Research and Development Assistant - MIRO Forestry Ghana

Reports to: Research & Development Manager

Direct Subordinates:  Field workers

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: Nursery Manager, HR Assistant, Planning Assistant, Foresters, and Stores Officer.

External: Stakeholders outside of company

Main Purpose of Appointment:

• Select sites for trials
• Prepare sites for trial establishment

• Demarcate and mark sites for trials
• Mark and place labels in trials
• Plant trials
• Fertilizer trials
• Maintain trials
• Collect data from trials
• Monitor pests and diseases in trials and plantation stands

Functions of Appointment:

Implement cost effective and best methods of establishing, maintaining and assessing research trials (land preparation, tree establishment, fertilization, weeding, termite control, data collection, pest and diseases monitoring) according to research protocols.

• Assist in the selection of sites for establishing trials noting that each specific trial should be established on at least two different sites.
• Assist R & D Manager in Plus Tree selections for clone production.
• Coordinate seedling production for research with the Nursery Manger.
• Coordinate with Nursery Manager on clone production programme.
• Coordinate with Silviculture Forester to ensure land preparation on trial sites are properly done and that pre-planting weed control is achieved.
• Clearly demarcate and mark out boundaries of trials.
• Use specific trial design and place labels indicating trial replications and treatments.
• Establish each specific trial with correct species and at correct spacing following the trial design.
• Treated with appropriate chemical against pest e.g. termites and crickets, before planting.
• Blank trials within one month of planting to ensure 100% stocking.
• Fertilise trials following the correct protocol and design paying attention to details.
• Properly maintain the established trials through manual and chemical weeding in collaboration with the Silviculture section.
• Conduct tree survival assessments of trials at six and twelve months.
• At year one (1) do corrective pruning i.e. removing multiple stems and conduct low pruning to 1 m height of each stem.
• Measure and assess trials for height and diameter and other required variables at prescribed schedules and submit data to Manager R & D for analysis.
• Monitor pests and diseases in trials and plantation stands and produce reports.
• Produce monthly progress reports of activities and submit to Manager R & D.

JOB HOLDER SPECIFICATION

Formal Education:

Bachelor Degree in Forestry or Diploma in Forestry or Agro-forestry.

Experience:

At least two years’ experience in Forestry, or Agro-forestry environment at field technical level.

Personal qualities and competencies:

• Ability to interpret trials designs.
• Competent in using GPS, Vertex, diameter calipers or tape.
• Computer literate
• Respond to requests and inquiries from employees and line management effectively and timeously.
• Maintain confidentiality at work
• Work independently in the absence of supervision
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Good planning and management skills.
• Good communication skills including the ability to motivate others.
• Persistence, innovative, initiative, self-motivation, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Expertise in use of relevant statistical packages for forestry data analysis.

“This job description is a guideline of key performance areas, but does not limit your activities to the content herein.  Your role is to continuously add value to the company and carry out any reasonable instructions from management, thus ensuring that all teams meet Miro’ objectives.”