Field Technician Assistant

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing assistance with the execution of field activities at sea and on estuaries.
• Providing assistance with the preparation of, retrieval and deployment of scientific monitoring instruments.
• Support the maintenance of the in situ long-term continuous monitoring platforms (CMP·s).
• Provide assistance with maintenance of data and metadata records (data capture, processing and data collation).
• Ad hoc technical assistance to researchers and students

Key Requirements:
Qualification:

• BTech or BSc in marine sciences or equivalent qualification.
• A valid code B driver·s license.
• Category R skippers ticket would be advantageous.
• Class IV diving qualification would be advantageous.

Experience:

• Previous experience in the setup, operation and maintenance of oceanographic instruments (CTD·s, ADCP·s, data-loggers) is not essential but would be advantageous.

Knowledge:

• Preparation and handling of equipment such as field sampling gear and scientific instruments.
• Pre- and post-field trip servicing of 4x4 vehicles, coastal and estuarine research vessels, sampling equipment and dive gear.
• The servicing of field and in- situ mooring instruments.
• The sorting of biological material and the preparation of specimens for laboratory analysis.
• The collection of ground control points for the Airborne Remote Sensing Platform (ARSP).

Additional Notes:

• Willingness to spend time away from the office in the field, either along the coast or at sea.
• The successful candidate should pass the SAMSA seafarers medical.
• Ability to bend, stoop, stand for long hours and lift heavy objects.
• Ability to swim would be advantageous.
• Shortlisted candidates will be subjected to a practical assessment of their technical skills and aptitude.