Landscape Agroecologist

We welcome applications from candidates with a PhD in entomology, agroecology, grassland ecology, ecology or related disciplines. Candidates should have a track record of peer reviewed publications, fieldwork and field trial management skills, success in external grant capture is also desirable. The successful candidate will help to design, implement and raise external funding for new Agri-ecology projects to ensure continuity and expansion of research within the Allerton Project in regenerative farming, soil health, integrated pest management and farmland biodiversity at a field, farm and landscape scale. An understanding of and a vision for arable and pastoral farming systems and the agricultural policy landscape is highly desirable.

Job Purpose

The Allerton Project is an 320 hectare Research and Demonstration farm, located in East Leicestershire, close to the town of Uppingham.

We are seeking an ecologist to join the Research Department of the Project. The position provides the opportunity for an individual to design, develop and manage research in farmland ecology, including integrated pest management and biodiversity monitoring. This will include research from field to landscape scale, and develop both defined short-term research projects and long-term monitoring programmes, with an overall aim of understanding the trade-offs between food production and the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in farming systems and the associated environment. There will also be opportunities to get involved with knowledge exchange activities and projects along with collecting, analysing and writing up research data. Previous experience at analysing complex ecological data sets across numerous years would be very beneficial to this role.

Our vision

The Allerton Research & Educational Trust (ARET) aka The Allerton Project is a nationally important research and demonstration farm that researches the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment, sharing results of our research through advisory and educational activities. Much of this is undertaken on our 320-hectare demonstration farm based in Leicestershire, with outreach activities also carried out on-line and elsewhere.

We identify management that delivers multiple benefits for our rural landscape. Our work covers natural capital accounting, Environmental Land Management and regenerative farming systems. From soil and water to woodland and farmland habitats that increase biodiversity, our aim is to develop farming and land management systems that are resilient to economic and environmental shocks. Our own research team collaborates with other research organisations and co-supervises numerous PhD and MSc projects.

Visitors to the Project include businesses, policy makers, non-government organisations, regulators, farmers, advisors, students and schools. We have several initiatives that involve the local community to help improve a shared understanding of agricultural and environmental issues. In essence, the Allerton Project is an award winning, pioneering blueprint for future rural landscapes. Arable cropping and livestock enterprises sit alongside woodland, wetland and other environmental habitats. The Project is noted for developing scientifically validated solutions to a range of agricultural and land management conflicts, including wildlife, game management, soil health, carbon accounting and water quality. We are leaders or partners in many public and privately funded initiatives with a number of international corporations as our clients.

The Allerton Project has a well-established environmentally sustainable training and visitor facility attracting over 2,000 delegates and visitors a year. The project delivers comprehensive training programme such as the BASIS Certificate in Sustainable Land Management as well as numerous bespoke packages.

The Research Department has a dedicated Laboratory within the main Allerton Project Training Centre and separate Soils Laboratory in an adjacent building, including office space.

Who will you be working with?

Key members of The Allerton Project Team

• Jenny Bussell - Principal Scientist - Agri-Environmental Science
• R&D Trials Officer
• Farm Manager
• Senior Ecologist
• Research Assistant
• Conservation Officer

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Develop research activity in agricultural and associated environments
• Publication of research results across a range of journals and other media and be involved with reporting and outreach activities.
• Collect, analyse and writing up data from research projects.
• Assist with sourcing funding for new projects and bid writing.
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to manage a diverse and busy workload, plan effectively, prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Excellent IT skills and ability to carry out statistical data analyses and modelling in relevant software e.g. R statistical software.
• An understanding of agricultural systems and the policy environment.
• Ensuring all fieldwork related is conducted to a satisfactory standard and help with the field work programme where necessary.
• Develop relevant and robust field work protocols
• Supervise PhD students and project students

Person Specification

• Experience and ability in collecting scientific data. Attention to detail.
• Experience at monitoring impacts of agri-environmental changes
• Adhere to relevant health and safety practices, including those relating to lone field working (or where necessary develop or update relevant risk assessments and H&S protocols).
• Valid UK driving license and access to a vehicle to be able to get to remote field sites.
• A team player; approachable, flexible, engaging, enthusiastic and welcoming to all.
• Experience of leading, organising and undertaking research, including preparing research proposals, working on research projects, and meeting research project deliverables on time.
• Genuine interest in improving and developing conservation at Allerton and communicating this with others.
• Willingness to undertake a variety of manual tasks for data collection, such as soil sampling, in all weathers.
• Knowledge and experience of leading and preparing research proposals and monitoring outcomes.
• Good analytical skills and judgement with the ability to analyse and resolve problems, identifying practical solutions
• Ability to prioritise and work dynamically to achieve project milestones.
• Ability to adapt, work flexibly and deal with unpredictability of the farming environment.

Qualifications

• Good first degree in a relevant subject area
• Relevant postgraduate qualification (PhD) in an appropriate discipline combined with relevant work experience.
• Understanding of lowland UK agricultural systems
• Identification skills for some of the key plant, animal and invertebrate species associated with UK agricultural systems
• Ability to work well under pressure, meet deadlines and give particular attention to detail and accuracy.
• Full UK Driving Licence