Marine Geoscientist

MARINE GEOSCIENTIST 

Grade: UKRI Pay Band D/S2

Salary: £39,375 per annum 

A great benefits package is offered including an outstanding pension scheme (with an extremely generous employer contribution – on average 27% of your pay), 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time – 37 hours a week (some flexible and remote working options may be available)

Location: The Lyell Centre, BGS offices in Edinburgh (which are situated on the Heriot-Watt University campus)

Closing date: 4 November 2024

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Marine Geoscientist to join the BGS Marine Geoscience Team at our offices in Edinburgh.

The Marine Geoscience Team is actively developing new maps and models of the seabed and shallow geology of the UK continental shelf.  We provide expert geological knowledge to support a range of sectors (e.g., offshore renewable infrastructure, nature and conservation) and work closely with European partners to develop harmonised datasets that inform planning in the marine environment.  We have a research portfolio that focuses on spatial characterisation of seabed geology and understanding past/present processes relevant to the UK continental shelf (e.g., former glaciation, marine geohazards).    

Key duties and responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and delivery of new seabed geology maps and models of the shallow subsurface
• Work on commissioned projects, integrating seismic interpretation, borehole datasets and knowledge of Quaternary and marine processes to help develop geological ground models to support offshore renewable infrastructure
• Deliver written reports and outputs in a timely manner to agreed project deadlines
• Be encouraged to share your knowledge and communicate our work externally (e.g., conferences, research papers, popular publications, blogs)
• Proactively continue to develop your knowledge (e.g., through training opportunities and engagement with the wider marine community)

About you

This job could suit either a relatively recent PhD graduate or someone with equivalent relevant industry experience.   You will have a strong background in marine geoscience and specialist knowledge in at least one (and preferably more) of the areas listed in the essential criteria.    You will ideally be developing a record of peer-reviewed publications (including as first author) and/or technical reports.  We are looking for someone with excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to articulate their research to both scientists and non-scientists.   The post involves team working, therefore you should be able to work flexibly and effectively with others, have good time management skills and be able to work on multiple tasks concurrently.

The post may involve occasional travel off-site or abroad. 

The specific essential and desirable skills criteria for this post will be assessed at Shortlist (S) stage, interview (I) stage, or both (S&I).

ESSENTIAL

• A PhD or equivalent post-graduate experience in a relevant subject area (e.g., Marine Geology and Geophysics, Quaternary Geology, Engineering Geology) (S&I)
• Excellent specialist knowledge of at least one (and preferably more) of the following (S&I):
• Quaternary and/or shallow geology of continental shelves
  - Spatial and GIS analysis, and predictive mapping approaches
  -  Engineering geology (in an offshore setting)
  - Applied marine geology and geophysics
  - Seabed geomorphology and sediment dynamics 
• Experience with the interpretation and integration of multiple datasets (e.g., bathymetry, seismic, samples, boreholes) to develop geological maps and models (S&I)
• Effective written communication and presentation skills, demonstrated by a developing record of published papers and/or technical reports, and conference presentations (S&I)
• Able to work flexibly and proactively in a team, whilst managing your own time to meet agreed targets (S&I)
• You will be committed to a diverse and inclusive approach to work in the geosciences (S&I)

DESIRABLE

• Skilled user of seismic interpretation software (e.g., Kingdom or Petrel) (S&I)
• Experience in the development of geological maps and ground models to support decision making (S&I)  
• Able to communicate your science clearly to non-scientists (I)

Please note – you will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during your employment.

About us
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre that belongs to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is a world leading geological survey whose core mission is to advise government of science related to the subsurface and to undertake applied research to solve earth and environmental issues, both in the UK and globally. It is funded directly by UKRI, as well as through research grants and private sector contracts.

We strive to promote equality and diversity across our organisation in order to continuously improve our scientific and organisational efficiency.  As such, we aim to have a workforce with employees from all backgrounds with people who are passionate about earth science and who share our dedication to work for the good of the environment and the benefit of society. BGS became a signatory of the Technician Commitment in July 2022. 

How to apply
Applicants are required to include a CV and covering letter outlining their suitability for the role. We would stress the importance of this paperwork in our selection process.

A well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential and desirable criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV.

Interviews are expected to be held in December 2024 in Edinburgh.

If you experience any issues applying for this role, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.