Basic Function:

The successful candidate will design and carry out the daily tasks in a series of Irish case study pig farms as part of the EIP Operational Group “TAILWARDS: Irish pig sector stakeholders moving together towards raising pigs with intact tails”. The successful candidate will organise its own schedule to contact farmers, visit farms, collect samples and organise the logistics of samples and results obtained.

The candidate will have the opportunity to develop several activities including attending project meetings, communicating results to partners and stakeholders, and participating in the scientific development activities. This project involves very active research areas and follow-on projects are expected.

Background:

Project TAILWARDS includes all relevant stakeholders in the Irish pig sector and aims to develop a series of initiatives that allow farmers to move closer to a situation where they can consider raising pigs with intact tails. The project will work on improving different areas of pig farms including space allowance and floor type, manure management, feed quality and PRRS control.

The Teagasc Pig and Poultry Research and Knowledge Transfer (KT)  Department carry out research, KT and education for the Irish pig sector. Proper health and welfare management is key for sustainable farming and is one of the most important issues for pig farmers. This project is of high priority for Irish farmers and for the wider society and aims to improve health and welfare management in pig farming and ensuring sustainability of Irish pig farms.

Duties & Responsibilities specific to this project:

• Organise and carry out the works with the case study farms within the project (farm visits, sampling, analysis, communications)
• Obtain and manage the data required by the partners
• Communications with the rest of the team

Additional Duties & Responsibilities:

• Attend the project meetings when required.
• To interpret research findings and communicate relevant information to farmers and colleagues.
• To disseminate research findings to a variety of audiences as appropriate.
• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
• To comply with all relevant Teagasc policies and procedures.
• 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.
• To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
• To take up additional duties as they may arise and be assigned by management.

* 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.