POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title
Plant Biotechnology Scientist
Reports To
Research Leader Plant Biotechnology
Purpose of
Position
To lead and grow scientific research in the area of plant biotechnology at Scion, and
drive international collaboration and publications.
Organisational
Values
Key Result Areas
(Key
Accountabilities)
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Role Competencies
(The skills,
knowledge and
behaviours
essential to
achieve effective
performance in the
role)
Lead specific tasks within Scion’s core research projects in the areas of
Molecular Forestry and Biotransformation of lignocellulosic feedstocks.
Specifically lead research in the area of sterility and new breeding technologies.
Prepare funding applications and manage financials within research area.
To be an in-house expert in relation to gene expression analysis.
To provide support within the protein and proteomics platforms as required.
Undertake, and manage, commercial consultancies and contracts as
appropriate.
Present research outcomes to national and international fora for technical, client
and academic groups.
Lead author or senior author on national and international scientific
publications, papers or reports.
Ensure compliance with NZ HSNO regulations for New Organisms.
Ensure compliance with Scion’s Health & Safety Policy, and take a proactive
approach to ensuring that all work practices are safe.
Undertake additional projects as required.
Technical skills and knowledge:
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PhD in Plant Molecular Biology or Biochemistry or Functional Genomics with a
minimum of 8 years research experience.
General and specialised experience in molecular biology and biochemistry
specific to plants. Particular areas of specialized knowledge that are of interest
Include, phenotyping, cell wall development, gene editing and terpene
biochemistry.
Strong analytical skills in the area of: genome and expression analysis,
recombinant protein expression in plant systems, protein purification,
manipulation and functional characterisation methodologies, understanding of
genetics and its interface with molecular ecology an advantage.
General and specialised computer proficiency using Microsoft packages,
analytical software open software – statistics, gene and protein analysis
software including bioinformatics software.
Strong and demonstrable research experience with strong experimental design,
technical competence and problem solving skills.
Established track record as a senior author on national and international
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publications, book chapters and conference presentations.
Proven ability to analyse and interpret data.
Proven ability in application of statistics in design of experiments and
interpretation of results.
Behaviours:
Relationships
PD template Oct 2016
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Time Management
Uses his/her time effectively and efficiently; values time; concentrates his/her
efforts on the more important priorities; gets more done in less time than others;
can attend to a broader range of activities.
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Intellectual Horsepower
Is bright and intelligent; deals with concepts and complexity comfortably;
described as intellectually sharp, capable, and agile.
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Self-Knowledge
Knows personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and limits; seeks
feedback; gains insights from mistakes; is open to criticism; isn’t defensive; is
receptive to talking about shortcomings; looks forward to balanced (+ and -)
performance reviews and career decisions.
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Leadership
Understands and demonstrates what is required for effective leadership.
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Teamwork & Collaboration
Has the ability to work effectively with others on a common task; takes actions
which respect the needs and contributions of others; contributes to and accepts
the consensus; negotiating a win-win solution to achieve the objectives of the
team
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Effective Communication skills
Is able to write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication
settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect.
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Problem Solving
Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective
solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is
excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the
first answers.
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Customer Focus
Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and
external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for
improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind;
establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their
trust and respect.
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Perseverance
Pursues everything with energy, drive and a need to finish; seldom gives up
before finishing, especially in the face of resistance or setbacks.
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Internal
 GM Manufacturing and Bioproducts; Biotransformation team leaders; Plant
Biotechnology group members; other researchers in related fields in other
parts of Scion.
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External
 Researchers at national and international research organisations,
Financial
Accountability
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Authority to spend – to be set on appointment
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Budgetary Responsibility – to be set on appointment
People
Management
Responsibility
 Number of Direct Reports – to be set on appointment
Targets to be
Achieved
 To be set on appointment.
PD template Oct 2016