Job Title: Product Scientist
Reporting to: Field Operations Manager
Location: On site (Damerjog, Djibouti)
About Us
We are a team of passionate individuals, developing ground-breaking biological technologies designed to sustainably, and safely control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. We do this work to improve lives and livelihoods around the world in the face of the growing threats that pests pose to human health and the global food supply.
Whilst what we do relates to developing pest control technologies, Oxitec is about people and is in service to people.
We are strongly committed to a set of values, principles, and behaviours, and foster a culture of trust, respect, creativity, and accountability. Click here to learn more, and here to read our CEO’s blog about trust and our culture.
Purpose of the Job
As a Product Scientist for Oxitec, you will join a dynamic project dedicated to the research and development of our Friendly™ Anopheles stephensi self-limiting product, part of the Les Moustiques Alliés Djibouti. Based in Djibouti, you will work closely with colleagues in the UK Rearing Development team, who are focussed on the invention and validation of new processes and equipment that allow us to rear and deploy our Friendly™ product solutions efficiently and cost effectively. In alignment with the project scope, you will work with our global team to bring valuable technical insight and be responsible for driving the experimental design and execution of tests in Djibouti, to validate novel processes and equipment for insect rearing and deployment. In addition, you will be a point of contact for quality assurance for this project’s operations in Djibouti, being trained by our UK team to have a robust understanding of Quality Assurance (QA), when action should be taken and supporting the team though the QA processes.
To be successful at this job, you will need to show a keen interest in insect biology, have a self-starting attitude, display strong organisational skills, and demonstrate original thinking and attention to detail. Your duties will range widely from experimental design and execution, insights gained through observation, data analysis and reporting as well as helping to maintain a safe, functional and compliant working environment. You will be able to record data precisely and timely, as well as prepare presentations to report to the team. You will be able to manage both planned and unplanned workstreams, responding to company priorities proactively.
You will have strong experience of generating and interpreting data, and will take a hands-on approach, working closely with your team as well as UK engineering colleagues to design, develop and test novel approaches and solutions to insect production and release. You will be able to work independently while maintaining a strong team ethos, and demonstrate good laboratory practices, and to follow SOPs.
Excellent communication skills in both English and French are essential, as well as an enthusiasm for Oxitec’s mission.
Responsibilities
Your key responsibilities will involve designing and setting up experiments both in the lab and in the field, progressing technical understanding through observation, and maintaining health and safety and compliance within the project.
Working under the guidance of the Field Operations Managers and UK Rearing Development team, you will:
- Join a small team tasked with developing robust tests to fully understand insect requirements in rearing systems, by designing experiments to interrogate the performance of our insects in new processes and equipment.
- Work closely with UK Quality Assurance team to understand the process and to be an on the ground expert in Djibouti to support compliance and QA processes.
- Provide clear guidance to engineers on biological aspects of equipment design to ensure successful solutions.
- Work closely alongside the engineering team to allow rapid feedback on their designs and prototypes.
- Conduct experiments according to specified protocols.
- Design and run experiments independently, but in full alignment with program goals and with the endorsement of the UK Rearing and Development team.
- Ensure that processes, methods, and experiments are well designed and focused on delivering results and progress, measurable against the project goals.
- Carefully record data and document activities and processes within laboratory books or other applicable records.
- Provide clear communication regarding outcomes of processes, experiments, and planning.
- Report data in meetings throughout the organisation, to audiences with various technical knowledge, and write clear and concise reports for internal review.
- Have a clear understanding of the commercial impact of the work and responsibilities and strive to optimise performance.
- Support the smooth running of operations in both production and the field.
- Working with the Production Manager and Field Operations Manager to ensure that operational data are entered into Apps by the team promptly each day.
Skills, Experience, and Education Requirements
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French are essential.
- Experience in biological sciences or in insect/animal rearing is essential.
- Experience of working in a biological sciences laboratory, insect rearing, working with mosquitoes, or vector surveillance is desirable but not essential.
- Experience working with protocols or precise instructions in a technical capacity.
- A self-starting attitude, strong organizational skills, and finely tuned attention to detail.
- Conscientious and diligent, eager to deliver high-quality work with urgency.
- A valid driver’s license and clean driving record are essential.
Behavioural Requirements
- Committed to and passionate about the Oxitec mission and values.
- Responsive to the needs of an international business working across different time zones, adapting working patterns in-line with business requirements.
- Positive, humble, co-operative, and professional always.
- Work with a sense of urgency and solve things promptly.
- Resilient and persistent in an innovative and constantly changing environment.
