Job Description and Person
Specification
Last updated:
06 October 2015
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post title:
Laboratory Technician
Academic Unit/Service:
Centre for Biological Sciences
Faculty:
Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Career Pathway:
Technical and Experimental (TAE)
*ERE category:
n/a
Posts responsible to:
Deputy Senior Technical Manager, Senior Technical Manager, Academic Line
Posts responsible for:
n/a
Post base:
Office-based (see job hazard analysis)
Level:
2a
Job purpose
• As a member of a technical team, to carry out prescribed tasks allocated by the Technical Team Leader to
time and quality requirements, working within established procedures with minimum direct supervision
• To maintain the Centre’s research infrastructure at Southampton General Hospital
Key accountabilities/primary responsibilities
Laboratory duties
• General laboratory duties, including maintaining and ensuring high operating standards
throughout working areas and a clean, safe and ordered environment
• To share responsibility for laboratory infrastructure (centrifuges, autoclaves, RO systems, fume
cupboards, liquid nitrogen, ice makers, -80° freezers, pure water, gases, solvents, etc.)
• To maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus and notify Deputy Senior Technical manager
of any faults or servicing required
• Maintenance of tissue culture facility, and provision of an autoclaving service
• Preparation of buffers, reagents, media and stains to accurate concentration, molarity and pH
according to standard procedures
• Maintain stocks of laboratory resources and consumables, reordering as required, including
liaison with centre’s Purchasing personnel to ensure prompt delivery of ordered items. To liaise
with commercial companies for pricing and sourcing of materials
• To collect and launder lab coats
• Collection, washing up and return of dirty laboratory glassware, etc.
• Collection and disposal of waste in accordance with the SGH, University & Centre’s waste
management policies
• To provide standard guidance and advice to students and staff in technical aspects use of
facilities and equipment
% Time
Team Working
• To be flexible to move within and across teams and facilities as requested by the Senior
Technical Manager to provide cover, assist with unexpected requirements for technical help, learn
new skills, train other staff and students in basic techniques and use of equipment
Health and Safety
• To understand and comply with health and safety regulations, the Faculty and Centre Health &
Safety Policy, Best Laboratory Practice and specialist safety procedures appropriate to the area of
work (safe use of gases, autoclaves, biohazards, manual handling etc.)
• To undertake health and safety training and induction and to keep records of training
undertaken
• To conduct, document, display and comply with health and safety risk assessments/CoSHH and
Standard operating Procedures
• To notify Deputy Senior Technical Manager and CfBS Health and Safety Officer of any Health &
Safety issues requiring action
• To provide standard guidance and advice to students and staff to ensure safety and competence
to use facilities and equipment in line with health and safety guidelines and best laboratory
practice
• To ensure disposal of waste in compliance with SGH and University regulatory waste
management policies and standards
• To carry out portable appliance electrical safety testing (PAT) when necessary
Internal and external relationships
• Close working relationship with Line Managers and members of the research laboratory to carry out own
duties and coordination of health and safety issues
• Co-operation with technical colleagues throughout the Centre
• Liaison with managers of Central facilities.
• Liaison with Senior Technical Manager
• Liaison with the Centre’s Purchasing officer and Accounts staff on maintenance of laboratory stocks.
• Liaison with commercial companies for pricing and sourcing of materials
• Liaison with external contractors for maintenance and servicing of equipment
Special Requirements
• To be able to carry out prescribed tasks with little or no supervision after the initial training period has
been completed.
• To acquire full knowledge and to comply rigorously with health and safety regulations
Document1TAE Level 2a
2
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Qualifications,
knowledge and
experience
Education to GCSE, NVQ2 standard
or equivalent and/or relevant work
experience
Application,
Certificates
Good level of numeracy and English
literacy
Application,
Interview
Understanding of relevant Health
and Safety regulations and
procedures and Best Laboratory
Practice
Application,
Interview
Experience in working in a biological
sciences laboratory environment and
in use of laboratory equipment and
day-to-day maintenance of
apparatus and facilities
Experience and willingness to work
with a range of biological samples
Planning and
organising
Desirable
How to be
assessed
Criteria
Application,
Interview
Application,
Interview
Able to carry out a range of tasks to
time and quality requirements,
working within established
procedures with minimum direct
supervision
Interview,
References
Able to plan ahead to ensure
adequate stocks are readily available
Interview,
References
Excellent attention to detail
Application,
Interview
Able to follow established protocols
and practices
Interview,
references
Ability to resolve a range of
standard work issues independently,
knowing when to refer to Line
Manager
Interview,
References
Management
and teamwork
Able to work as part of a team and
perform a variety of prescribed tasks
Interview,
References
Communicating
and influencing
Able to follow written and verbal
instructions to quality and time
standards
Application,
Interview
Problem solving
and initiative
Able to communicate with peers and
all levels of staff
Other skills and
behaviours
Computer literacy (Word, Excel)
Document1TAE Level 2a
Application,
Interview
Application
3
Special
requirements
Ability to prepare buffers, reagents,
media and stains to accurate
concentration, molarity and pH
according to standard procedures
Ability to adhere strictly to health &
safety policy independently
Physically fit to carry out light
manual handling
Willing ness to undertake H&S
training specific to role
Document1TAE Level 2a
Interview,
References
Application,
Interview,
References
Application,
Interview,
References
Application,
Interview,
References
4
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS
Is this an office-based post?
☐ Yes
If this post is an office-based job with routine office hazards (eg: use of VDU), no further
information needs to be supplied. Do not complete the section below.
☒ No
If this post is not office-based or has some hazards other than routine office (eg: more than use of
VDU) please complete the analysis below.
Hiring managers are asked to complete this section as accurately as possible to ensure the safety
of the post-holder.
## - HR will send a full PEHQ to all applicants for this position. Please note, if full health clearance is required
for a role, this will apply to all individuals, including existing members of staff.
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES
Occasionally
Frequently
Constantly
(<30% of time)
(30-60% of time)
(> 60% of time)
Outside work
n/a
Extremes of temperature (eg: fridge/ furnace)

## Potential for exposure to body fluids

## Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa)
n/a
## Exposure to hazardous substances (eg: solvents, liquids, dust, fumes,
biohazards). Specify below:

Frequent hand washing

Ionising radiation

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS/MACHINES USED
## Food handling
n/a
## Driving university vehicles(eg: car/van/LGV/PCV)

## Use of latex gloves (prohibited unless specific clinical necessity)
n/a
## Vibrating tools (eg: strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers)
n/a
PHYSICAL ABILITIES
Load manual handling

Repetitive crouching/kneeling/stooping

Repetitive pulling/pushing
n/a
Repetitive lifting
n/a
Standing for prolonged periods
n/a
Repetitive climbing (ie: steps, stools, ladders, stairs)

Fine motor grips (eg: pipetting)

Gross motor grips

Repetitive reaching below shoulder height
n/a
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height
n/a
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height
n/a
PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES
Face to face contact with public
n/a
Lone working
n/a
## Shift work/night work/on call duties
n/a
Document1TAE Level 2a
5