Object of the contract
About the Institution:
The Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB – www.socib.es – ) is a Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS, for its acronym in Spanish Infraestructura Científica y Técnica Singular), created by the Ministry of Education and Science and the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands in 2007, and joined by the Spanish National Research Council
(CSIC, for its acronym in Spanish) in 2020.
(CSIC, for its acronym in Spanish) in 2020.
The mission of SOCIB is to operate a met-ocean observation and prediction system in the Western Mediterranean and provide data, facilities, services, and digital tools to advance the understanding of the ocean and transfer knowledge to society.
The SOCIB Lagrangian Platforms Facility is responsible for the scientific strategy and operational activities of surface and subsurface drifting buoys (to monitor surface currents, some of which can measure sea temperature and atmospheric pressure), as well as autonomous profiling floats (which record physical and/or biogeochemical variables down to 2000 meters to analyze climate
variability at different scales).
variability at different scales).
SOCIB actively participates in national and European R&D&I programs, contributing to scientific and technological excellence, allowing access to additional resources and opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research and promote knowledge transfer at an international level. In this context, SOCIB is participating in the Euro-Argo ONE project, funded by the European Commission under
Horizon Europe, officially titled “Euro-Argo ERIC scaling up for OneArgo Network Extension”. The project aims to strengthen the capabilities, sustainability, and resilience of Euro-Argo ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), ensuring that Europe fulfills its part in the global implementation of the OneArgo system (Roemmich et al., 2019). SOCIB contributes to the project
through various work packages focused on: optimising the Argo network to improve its efficiency, sustainability, and impact; supporting technical and organisational initiatives for the efficiency of Euro-Argo ERIC in the OneArgo context; and promoting project results, emphasizing their role in ocean understanding and their influence on the ecosystem and global climate.
Horizon Europe, officially titled “Euro-Argo ERIC scaling up for OneArgo Network Extension”. The project aims to strengthen the capabilities, sustainability, and resilience of Euro-Argo ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), ensuring that Europe fulfills its part in the global implementation of the OneArgo system (Roemmich et al., 2019). SOCIB contributes to the project
through various work packages focused on: optimising the Argo network to improve its efficiency, sustainability, and impact; supporting technical and organisational initiatives for the efficiency of Euro-Argo ERIC in the OneArgo context; and promoting project results, emphasizing their role in ocean understanding and their influence on the ecosystem and global climate.
SOCIB is looking for:
The SOCIB Lagrangian Platforms Facility is hiring a Marine Scientist. The selected candidate will contribute to the implementation and optimization of the Argo network within several key work packages of the Euro-Argo ONE project. The selected person will be responsible for: supporting and developing strategies for sampling marginal seas; optimising the efficiency and sustainability of the Argo network through float recovery; and strengthening Euro-Argo ERIC’s interaction with other institutions and the general public through various communication activities Directly supervised by the Head of the Lagrangian Platforms Facility, the selected candidate will closely collaborate with the other SOCIB facilities and with the participants of the Euro-Argo ONE project.
General regulations
SOCIB is committed to equal opportunities. We evaluate candidates regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, disability, age, family situation, and other legally protected characteristics. Please omit any personal data from your CV that you or we may consider discriminatory.
Name of the position
Marine Scientist for the Euro-Argo ONE project “Euro-Argo ERIC scaling up for OneArgo Network Extension”.
Tasks and responsibilities
The selected candidate will be responsible for carrying out activities related to the Euro-Argo ONE project, specifically:
- Support and develop strategies for sampling marginal seas.
○ Assess the status of the Argo network in regions of interest and define and optimize sampling strategies in marginal seas, collaborating with regional institutions to identify specific needs for each basin.
○ Document best sampling practices and compare Argo float data with other observational networks. - Optimize the efficiency and sustainability of the Argo network through float recovery.
○ Develop and evaluate float recovery strategies to reduce environmental impact.
○ Implement best recovery practices, creating guidelines and resources on safety, standardized procedures, and legal aspects for technicians and users. - Strengthen Euro-Argo ERIC’s interaction with other institutions.
○ Assess Argo’s contribution to EU policies, focusing on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
○ Enhance collaboration with Regional Sea Conventions and national monitoring teams through events, proposing synergies that promote the use of Argo within environmental policies.
○ Strengthen Euro-Argo ERIC’s engagement with the public through various communication activities.
○ Implement a standardized template developed by Euro-Argo ERIC for national websites, ensuring a common European framework and improved information cohesion.
○ Develop and implement educational materials and activities about Argo floats for different school levels.
○ Promote the integration of Argo science into classrooms across Europe by participating in the “Adopt a Float” program.
○ Create and share materials on Ocean Monitoring Indicators (OMIs) to raise public awareness about the importance of ocean monitoring and its impact on science and society. - Participate in Euro-Argo ONE project activities, including regular meetings and preparing milestones and deliverables.
- Disseminate results through peer-reviewed scientific publications, internal reports, participation in conferences, and outreach activities.
- Support the activities of the Lagrangian Platforms Facility, when necessary and upon request.
Application requirements and accreditation
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (MECES 3) in Physical Oceanography, Marine Sciences, Marine Ecology, Data Science, Atmospheric Sciences, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or closely related disciplines.
○ Supporting documentation: Academic certificate or equivalent. - Minimum 2 years work experience in oceanographic data processing.
○ Supporting documentation: copy of the contracts or equivalent, or certificate issued by the organization in which the position has been held. - Minimum English level required: B2 or equivalent.
○ Supporting documentation: accredited certificate of level, English training courses, English proficiency tests, or equivalent documentation. SOCIB reserves the right to determine competency level through an English interview.
The evaluation process will also consider the following merits
- Experience in the analysis and processing of multi-platform ocean observations, including data from Argo floats, satellites, gliders, and other platforms.
- Proven knowledge of Western Mediterranean Sea oceanography.
- Experience with programming languages used for data analysis and processing, such as RStudio, Python, and Matlab. Proficiency in managing and visualizing oceanographic data in NetCDF format from various sources.
- Familiarity with specialised software and oceanographic tools for handling Argo profiler data, such as the Euro-Argo Data Selection Tool, ARGO – Coriolis, or similar systems.
- A record of peer-reviewed international publications.
- Experience attending scientific conferences, conferences and workshops.
- Experience in international research projects.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
Application start and deadline
Applicants may submit their application once the vacancy is published on the SOCIB corporate website. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The contract is scheduled to begin no later than September 30, 2025.
Workplace
SOCIB – Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System. Isaac Newton St, Naorte Building, Block A, 2nd Floor, 3rd Door. Parc Bit. 07121 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain.
How to apply
Interested candidates must send their CV, detailing education and experience, along with all required documentation and a motivation letter to rrhh@socib.es, including the project name in the email subject (Euro-Argo ONE).
Find out more about this opportunity here.