Job Description
Job title:
Department/School:
Grade:
Location:
Teaching and Research Support Technician
(Chemistry)
Science South
5
1, 3 and 4 South
Job purpose
Assist in the organisation, maintenance and support of teaching of physical and
organic chemistry at undergraduate and postgraduate research student levels.
Assist in the smooth and efficient running of laboratory and other research areas
across chemistry including promotion, monitoring and compliance with health and
safety matters.
Source and nature of management provided
Direct line managers are Science South Research Co-ordinator (when providing
research support) and Teaching Coordinator (when providing teaching support).
Staff management responsibility
NA
Special conditions
Ability to work flexibly - early starts and late finishes are occasionally required. You
may be asked to support outreach activities and occasionally come in on
weekends to support Open Days.
Main duties and responsibilities
1 Teaching Support
Work with the two principle teaching support technicians to ensure timely
and efficient delivery of the undergraduate programs.
The technician will work with academic staff in the design and preparation
of new experiments.
2
Research Laboratories
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The technician will work with the Research Coordinator to provide support
to those working in research laboratories. This may include laboratory
clear-outs, waste management advice, equipment/ asset registers and
equipment sourcing/ set-up.
3
Quality Control / Health and Safety
The technician will assist with and oversee activities in the chemistry
teaching laboratories and provide research support to the chemistry
research laboratories. The technician will communicate effectively with the
appropriate members of staff and ensure that all activities are taking place
safely.
The technician will help disseminate University or other general Health and
Safety instructions to staff and students as appropriate.
4
Maintenance and usage of equipment
The technician is responsible for ensuring that equipment used in relation
to chemistry teaching is appropriately maintained and in full working order.
The technician will alert the appropriate IT person to problems with
computers in these laboratories and will seek to ensure that repair work is
carried out in a timely manner.
The technician will check that laboratory equipment has been PAT tested
and will communicate with the appropriate staff about equipment requiring
testing.
The technician will report any defective or lost teaching equipment to their
line manager.
5
Procurement of equipment and consumable materials
The technician will check that the necessary resources and consumables
are available.
The technician will keep available copies of all requisition forms in date
order.
The technician will liaise with stores personal about teaching laboratory
orders.
6
Routine manual work and laboratory organisation
The technician is responsible for continuously maintaining professional
presentation of various laboratories with regards to general cleanliness,
furniture arrangement and equipment organisation. As a matter of course,
the laboratories should be tidy, organised and all equipment not in use
should be stored appropriately.
The technician will check teaching laboratory water and gas tubes
regularly for correct fastening and wear & tear and will repair or renew as
necessary.
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The technician will check teaching laboratory gas cylinders regularly to
ensure sufficient supply and will replace and replenish as necessary.
Distribution of cryogens and filling vessels.
7
Waste-disposal activities and removals
The technician will assist in the disposal of wastes from teaching
laboratories via the University Waste Disposal service.
The technician will check the waste containers from teaching laboratories
and will remove and replace as necessary.
The technician will be aware of and advise on correct safe storage of waste
storage and disposal procedures in both teaching and research
laboratories.
8
Training
The technician will maintain and update skills by participation in
appropriate and regular CPD activities, on or off site.
The majority of the duties described above will take place in and around the various
building and laboratories we have spread across the Departments and buildings of 1,
3, 4 South.
You will (from time to time) be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature
as reasonably required by your line manager.
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Appendix B
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Assessed by
A/F
I/T
Qualifications
Educated to A level or equivalent
qualification or experience in a relevant
scientific discipline
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chemistry or biological chemistry
laboratory experience in industry, FE or
HE.
X
X
X
Previous experience of supporting
multiple labs and users.
Previous experience of front line
maintenance of analytical equipment
X
X
X
X
Knowledge of and production of CoSHH
and risk assessments.
X
X
X
X
X
University Degree or equivalent in a
relevant scientific discipline
X
Relevant technical/scientific role or
work experience in a relevant technical
role
Experience/Knowledge
Experience at delivering or supporting
undergraduate practical’s
X
Ability to develop a working knowledge of
specific types of laboratory analytical
equipment
Attributes
X
X
X
Works well under pressure
X
X
X
Conscientious
X
X
X
Integrity
X
X
X
Good time management skills
X
X
X
Innovative and pro-active, able to work to
own initiative and a problem solver.
X
X
X
Human Resources
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08/02/2016
R
Appendix B
X
X
X
X
X
X
Good team player.
Ability to work to tight deadlines and
skilled at prioritising.
Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R – References
Human Resources
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08/02/2016