Are you a confident and motivated lab manager with exceptional organizational skills and a track record of managing and developing junior team members? Do you have experience in designing and leading offshore and inshore marine benthic ecology surveys, and excellent taxonomic knowledge of macrofauna benthic and epibenthic species?
AQUAFACT, part of the APEM Group are looking for a Principal Lab Ecologist to join the team, working on a wide range of projects from aquaculture to offshore renewable energy.
As Principal Lab Ecologist, you will manage our laboratory services, delivering complex ecology projects for our clients. You will lead on lab-based projects, including planning, budgeting, stakeholder relationships, and preparation of tenders and quotes, while ensuring that samples are processed to the required standard and quality. Working collaboratively with other teams, you will ensure projects across AQUAFACT are delivered successfully, meeting quality, budgetary, and time constraints. You will have responsibility for the use of subcontractors, along with mentoring, developing, and maintaining an engaged and performing team.
You will work within and across a wider team of specialist sectors and business support to deliver projects within Ireland, the United Kingdom, and globally. You will work collaboratively as part of the senior management team in AQUAFACT, helping to expand our biological laboratory services and deliver growth objectives for the laboratory team while continuing to provide expert advice in your area of expertise to a range of internal and external clients.
Over time, you will build and implement a clear vision for the laboratory, providing the resources to the team to help them achieve this vision and supporting the building of a pathway for increasing technical capability and learning and optimised lab productivity and efficiency.
You will have:
- BSc or MSc degree in a relevant subject, and at least five years’ professional experience in environmental consultancy and/or biological laboratory work.
- Experience in offshore and inshore marine benthic ecology surveys
- Excellent experience in identification of macrofauna benthic and epibenthic species in the North-East Atlantic
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, numerical skills and attention to detail.
- Proven ability to lead, plan and deliver projects or work packages on time, to agreed quality standards and within budget.
- Line management experience.
- Experience in preparing proposals and tenders.
- Full Driving Licence.
You will be offered the chance to work on a variety of projects, many of our employees have worked on projects that have been of personal interest to them. We match this with a commitment to continuous development and learning to support your career. We also offer benefits to look after you, from private medical insurance for all employees, access to mental health first aiders and comprehensive income protection if you cannot work. We also offer superb flexible working options, balancing work with your life.
Next steps
We are focused on creating a diverse and inclusive team. If you can’t tick every box on our job description, then we are still keen to hear from you and are open to supporting your development. That may be working part time or supporting you to gain experience in a specific area – we are a growing company and are able to adapt roles to reflect individual skills.
If you think you have what it takes to join our fast-growing business, then please apply immediately on our website. All we need some basic information and your CV, we will review all applications quickly and will respond to all applications.