sources of external research funding.
• Engage in scholarly and other relevant professional activities.
• Supervision of research students and research assistants.

Administrative and Wider Contribution duties will include :

• Participate in the student recruitment and induction procedures of the School (e.g. School and University Open Days).
• To contribute to the promotion and external profile of the School.
• Contribute to the School’s management, and participate in the administration of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (e.g. organisation of exams, contribute to accreditation/QA procedures (if module co-ordinator).
• Contribute to the marketing of programmes by participating in School and College link activities and other marketing initiatives.
• Undertake an active role in mentoring less experienced members of staff within the College/School.
• Undertake other administrative duties and responsibilities as directed by the Head of School (e.g. membership of School boards and task groups, addressing/supporting undergraduate and post graduate student experience, peer review of student research proposals, contributing to community engagement).

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions.  The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• PhD in Marine Biology, Marine Environmental Science, or related subject.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE) or equivalent OR Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow / Recognised by Advance HE as a Fellow against Descriptor 2 of the UKPSF OR some teaching experience and willing to work to achieve the PGCertHE or HEA Fellowship within the first two years of employment.

Desirable

• Professional accreditation OR Graduate Diploma / Certificate in a relevant subject area

Experience/Knowledge

TEACHING

Essential

• Capability to effectively teach a wide range of topics in marine biology, with a focus on Marine Ecosystem Services.  

Desirable

• Experience of teaching practical marine biology in the laboratory and field.
• Experience of module development and delivery in higher education.
• Experience of supervising undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
• Evidence of contribution to the wider student experience e.g. in  recruitment/retention initiatives, in employability/enterprise initiatives, student welfare.

RESEARCH

Essential

• A knowledge of current ecosystem service frameworks.
• An understanding of how marine and coastal systems can contribute to human wellbeing.
• Proven experience in evaluating ecosystem services in a marine/coastal context, which could be through data collection, modelling or through synthesis of literature.
• Proven ability to develop and lead research teams.
• Track record of research excellence demonstrated by high-quality publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations commensurate with experience.
• Potential to attract external funding for research.

Desirable

• Demonstration of experience of effective stakeholder, policy, government and industry engagement.
• Delivery of ecosystem service research linked/co-designed with end users.
• Having worked in interdisciplinary settings.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate innovative and exciting approaches to teaching and research.
• Ability to lead and work effectively as part of a team and to prioritise work load and work to deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Experience of conducting administrative duties efficiently and effectively.
• Demonstrable numeric and general computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Office).

Desirable

• Evidence of successful external networking and profile-raising.
• Administrative and organisational experience, related to academic development or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to use GIS in marine applications, experience in using the statistical package R and qualitative software NVivo.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh. If applicants are not able to speak/write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally. 

We are a member of Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. 

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact. 

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.  

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us.  When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.   If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa.   The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas .   If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.     

Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme)  from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme  

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University’s Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.