Careers and vacancies
Oxitec is a young company located at Milton Park, close to Oxford, one of the UK’s leading biotechnology clusters. We need people who share our vision in combating some of the world’s most damaging insect pests and who have a drive to make a difference, a commitment to deliver, and who have the skills and experience to succeed.
Position Specification: Marketing and Communications Manager
Oxitec Overview
Oxitec is a pioneer in controlling insects that spread disease and damage crops. Through world-class science we are playing our part in tackling the major global challenges of keeping people healthy and increasing food production. And we are doing so in a way that is sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost effective.
Insects pose a major threat to man. Insects such as mosquitoes transmit malaria, dengue fever , yellow fever, and other diseases. In agriculture, insects cause damage to crop yields and quality and cause significant financial loss.
Despite technical advances over the last 50 years, the danger is actually on the increase. Resistance to insecticides is growing and for some diseases (dengue fever, for example) there is neither medication nor vaccine. There is an urgent need for a new approach to complement the best existing practice.
Oxitec, a spin out from Oxford University, have developed technology to offer a new solution. Our approach is to breed and release sterile males of the damage-causing species. This highly targeted form of biological control is safe to other species, causes no lasting impact on the environment and is cost effective.
Intelligent insect control: large scale, effective, targeting the single damaging insect species, respecting the environment and managed by the local community.
Oxitec’s business principles
We believe our technology will have a significant beneficial impact on both agriculture and public health and will be a valuable tool in integrated pest management programmes. In promoting our technology and its use:
- We will maintain high professional, scientific and ethical standards
- We will be open and honest, positive and constructive, and worthy of trust and respect in all our activities.
- We will comply with all relevant national and international legislation
- We will contribute constructively to public and scientific debate with the aim of establishing appropriate evaluation and regulatory standards.
Background to the role
This is a new role, reporting to the CEO, and is integral to the success of Oxitec. The key function of the role will be to align Oxitec marketing and communications to the expansion plan devised by the chief executive officer, Hadyn Parry, and the leadership team.
The idea of bringing marketing and communications together in one role is to maximize the synergy of messaging across the business.
Profile of the candidate
Oxitec is a young company, with a seasoned leadership team. The ideal candidate will have a background in campaigning with a force for good, perhaps an NGO, or health organization. International experience is not a must, but international experience will be valued.
Oxitec is looking for a candidate with:
- At least five years work experience
- A generally relevant academic background
- Important to have some prior public sector campaigning or communications experience
- Experience in working with agencies/ suppliers
- Real ‘get up and go’! – enthusiasm, commitment and the desire to make a difference
Objectives
Media: Generate public awareness and demand
- Capturing inbound journalist and blogger requests, prioritize, and respond
- Proactively recontacting journalists whose reporting needs correcting
- Proactively contact journalists whose audience justifies solicitation
- Log media activity, main influencer journals (including blogs) and writers
- Develop global and UK media plans
- Coordinate announcement and investor relations communications as appropriate
- Coordinate social media as appropriate
- Produce/edit bi monthly newsletter
Website
- Provide strategic direction and input to website development process
- Manage agency resources
- Manage video and photo content, including 3rd party content
- Edit, rewrite and update content as necessary, including page(s) allocated to each trial
- Manage local educational site resources
- Create and manage ‘Your questions’ section, with appropriate peer reviewing
- Regular monitoring of traffic and reaction
Local support
- Working with local partners and local Oxitec rep, develop local media plans
- Tailor and implement educational website to local needs
- Implement through localized social media as appropriate
- Develop localized flyers, communications, advertising as appropriate
- Coordinate appropriate media outreach, road trips, as appropriate
- Sensitively engage with local resources as appropriate
General tone and manner
- Be, and be seen to be, transparent
- Support collaborators
- Generate accurate press coverage (balance proactive to quality reactive)
- React to inaccurate press coverage
Key performance indicators
- Oxitec perception in trial markets
- Favourability of key journalists
- Oxitec reputation for responsiveness, accuracy, transparency
- Activity generated through social networks
- Website interactions
To apply or this position please send your CV and covering letter to Tracy.matthews@oxitec.com.
Research Scientist, Oxitec Limited, UK
Insect genetics & molecular biology
Purpose of job: To join a small dynamic team, in a friendly biotech company, investigating exciting genetics-based technologies to control important agricultural and public health pest insects. Oxitec is developing technology that will make the environmentally friendly sterile insect technique more cost-effective and more widely applicable (see www.oxitec.com).
Your job will involve developing the sterile insect technique in laboratory and field conditions and will involve:
- Insect genetics and fluorescent marker analysis.
- Transforming a range of insect species.
- Molecular biology techniques.
- Field work
Attributes of the successful candidate will include:
- Degree-level qualification in a biological science (essential).
- Experience of rearing insects and/or of molecular biology (preferred).
- Ability to work both independently and within a team.
- Good communication skills and a diligent attitude.
- Willingness to work at overseas field sites
The successful applicant will be able to develop their skills and role within the company.
Remuneration: Oxitec Limited is a young Company, with substantial growth potential internationally. We seek to recruit staff with the potential to grow with us. We offer an attractive remuneration package and operate a share option scheme.
Contact: Please apply in writing to Dr Martha Koukidou, including your CV (Martha.koukidou@oxitec.com) Oxitec Ltd, 71 Milton Park, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX14 4RX, UK. The closing date for applications is 31st January 2012.
Bioinformatician, Oxitec Limited, UK
Insect genome sequencing
Purpose of job: We are looking for a bioinformatician with next-generation sequencing analysis experience to establish Oxitec’s capabilities in insect genomics, starting with a UK Government-backed project to perform analysis of genome and targeted transcriptome sequencing of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. In addition, you will also be testing and benchmarking algorithms for read mapping and carrying out comparative genomic analysis. The role will require considerable interaction with colleagues in molecular biology, as well as with external collaborators.
Attributes of the successful candidate will include:
• Post-graduate-level qualification in a biological or computer science, or equivalent experience in a commercial environment
• Experience of research in an academic or commercial environment
• Experience in next-generation sequencing analysis
• Good communication skills
The successful applicant will be able to develop their skills and role within the company.
Remuneration: Oxitec Limited is a young company, with substantial growth potential internationally. We seek to recruit staff with the potential to grow with us. We offer an attractive remuneration package and operate a share option scheme.
Contact: Please apply in writing to Tarig Dafa’alla, including your CV (tarig.dafaalla@oxitec.com) Oxitec Ltd, 71 Milton Park, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX14 4RX, UK