Ocean and Climate Model Manager

Please quote ref no: BAS 46/13
Closing date for applications: 21 Apr 2013

Main Description

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to undertake a world-class programme of scientific research, and to sustain for the UK an active and influential regional presence and a leadership role in Antarctic affairs.

Based within the Polar Oceans programme at our Cambridge office, you will be part of a team investigating oceanographic variability in the Southern Ocean and the Arctic, and its impacts on the Earth System. The group runs sophisticated idealised, regional and global oceanographic models (including sea ice and ice shelf components) to simulate past conditions and also to predict how the ocean will evolve in the future. Models are run on local and national supercomputing facilities and generate large volumes of data, and we also use output from very large models run by external collaborators. You will be responsible for managing all aspects of our ocean modelling infrastructure and writing code to support model users. You will also process and maintain the large datasets required to force our ocean models. In addition you will be responsible for accessing and pre-processing of IPCC climate model data. Other datasets, such as those produced by satellite remote sensing, will also require management.

Qualifications: You will have a degree or higher qualification in computer science or relevant science subject, previous experience of programming in a linux/unix environment including familiarity with Fortran and Python, and experience of handing large data sets.

Duration: The position is open-ended and full-time, though we are willing to consider part-time or flexible working patterns for an appropriate candidate.

Salary: Salary will be in the range of £26,450 to £29,710 per annum (pro-rata if applicable). We offer a generous benefits package including a final salary pension scheme, free car parking, flexible working hours and 30 days annual leave.

On-line application forms and further information are available on our website at www.antarctica.ac.uk/employment

These are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508.

Please quote reference: BAS 46/13
Closing date for receipt of application forms is 21st April 2013
Interviews are scheduled to be held w/c 6th May 2013

We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome.

Formal Description

Ocean and Climate Model Manager
Ref No.: BAS 46/13
Closing Date: 21 Apr 2013

1.	Job Title:	Ocean and Climate Model Manager
	Reference No:	BAS 46/13
	Department:	Polar Oceans
	Line Manager:
	Contract Type:	Open-ended

2.	Location: Cambridge

3.	Purpose: Management and support of oceanographic modelling systems and associated datasets.

Duties:
1) Develop ocean modelling infrastructure, including installation and optimisation of codes and management of version control systems.

2) Support ocean model users with troubleshooting and code documentation.

3) Retrieve, process, and maintain large forcing data sets from other centres.

4) Access and process IPCC climate model data sets.

5) Assist users with processing of model output and preparation of results for publication.

6) Manage output from ocean models and other oceanographic datasets.

Skills Specification

Ocean and Climate Model Manager
Ref No.: BAS 46/13
Closing Date: 21 Apr 2013

Characteristics

Essential Requirements
Importance rating in parenthesis

Desirable Requirements
Importance rating in parenthesis

Communication skillsa) oral skillsb) written skills

* Fluent in written and spoken English language

* Ability to contribute to science publications.

(3)

Computer / IT skills

* Linux/unix experience; Fortran and Python experience. Knowledge of data management;

* Subversion experience.	(1)
* IDL and/or Matlab experience.	(2)
* Cluster-based computing.	(1)

Interpersonal skills

* Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team

Managerial ability

* Excellent ability at managing large data sets

Numerical ability

* Good numerical skills of a standard expected of a science graduate.

Other Factors

* Flexible and adaptable

Qualifications

* Degree or equivalent in computer science or relevant science subject, plus equivalent of relevant postgraduate experience.

* Higher degree in relevant subject

(4)

Resource Management ability

* Able to manage self and resources to meet agreed objectives and deadlines.

Skills / Experience

* Experience in computer data and/or model management; experience of running oceanographic models.

* Experience of accessing and using IPCC climate model datasets	(2)
* Knowledge of handling large climate, oceanographic or other environmental data.	(2)