Chemical And Biological Technician

Salary: £25,742 - £26,444 per annum with progression to £27,979 

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 05 March 2024

The role

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled individual to join our team of Technicians, who support our teaching and research activities, as well as operate and maintain the associated equipment and facilities within the Discipline of Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University.

 
Chemical Engineering forms part of an integrated School of Engineering where we work alongside other engineering disciplines and their technical teams. Our highly skilled and professional technical colleagues are essential to supporting the delivery of successful teaching and research to an international standard. We have approximately 90 technicians employed within the School of Engineering working on both our campus and off-site facilities across the Northeast of England. We have expertise that spans a wide range of disciplines that make a fundamental contribution towards Newcastle University’s impact on the world.

As a Chemical Laboratory Technician, you will be part of a technical team who provide technical support for academic and research staff within the chemical engineering labs as well as supporting our undergraduate students in their taught lab sessions. Your day-to-day activities will be varied however they will predominantly include:
•    Providing core technical support across the chemical engineering labs including successful operation of equipment, deliveries and stock intakes, activities using chemical, gases and cryogenics as well as facilities maintenance
•    Preparing and facilitating undergraduate laboratory teaching sessions from Foundation to Year 3 students
•    Providing training and advice to students and Researchers in relevant chemical lab techniques and instrumentation
•    Involvement in health and safety processes such as writing risk assessments and standard operating procedures, conducting lab inspections and organising waste disposal

You will be supported by the Technical Team Leader and will have many opportunities to further develop and learn new skills through relevant training programmes.

We are extremely keen to hear from any candidates from a chemical background who are interested in a rewarding and progressive career in higher education and have a desire to work as part of a diverse team in both teaching and research laboratories. 

For informal enquiries please contact Kevin Brown, Technical Team Leader, by e-mail at Kevin.Brown2@newcastle.ac.uk

To apply please upload a CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out in ‘The Person’ section of the job description.

Key Accountabilities

• To monitor the satisfactory operation of laboratory equipment, reporting any defects to the relevant senior technician or technical team leader. Carry out preventive
• Maintenance of equipment and instruments in the relevant laboratory areas. Operation and operational maintenance of equipment and instruments for research and teaching purposes
• To support the operation of the laboratories to ensure effective use and availability for teaching and research. Assistance in the training of academic, technical and research staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students in specific laboratory techniques and the use and application of equipment and instruments
• To be responsible for keeping up to date with relevant  Health and Safety legislation, codes of practice and regulations ensuring safe handling, storage and disposal of materials in accordance with local rules and legal requirements, including risk assessments and any other statutory or local safety arrangements
• To support core building technical services, including lab coat laundry, stores, waste disposal, gas and cryogenics, facilities maintenance
• To contribute to regular team meetings, health and safety meetings and laboratory audits
• To determine laboratory requirements, and ensure adequate availability of chemicals, materials and equipment for laboratory activities that the post-holder is supporting; and for initiating purchase orders to ensure sufficient stocks of these items
• To develop and modify experiments, apparatus and instruments from verbal instructions to protocols and techniques to ensure the completion of experimental practical’s and projects
• Planning and progress of experimental work after consultation with academic, senior technical, research staff and students
• The testing and fault diagnosis of apparatus and analytical instrumentation using precision testing equipment, manufacturer’s instructions, diagrams and manuals. Maintaining up to date records
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Relevant post apprenticeship work experience in a relevant technical role
• Thorough working knowledge of relevant Health and Safety procedures, and experience of safe waste management within a workshop or laboratory environment
• Excellent team working and communication skills
• Demonstrates technical and problem solving capability
• Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines with a positive and proactive approach to duties and attention to detail
• Contribute to design and specification of technical and laboratory equipment to support teaching and research activities
• Flexible attitude and the ability to adapt to changes both in  workload priorities and working locations
• Experience of working in a Chemical Laboratory environment, and using laboratory equipment

Attributes and Behaviour

• Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the organisation where different skills, expertise and opinions are valued
• Shares relevant and useful information with others
• Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
• Willing to help others and share workloads
• Works in a planned and structured way
• Ensures that all activities are completed on time
• Ensures that others know how processes and systems work
• Set own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
• Looks at ways of overcoming obstacles rather than coming to a standstill
• Keeps an open mind to alternative ways of doing things
• Keeps fellow team members up to date with progress
• Pays attention to detail
• Has a positive attitude for doing things better
• Takes responsibility for achieving own targets
• Co-operates with others to achieve targets
• Strives to deliver high quality results
• Is enthusiastic in getting job done on time
• Recognises the need for change and is forward looking. Promotes the benefits of change to others and regularly comes up with new ideas. Has the willingness to adopt new ways of working and to make improvements

Qualifications
Essential
•    National Certificate in Science (or Equivalent Level 3 Qualification) or equivalent relevant technical experience

Desirable
•       Higher National Certificate in Science (or Equivalent Level 4 Qualification)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 26642