Senior Oceanographic Technician – Benthic & Fisheries

INSPIRE Environmental, a Venterra Group Company; Aberdeen City; In loco; GBP 50.000 - 70.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

INSPIRE Environmental is seeking a Senior Oceanographic Technician to support offshore environmental survey operations and lead field deployments. You will manage, operate, and maintain oceanographic instrumentation on vessels of opportunity, including cameras, USBLs, CTDs, and sensors, ensuring data quality and safety.

The role requires extensive offshore experience, the ability to work at sea for extended periods, and collaboration with INSPIRE scientists on data processing, reporting, and

Competenze

• Minimum 3–5 years offshore field experience in marine science or related operations.
• Strong understanding of offshore safety practices in UK/EU waters.
• Experience operating offshore navigation software and subsea instrumentation.
• Ability to travel frequently and work extended offshore rotations.

Mansioni

• Lead offshore mobilization, deployment, operation, and troubleshooting of oceanographic equipment.
• Supervise offshore safety and operating procedures to ensure safety and efficiency.
• Ensure data meet scientific objectives and QA/QC procedures.
• Mentor junior technicians and contribute to data processing and reporting.

Conoscenze

Offshore field experience

Marine science

Hydrographic survey

Environmental monitoring

Oceanographic instrumentation

HSSE compliance

Team leadership

Formazione

Bachelor’s degree in oceanography or marine science

Strumenti

USBL

ROV

Navigation software

CTD instruments

Descrizione del lavoro

About Us:

INSPIRE Environmental, a leading global marine environmental consultancy and member of the Londonbased Venterra Group, is seeking a full-time Senior Oceanographic Technician to support offshore environmental survey operations, lead field deployments, maintain specialized instrumentation, and contribute to the continued development of innovative marine monitoring systems. We combine cutting-edge marine science, advanced technology, and practical environmental solutions to support offshore energy, fisheries, and marine development projects worldwide. As part of the Venterra Group, our multidisciplinary team delivers integrated environmental services across benthic ecology, fisheries science, marine acoustics, oceanographic instrumentation, and spatial data analytics.

The Role:

As a Senior Oceanographic Technician and part of INSPIRE’s UK Data Acquisition Team, you will lead field teams in the collection of offshore benthic and environmental data. You will be responsible for management, operation, maintenance, and deployment of a wide variety of environmental survey instrumentation, while contributing to marine science research, environmental and fisheries monitoring, and offshore development projects. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced offshore professional to bring hands‑on technical expertise, problem‑solving, and field leadership to a high‑functioning and collaborative team.

In this role, you will be responsible for the deployment, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of a wide range of oceanographic instrumentation, with a focus on image‑based techniques. This position requires extensive hands‑on offshore experience and the ability, and desire, to spend time at sea aboard UK and international vessels of opportunity for periods ranging from days to several weeks at a time.

While not offshore, INSPIRE’s Senior Oceanographic Technician will assist with project management, and lead equipment maintenance and calibration, inventory management, survey planning, subcontractor management, proposal development, and data processing and reporting. Training will be provided. In this role, you will also be expected to contribute to continuous improvement of field procedures, operational workflows, and technical capabilities across the organization. This is a role that offers variety, responsibility, and opportunity for professional growth within a well‑established and expanding marine science company.

Essential Functions:

• Actively demonstrate and promote HSSE awareness, compliance, and best practices in all work activities.
• Ability to lead teams in a high stress, fast‑paced environment (i.e. shipboard).
• Capable of completing project management tasks and coordinating across diverse technical groups
• Lead offshore mobilization, deployment, operation, and troubleshooting, of oceanographic and marine survey equipment such as sonars, USBLs, CTDs, ROVs, drop‑down cameras, BRUVs, SPI/PV, environmental sensors, and sampling devices and navigation systems on vessels of opportunity.
• Supervise all offshore safety and operating procedures while upholding INSPIRE’s strong commitment to safety, operational excellence, and scientific integrity.
• Ensure that data collected meet scientific objectives and client requirements, while producing traceable, accurate field documentation, compliant metadata, and following documented QA/QC procedures.
• Contribute to maintenance and organization of warehouse and field equipment. inventory, including all documentation, parts inventory and rental equipment.
• Assist with survey planning, including leading the development survey documentation (e.g., project execution plans, risk assessment methods statements), equipment testing, calibration, and logistics coordination.
• Participate in data processing and reporting workflow with INSPIRE scientists following data acquisition.
• Mentor and train junior technicians and field staff.
• Support development and improvement of innovative marine survey technologies and operational workflows.
• While not offshore, INSPIRE’s Senior Oceanographic Technician will assist with equipment maintenance and calibration, inventory management, survey planning, subcontractor management, proposal contributions, and data processing and reporting

About You:

We’re looking for a practical, motivated Senior Oceanographic Technician who enjoys working with diverse technical groups, across all aspects of environmental projects, and thrives in a dynamic marine environment. We are looking for someone with:

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of offshore field experience in marine science, hydrographic survey, environmental monitoring, or oceanographic operations
• Strong understanding of environmental survey operations and offshore safety practices in UK and EU waters
• Experience operating offshore navigation software and USBL, underwater camera systems, and other benthic and sediment sampling equipment.
• Experience troubleshooting subsea instrumentation
• Ability to work safely and effectively in physically demanding offshore environments as part of a team
• Ability to effectively interface with vessel captains and survey crews
• Strong organizational and written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel frequently and work extended offshore rotations
• Valid driver’s license (and good driving record) and UK passport, and ability to travel internationally as needed
• Flexibility to adapt to changing schedules and priorities
• Ability to pass a 10-panel drug test
• Ability to pass medical examination and complete sea‑survival training

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in oceanography, marine science, marine technology, engineering technology, or related discipline; equivalent combinations of education, technical training and offshore experience will also be considered.
• 5+ years experience in marine science, hydrographic survey, environmental monitoring, or oceanographic operations with direct responsibility for directing staff, and operating and maintaining instrumentation.
• Experience operating under a rigorous Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Programs
• Permitted to work in the UK (UK passport)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience operating underwater camera systems and observation‑class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)
• Experience with shipboard navigation software (e.g., Qinsy, Hypack, etc.), USBL set‑up and operations
• GIS mapping
• Ability to repair electrical and electronic devices
• UK passport

About INSPIRE:

At INSPIRE, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. INSPIRE believes that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

About Venterra:

Venterra Group is a dedicated wind energy services group at the forefront of driving the clean energy transition. Together, we engineer, build and support the operations of major wind developments around the world by providing specialist, technical and comprehensive services at every stage of the project lifecycle. Our vision is to become the global services champion and strategic partner supporting the wind industry’s rapid expansion.