Principal Researcher Ocean Data Sciences – National Oceanography Centre

Full time (37 hours per week) 

£55,345 – £60,884

This position can be based in Southampton or Liverpool. We are happy to discuss remote working for candidates based in the UK. For those outside the UK willing to relocate we can support visa applications where required.

Who are we?

We are the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) – the UK’s centre of excellence for oceanographic sciences. We are a national research organisation, delivering integrated marine science and technology from the coast to the deep ocean.

We are made up of a dynamic and vibrant community whose focus is on improving the world in which we live. Our work is balanced by our strong sense of purpose, values and behaviours and an unwavering commitment to a ‘one NOC’ approach.

We have a rich history dating back to 1949, and our future has never looked more exciting as we aim to be the world’s most innovative oceanographic institution.

About the role

The NOC vision is for a connected data ecosystem, where the observations we collect from ships, robots, moorings, and satellites seamlessly integrate with digital tools, including predictive models and artificial intelligence / machine learning, to help us understand the ocean and its role in a changing climate. This vision is necessary for us to maintain our leading role as a digitally enabled, internationally renowned, science organisation. To realise this vision we are in the process of transforming our approach to data and data infrastructures and have established the Digital Ocean division. The roadmap for the Digital Ocean division outlines exciting and timely opportunities to transform, including through a new role, the Principal Research Ocean Data Science, to accelerate momentum in research excellence in the use of data sciences for ocean research and technology development.

The Principal Researcher for Ocean Data Sciences will provide a focus for data sciences effort in NOC, working with our scientists and technologists to develop projects to make best use of big data techniques. In time the role will expand to include leading a team of data science specialists, developing and delivering a diverse range of projects from the wide range of applications we envisage, including in sensor development, automated ocean observations processing and quality controlling, command and control for autonomy, seabed and other imagery analysis, and in data mining big environmental data sets.

The role will be the focal point for NOC data sciences, and will collaborate with, for example, the Alan Turing Institute, to ensure that the work at NOC in data sciences is widely known about and benefits from engaging with the leading data sciences experts.

This position can be based in either Southampton or Liverpool. 

About you

We are looking for an exceptional candidate with experience of developing data sciences in a research environment. Working at a senior level, you will engage widely to embed data sciences across the NOC ocean observations value chain, ensuring that the science we do has maximum societal impact.

You will have a strong track record of research excellence, and experience of collaborative leadership. You will have the skills to build and sustain a high performing team.

Why the NOC?

We offer a generous set of benefits including 28 days annual leave, plus 3.5 local closure days and 8 public bank holidays, and a contributory Group Personal Pension Plan.

We are committed to flexible working, trusting our staff to get the job done. And we offer an inclusive and supportive environment where our people can meet their full potential.

Our commitment as an employer

The NOC is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. There is a guaranteed interview scheme for suitable candidates with a disability and we welcome applications from ethnic minorities currently under-represented. The NOC is an Investors in People organisation, and has signed up to the Athena SWAN charter principles to take action to address gender equality.

How to apply: 

Please click ‘Apply for this job’ and submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the NOC recruitment team at careers@noc.ac.uk / 07955 851648.

Before submitting your application please ensure you have reviewed the attached job description and assessment criteria.

Date advert posted: 26 November 2021.

Closing date: 4 January 2022. This vacancy may close earlier depending on the number of applicants. 

Please note we are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this position.

Assessing applications

All applications to the NOC are reviewed by a real-life person, not a computer programme. Attached to our adverts you will find a ‘Candidate Assessment’ document which clearly sets out the criteria against which applications are assessed. Once assessed the strongest candidates will be invited to interview.

If you have been selected for interview we will be in touch to arrange a time and date. If you haven’t been selected for interview we will let you know, although we may not be able to give detailed feedback to every applicant.

https://careers.noc.ac.uk/vacancy/principal-researcher-ocean-data-sciences-465797.html