Biodiversity Technician Lowveld at NRF National Research Foundation

About the position

Postion Summary:
Provide technical and data support the setup of the EFTEON Lowveld Landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

• In Conjunction with the Ndlovu Node facilitate the EFTEON Lowveld Landscape development and continued operation
• DATA MANAGEMENT: data management tasks related to the biodiversity network
• Follow required procedures for checking and loading the data into the required data systems
• Liaise with EFTEON and SAEON Scientists as required with SOP’s and data protocols
• KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION: conduct routine analysis as and when required
• REPORTING AND COMMUNICATION: contribute to monthly and quarterly reports
• ENews articles
• Assist with science engagement activities as and when required
• ADMINISTRATION: Assist with Administrative procures and SCM procedures as required
• Ensure appropriate asset management of instrumentation in the Lowveld landscape in accordance with the established standard operating procedures
• Asset with fleet management and checks a service as required
• TRAINING, MENTORING AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT: Engagement and collaboration with Technicians at other EFTEON landscapes and technicians responsible for Instrumentation and Social-Ecological systems in the landscape in which you are based
• Training/mentoring of the site and laboratory technicians, including regular competency assessments and provision of authorisation to perform tasks at the sites
• Engagement and training of community members and citizen science teams

Minimum Qualification:

• Honours Degree / Post Graduate Qualification / Professional Qualification / NQF 8

Minimum Experience:

• 2-5 years

• Honours in Environmental Science/ Botany/ Zoology or related field Code 08 Driver’s license (preferably with off road experience) Computer literate (MS Office packages ad advanced scripting languages e
• g
• R or Python) At least 2 years’ experience that includes extensive field work experience involving sophisticated long-term biodiversity sampling operations

Experience:

• Must have working knowledge of preparation of biological samples for preservation and/or analysis
• Submission to collections facilities
• Proven track record of engagement and/or involvement with relevant biological societies

Knowledge:

• Must be able to flexibly and cooperatively work in a team
• Must be able to willingly respond to work as directed by EFTEON Landscape Scientist or SAEON nodes (with input from relevant manager(s) and scientist(s))
• Must be willing to work with other EFTEON technicians – related to the management of instrumentation or social-ecological engagement
• Must be willing to diligently perform a wide array of tasks including but not limited to:physical field work, routine downloads and servicing of field equipment, laboratory testing and calibration of equipment and associated data processes, collection, preparation and appropriate storage of samples

Additional Notes:
Must be willing to assist students, community members, and other stakeholders in field work. Must have good communication [URL Removed] be physically fit, able to walk long distances in steep [URL Removed] have a desire to learn and advance [URL Removed] have a willingness to work long hours when conducting field work, involving extended periods away from home (up to 5 days at a time).Must be willing and able to perform statistical analysis related biodiversity data and have report writing [URL Removed] be willing to work from home if [URL Removed] to read, write and communicate verbally in Xitsonga and/or Sepedi/ Northern Sotho and/or SiSwati would be an [URL Removed] NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant·s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Desired Skills:

• Skilled in applied field of position
• Knowledge to be relevant
• Responsible in performing duties

About The Employer:

The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is a research platform funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF). SAEON is mandated to establish and manage long-term environmental observatories; maintain reliable long-term environmental data sets; promote access to data for research and/or informed decision making; and contribute to capacity building. SAEON has recently embarked on the establishment of the Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (EFTEON). EFTEON is a Research Infrastructure that has been developed under the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR) program. The EFTEON is intended to provide a platform of well- described and instrumented landscapes to the South African and International research community, in order to facilitate research into global change, ecosystem processes, social-ecological interactions and to provide data for remote sensing and model validation and calibration. Including continuous measurements of micrometeorological parameters, meteorological parameter and hydrological measurements. With repeated measurements of biodiversity, productivity and other environmental characteristics.