Background
Because of their high ecological value, native oyster beds are a focus of European conservation efforts. Against the background of ongoing and future restoration measures, the PROCEED project establishes an innovative and sustainable seed oyster production of the European oyster Ostrea edulis to support long-term restoration measures in the North Sea. The hatchery facility was installed within the existing AWI infrastructure on Helgoland in 2019. The associated research supports the technical optimization of oyster production and also includes topics such as genetic diversity and effects / control of pathogens.
The successful candidate will oversee and work in the optimization of the oyster field nursery, which is located in the sea around Helgoland. Further tasks will be located in the daily production and maintenance of processes within the oyster hatchery.
Your Tasks
The main duties include the technical management and supervision of all components involved in the outdoor hatchery infrastructure (offshore and on site). These tasks require a close collaboration with the scientific diver group and the technical department at the AWI Helgoland. In addition, the tasks require the willingness to go on one-day boat trips, e.g. to deploy nursery structures and ideally the capability to drive a small motorboat (boating license).
You will also support processes within the hatchery production as needed, coordinate with the test and development project RESTORE within the group and setting up research experiments, if needed.
Technical facilities:
- Cleaning, maintenance and management of the field nursery off Helgoland
- Design, installation and management of additional nursery structures
- Coordinating the arrival and transport of juvenile oysters to and from the Helgoland facilities, traceability and supervision of these processes
- During hatchery production: support in the daily hatchery tasks within the team of the Helgoland Oyster Hatchery, e.g. microalgae production, maintenance tasks
Oyster husbandry:
- Culture and monitoring of seed oysters (field nursery)
- During hatchery production: e.g. oversee feeding of broodstock oysters and oyster spat, maintaining broodstock conditioning and/or larval rearing (standard hatchery production protocols)
General:
- Deputy tasks within the multidisciplinary team
Your Profile
The position requires an education as an aquaculture technician, marine-technical assistant or equivalent education. We are looking for a motivated (aquaculture) technician, ideally with experience in oyster/shellfish farming who is able to adapt to the multidisciplinary tasks of this position. It offers many possibilities to include own ideas and professional backgrounds. The possession of a boating license is desired.
The applicant should have good English language skills (B2). The ability to speak the German language (B2) is desired, as a lot of the coordination is only possible in German. The readiness to work & communicate in an international team as well as good coordination skills are required. The position includes on-call and weekend duty at the hatchery.
Further Information
For any questions you may have, you are very welcome to get in touch with Dr. Bernadette Pogoda (bernadette.pogoda@awi.de; +49(471)4831-2710) or Corina Peter (corina.peter@awi.de; +49(471)4831-2762), or visit the homepage of the Helgoland Oyster Hatchery (https://www.awi.de/en/science/biosciences/shelf-sea-system-ecology/main-research-focus/european-oyster/proceed/translate-to-english-hatchery.html).
This is a full-time position, limited until the end of the project PROCEED at September 30th, 2025 with the possibility to extend the contract in a follow-up project (depending on funding). It is also suitable for part-time employment. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 9a. The place of employment will be Helgoland.
The AWI is characterized by
- our scientific success – excellent research
- collaboration and cooperation – intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
- opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
- an international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
- flexible working hours
- health promotion
- support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
- occupational pension provision (VBL)
AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, physical abilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.
Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.
We strongly encourage qualified women to apply for the advertised position at AWI to reduce the underrepresentation of women.
AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways and has received several awards as a result of this commitment. And as a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.
We look forward to your application!
Please submit your application by January 9th 2025, exclusively online.
Reference number:Â 24/212/D/Bio-b
Find out more information about this opportunity here.