Basic Function:

To manage and implement project goals in the OTV-IWM (Organic Tillage & Vegetables Integrated Weed Management) European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project, with specific responsibility for managing and coordinating the following project objectives:

• On-farm evaluation and demonstration of IWM and mechanical weeding best practice including trials on participating organic farms in the project
• Shared machinery use between participating growers
• Development and implementation of cropping plans on participating farms
• Development of a suite of dissemination tools including organising and running knowledge transfer (KT) events

Reporting to the OTV-IWM EIP project core management team and Operational Group (OG), the Project Coordinator will provide overall project management for implementation of the project, including ensuring that all relevant documentation is maintained, milestones and deliverables are tracked and timely delivery of reports. The Project Coordinator will be expected to present reports to the EIP OG.

Background:

Teagasc is a Development Agency of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, whose primary function is to support science-based innovation in the Agri-food sector and the broader bio-economy. The OTV-IWM EIP project is an ambitious grower-led project that aims to provide innovative and practical solutions to weed management in organic crop production focused on mechanical weeding, machinery sharing and collaborative production.

• Lead and coordinate the implementation of the various EIP work packages under the direction of the Project Lead and the EIP OG.
• Project manage the OTV-IWM EIP project, including close monitoring and reporting of deadlines, milestones, and budgets under the direction of the Project Lead, core management team and OG.
• Coordinate project tasks and timelines across multiple farms and stakeholders. The role will involve desktop and frequent farm visits.
• Work closely with the project technician and participating growers to ensure timely delivery of project tasks and deadlines. Help collate, monitor, support the analysis of the research data generated.
• Actively engage with farmers, machinery companies, researchers, and the OG to ensure timely delivery of project objectives.
• Work closely with the OG project farms in the set-up and delivery of cropping plans.
• Assist with setting up and coordinating on-farm trials to evaluate the effectiveness of appropriate mechanical weeding techniques and IWM solutions on organic tillage and vegetable farms.
• Collect and analyse farm-level data for integration into key reporting outputs related to organic IWM best practice.
• Coordinate the development of a machinery sharing model to facilitate efficient sharing of mechanical weeding equipment among project participants within tight working timeframes.
• Coordinate the scheduling and delivery of KT events, workshops, peer-to-peer learning sessions, and field demonstrations to ensure delivery of project dissemination strategy.
• Build and maintain a high profile for the project and promote project findings through digital and social media activities, discussion groups, public events, publications including best practice guides. Create content for publication on social medial platform.
• Ensure effective communication across project stakeholders and maintain a clear tracking system for deliverables and milestones.
• Work with the Project Lead to ensure full and timely compliance with the DAFM Grant Agreement.
• Assist management and administrative staff in achieving good governance and risk management through co-operation and adherence to administrative procedures and practices.
• Actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
• Fully co-operate with the provisions for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of oneself, 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.

 * 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.