About the job

Job summary

Kew and our partners are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all, and managed sustainably. Our science strategy defines 5 priority areas, with digital science at the core. Management and the use of our digital assets is vital for our success. We are working on three initiatives: digitisation of Kew’s collections, knowledge integration (linking that data within the organisation) and knowledge sharing (enabling wider access and reuse).

The purpose of this role is to deliver RBG Kew’s mission by being an active research associate within Kew Science, fully-commit to the Kew Science programme and to develop skills and deliver in support of digital researchers across Kew Science. 

The 2-year fixed term position will be a foundation for you to build on, to develop your own projects in collaboration with researchers and technologists at Kew and with our partners.

Job description

We are looking for early career researchers (e.g. Masters program graduates) with strong software skills or software developers with an interest in research software engineering. You will be data literate and curious. You will work with our researchers to understand their workflow and to augment their work with technology. The successful candidates will help ensure that digitally enhanced research is open and sustainable, and build skills in open research and application of FAIR principles to data and software. You will experiment with tools like text mining, image analysis and large language models. You will work collaboratively on problems like automatic species identification, handwritten text transcription, geo-referencing, record linkage, prioritisation and decision support.

Person specification

You will be based at Kew Gardens, Richmond. There is a hybrid approach to working, subject to operational requirements.

 

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application through the online portal, by clicking “Apply for this job”.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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). 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.