Basic Function & Background:

The primary objective of the work programme at Oak Park is to support sustainability, productivity and profitability of the Irish crops sector through the completion of innovative, through-to-practise research. The task ahead is to adapt to new challenges in developing sustainable and environmentally sensitive agricultural systems, which will provide farmers with adequate incomes and consumers with quality food at reasonable prices.

More specifically, emphasis is placed on optimising crop production efficiencies having due regard to:

• Developing integrated crop production systems that are both environmentally sustainable and economically viable

• Exploiting novel and existing genetic resources and crop production regimes to underpin productivity with enhanced a/biotic stress resilience while improving crop quality and nutritional profiles to meet sectoral demands

Our research programme covers a broad range of transdisciplinary expertise covering pathology, agronomy, entomology, computational biology and molecular genetics as well plant breeding be that through conventional and/or novel breeding techniques. Research staff have active collaborations with national, European and International public research bodies/commercial entities with an extensive range of plot specific equipment including RTK GPS, and a comprehensive suite of phenotyping instruments available to research teams. In addition, the laboratories and workshops at the Centre are equipped with the most up-to-date technology for compositional, analytical and/or genomics-based research purposes. This ensures that research and services at Oak Park are of the highest quality enabling Irish agriculture to keep pace with advancements in technology development.

Our departmental structure is composed of 12 individual teams, each directed by a research officer, who leads their respective teams of undergraduate/post-graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and/or technical staff to address specific sectoral challenges and requirements.

Teagasc has recognized the strategic requirement to support the development of the food and feed protein crops market. VALPRO Path is a €10M Horizon Europe funded Innovation Action, co-ordinated by Teagasc. The ambition of VALPRO Path is to co-create, validate and demonstrate new production pathways that promote the sustainable and circular production of plant proteins for food and feed across the EU. This technical position is focused on delivering on the goals of VALPRO Path focused on maximizing the potential benefits of bean-pea intercropping and evaluating the performance of varieties of several legumes.

Working in the EU funded VALPRO Path team, the primary goal of this position is to carry out field and lab based activities to develop robust cropping regimes that support the intercropping of bean and pea, as well as, to determine varietal performance of blue lupins, peas and beans. Hence, the candidate will support the establishment, management and phenotyping of multi-location field trials while also taking responsibility for the completion of laboratory/glasshouse based studies as needed. The candidate will collect and collate data, while also liaising with other partners across the multi-disciplinary VALPRO Path consortium.

While a significant portion of time will be aligned to field-based phenotyping during the spring growing season, periods of time will also be required to carry on lab based tasks related to grain quality and data collation. Hence the ability to multi-task across several disciplines will be an essential competency for the completion of this role.

• Assist in completion of field-based trials of the EU funded project VALPRO Path. Trials will be in multilocation (e.g. Oak Park Research Farm, Carlow, farmers’ fields in several counties).
• Complete field -based phenotyping and disease/pest assessments and sample collection as required.
• Development of SOPs and risk assessments for equipment and processes.
• Support project leader and provide summary experiment management reports.
• Support project partners in field/greenhouse and lab activities.
• Work effectively with the project team to ensure the timely delivery of project objectives.
• Ensure that research tasks are completed on time and in accordance with the highest scientific standards
• Health & Safety Co-ordinator Duties or such other Health & Safety Duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
• To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
• Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

* This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive.  It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.

 Note:  The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.

Note:  Alternative location(s) may be considered solely at the discretion of Teagasc management.

Gender, Diversity and Inclusion

At all levels in Teagasc, we believe in growing and keeping alive an open, diverse and inclusive workplace which is respectful to all and nurtures different perspectives, for the benefit of all in the organisation.

We are commited to the principles of 'Equal Opportunities, No Barriers, Active Inclusion'.

We actively welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds.