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School of Metallurgy and Materials, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £28,397 to £30,210, with potential progression once in post to £33,938
Grade: 5
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 21st April 2024
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
Background
The University of Birmingham is committed to engineering excellence, and the School of Metallurgy and Materials is one of the UK’s leading centres for research, education, and innovation. The School is proud of its strong and extensive links with industry and boasts a creative and dynamic environment, which provides opportunities for both staff and students to develop.
The role of Senior Teaching Technician provides vital support to teaching activities within the School of Metallurgy and Materials for all of its educational programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Space Engineering etc.
Laboratory sessions may include a wide range of equipment including mechanical testing, metallographic preparation and microscopy, analysis equipment, wind tunnel, 3-D printers, and flight simulation equipment amongst others.
The post holder will be responsible for preparing and running practical laboratory sessions for undergraduate and postgraduate classes, supporting student projects, as well as supporting open days and offer holder days. The post holder will work closely with academics, undergraduate and post-graduate students and other members of the technical, research and operations teams. You may be required to work later hours if the lab classes are timetabled in the afternoon or earlier times if they are scheduled in the morning to ensure preparedness for classes.
Role Summary
You will provide technical expertise, support and guidance in support of teaching. You may supervise a number of technical staff but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.
You will need a significant understanding of the requirements to deliver undergraduate and postgraduate classes, an in-depth understanding of all main subject areas, the ability to respond quickly and positively to changes in protocols, and troubleshoot problems, and optimise protocols to ensure a positive student experience. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes, offer holder days and other recruitment activities such as open days.
In order to flexibly use resources, you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university.
Main Duties
- If in a supervisory position, you will supervise the day to day activities of a number of other technical staff.
- You will provide support and guidance, and work closely with other staff in relation to working requirements, working environment, staff wellbeing, identifying any training requirements as appropriate.
- Even if you are not in a supervisory position you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach staff in the locality.
- You will discuss the daily programme of work with the academic staff leading the lab sessions, and other technical staff in the area to ensure the daily programme of work, session protocols, and outcomes are clear.
- Based on the available timetabling information, plan the most efficient and effective means to turnaround the daily classes.
- You will support students undertaking group or individual research projects.
- You will research, design, trial & modify practical protocols for class teaching.
- Keeping the academic lead and technical manager informed as to changes to protocols/sessions, content of any discussions with academic session leads and other matters relating to the teaching laboratories.
- Initiate discussion with the technical manager on any issues that may compromise the core function of the laboratories or for information that is related to the core functions of the teaching laboratories.
- Instruct and provide high level technical support for students in the correct and safe handling of laboratory and fieldwork equipment including preparation of samples, analysis methods, and preparation techniques.
- Preparation of a diverse range of materials used during practical sessions, to include the ordering and design of materials and equipment and provide a consistent results delivery service.
- Prepare and support open day, Applicant Visitor Day events, Continuous Professional Development and other external requirements within the laboratories or other areas as and when required.
- Oversee that the laboratories are suitably prepared for practical sessions and the setup/takedown of equipment/materials used during sessions.
- Check practical layouts prior to classes and ensure that all requirements are in place.
- Be familiar with the use of a broad spectrum of general laboratory equipment and specialised equipment.
- Demonstrate equipment use, high level techniques and procedures to staff and students.
- Trouble-shoot and respond to problems, which may occur during practical sessions, using your in-depth knowledge and your ability to diagnose/resolve problems and suggest solutions.
- Learn and develop skills as required on new equipment to expand the service offered to students
Health and Safety duties
- Proactive support for health and safety within the laboratory. This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties. Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved, and up to date.
- Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate and train staff and students at all levels on the correct usage of the equipment.
- Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained.
- Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the Health and Safety Coordinator and Technical Manager.
- Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratories.
- Post holders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider and Fire Warden.
General Administration and Organisation
- Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.
- Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
- Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents.
- Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
- Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained.
- Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
- Maintain a technical support-based teaching laboratory website (how to guides for the preparation of materials, practical setup guides), and keeping these up to date as and when session requirements or protocols change or maintaining relevant research lab databases/records.
Other Duties
- In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
- Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
- Any other duties as may reasonably be required.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
- Extensive relevant workplace experience, equivalent professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
- GCSE (A*- C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
- In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods.
- Extensive experience of similar laboratory-based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment which may include mechanical testing, metallographic preparation and microscopy, analysis equipment, wind tunnel, 3-D printers, and flight simulation equipment.
- Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others.
- Ability to organise and manage own workload and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements.
- Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team.
- Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role.
- Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same.
- Proficiency in commonly used software packages.
- Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
- Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
- A willingness to learn and develop skills as required on new equipment to expand the service offered to students.
Dimensions
You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers. You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff. You may be involved in budget monitoring.
Planning and organising
You will be required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision. You will ensure that you have the resources required, which will require planning ahead and procurement of goods.
Problem solving and decision making
You will be able to research, modify and adapt protocols after consulting relevant manager, and prepare for teaching experiments. You will be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures. You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions. Although you will work under the direction of more senior staff you will be able to carry out your work with a large amount of autonomy.
Internal and external relationships
This role will be advising and supporting staff and/or students, and with external contacts such as company representatives.
Informal enquiries to Tom Hutchinson , email: t.hutchinson@bham.ac.uk
View our staff values and behaviours here
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy . You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .
