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\nFisheries Observer
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
Posted on Thursday, November 9, 2023
Contents
Location
Lowestoft, Scarborough
About the job
Job summary
You will be a member of a highly motivated and committed team of observers who are based at port offices throughout England, delivering important scientific work required under UK legislation.
Your main duties will be to record the numbers of fish and shellfish which are retained and discarded onboard English registered fishing vessels during normal commercial fishing operations. Access to fishing vessels is on a voluntary basis and you will be required to negotiate access with vessel operators.
You will also be required to undertake biological sampling of fish and shellfish landings at various ports in England. You will work regularly at sea on commercial fishing vessels, sailing from various ports, to schedules determined by the fishing boat skippers, and with shore-based industry sectors, such as fish markets and merchants.
This work will require significant travel, with the team covering a large expanse of the UK, and regular lone working during unsocial hours, at weekends and at short notice. A flexible approach to working is essential. A comprehensive training programme will be provided. Once a competent solo sampler, the successful applicant will be expected to help train future colleagues.
Cefas is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, backgrounds, ways of working and thinking, makes us a stronger organisation, better at reflecting the communities we serve. We embrace different views and experiences and value the fresh perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.
Job description
Your main duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Establishing and maintaining good relations with the fishing industry
- Negotiating access to sample fishing vessels
- Planning and undertaking regular sampling trips (duration 1 to 8 days) onboard commercial fishing vessels, sailing from ports across England
- Carrying out catch sampling at sea, during normal commercial practice, to estimate quantities of discarded and retained catch
- Planning and undertaking detailed biological sampling of fish/shellfish landings at fishing ports across England
- Obtaining otoliths and scales from fish samples
- Adhering to and promoting safety measures in the field and office
- Entering data into databases, data checking and QC and timely delivery of data to end users
- Participate in other projects as required e.g., fishing gear technology
- Assisting in fisheries surveys aboard commercial fishing vessels and research vessels where necessary
- Contributing to production of reports
In addition, Cefas reserves the right to ask staff to take on additional duties and responsibilities which are commensurate with their grade. Team Leaders and management will have a discussion with staff to explain the changes that are to be made. A new job description will be issued if required.
Person specification
Applicants should be highly motivated, target driven individuals with good communications skills, both verbal and written. A keen interest in collecting good fisheries data is essential as the job can be challenging at times.
The following are essential criteria required for this role and you must be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in the following areas:
- Knowledge of the UK fishing industry
- Experience of working at sea, in different sea conditions.
- Willingness and ability to work flexibly at unsociable hours, in challenging weather and environmental conditions, and without supervision
- Ability to conduct physical and precise scientific fieldwork at sea and on land with good attention to detail
- Knowledge and a keen awareness of health and safety, with specific experience of safety at sea and vessel safety
- Ability to follow protocols and procedures to consistently and accurately record numerical and other data
- Ability to identify different fish species found in UK waters
- Self-motivated and self-reliant with a keenness to meet targets
- Good IT skills, experience of data entry into databases and undertaking data quality assurance checks
Academic qualifications required is a degree in a scientific subject. Relevant experience of working within the fishing industry will be considered.
Licences
Full driving licence (valid for driving in the UK)
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Ability to identify UK fish species of commercial importance
- Ability to demonstrate an understanding of representative sampling and subsampling techniques
- Knowledge of fishing vessels and/or gear types
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £25,915, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science contributes
£6,997 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Generous annual leave entitlement - Cefas offers 25 days' annul leave on entry (rising to 30 days over first 5yrs) for full-time new entrants to the Civil Service. Employees receive 8 public holidays a year, plus an additional day to mark the late Queen's birthday
- Access to learning and development tailored to your role
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- Eligible to join the Civil Service Pension scheme - more information can be found on the CSP website Home - Civil Service Pension Scheme
- Staff recognition vouchers
- In-year award scheme
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Application Process
As part of the application process you are asked to provide a CV (job history, qualifications, past skills and experience), a 500-word personal statement on how you meet the essential criteria and a 250 word statement on each of the three advertised behaviours.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
- For guidance on Civil Service Success Profiles, this video tells you what you’ll need to provide throughout the assessment process with supporting guidance on each step. Link – Success Profiles
- For guidance on how to construct your CV, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link - CV
- For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Statement
- For guidance on how to construct your lead behaviour statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Behaviours
Sift
The sift panel will use the information in your CV and personal statement to assess your experience and how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification section. The sift panel will also assess you on the three advertised behaviours.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour – Delivering at Pace. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or, progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Interview schedule and details will be confirmed on release of the sift results.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the three advertised Behaviours, your Experience and the three advertised technical skills. You may also be asked to prepare a presentation. if this is the case, you will receive further information with your invite to interview.
Please be aware that at this time, interviews may take place either in person or remotely.
If scores are equal following interview, an assessment of the lead behaviour – Delivering at Pace will be used by the panel.
A date has not yet been confirmed for the interviews to take place.
Location
Please be aware that this role will be contractually based at Lowestoft or Scarborough. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Blended Working
Cefas operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Our staff are expected to work the office/lab location in Lowestoft/Scarborough as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of one day in the workplace
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
There is a pay award pending as Cefas is yet to finalise and implement the Civil Service Pay Remit 2023/2024 - Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance, 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Clare Avieson
- Email : resourcing@cefas.co.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact:
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.