Glasshouse Facilities Manager, Experimental Officer

Centre for Environment & Sustainability

Location: Guildford
Salary: £34,308 to £42,155 per annum
Fixed Term
Post Type: Full Time
Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Sunday 19 March 2023
Reference: 091622-R

The University of Surrey is delighted to announce an exciting opportunity within the Centre for Environment and Sustainability for a Glasshouse Facilities Manager (Experimental Officer). In their role, the Experimental Officer will provide essential support in the delivery of a demonstration project investigating applications of soil-free technology to biomass and bioenergy crops. This high profile multi-million-pound large-scale demonstration project is part of the BEIS Biomass Feedstock Innovation programme. You will be joining a team of 15 other scientists, innovators and industry experts from the University and beyond, including Rothamsted Research, LettUs Grow, and UK Urban AgriTech (UKUAT).

We are excited to announce that the project will be run at University of Surrey, where you will be providing technical know-how in demonstrating the viability of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow and other species propagated in a novel (aeroponic) environment.

The role will include managing newly erected state-of-the-art research facilities at the University of Surrey, including a greenhouse and polytunnel. The postholder will develop initial SOPs, risk assessments and H&S processes and be responsible for the ongoing running of these facilities. The ideal candidate will have experience in running such facilities, including ensuring the environment is appropriate, that plant material is growing well with no signs of stress and growing areas are in good order.

The role will also include supporting the smooth running of the plant experimental trials including supporting with trial planning, plant physiological measurements, data recording, data analysis and interpretation. You will, therefore, ideally have experience working in a similar role and have demonstrable knowledgeable of plant physiology. You will be working with a new innovation, using crops which have never been grown in this way before so excellent initiative and strong problem-solving skills are required. An eye for detail and resilience to ongoing experimental challenges is essential.

Experience working in a similar role and knowledge of plant physiology are essential. Additional interest or experience in bioenergy, aeroponics and/ or sustainability are welcome.

You will be predominantly based at the University of Surrey, however as we have a sister-experimental site at Rothamsted Research occasional work will be required off site. The successful candidate will require a full driving licence.

If you are an enthusiastic individual who shares our Surrey ethos of “Forward Thinking & Doing” and is keen to work on an exciting new development, we would be delighted to hear from you.

We are open to considering job shares and flexible working. Interviews are scheduled for the week beginning 27^th March.

For more information about the project please look at the following links: Phase 1 Report and our project website.

For informal discussions please contact Dr Zoe M Harris at z.harris@surrey.ac.uk

This is a Fixed Term Contract for up to 2 years.

Please submit your CV and a covering letter with your application.

Further details: Job Description

For more information and to apply online, please download the further details and click on the 'apply online' button above.

In return we offer a generous pension, relocation assistance where appropriate , flexible working options including job share and blended home/campus working locations (dependent on work duties), access to world-class leisure facilities on campus, a range of travel schemes and supportive family friendly benefits including an excellent on-site nursery.

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all. We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community. Therefore we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.