HR191
JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION DETAILS
Position Title (current title)
Laboratory Technician
Status of Post (tick)
New Post
Job Grade (current grade)
Payclass 7
Faculty (if applicable)
EBE
Department
Chemical Engineering
Section (if applicable)
Crystallization and Precipitation Research Unit
Date of Compilation
24 January 2013

Re-evaluation
FOR OFFICE USE
Job Title
Date of Grading
Grading Result
ORGANOGRAM
HOD
Chemical Engineering
Director – CPU
CPU Finance Manager
CPU Admin
Manager
CPU Research
Officers
CPU Laboratory
Manager
Laboratory
Technician
PURPOSE
The principal purpose of the job is to assist the Laboratory Manager with the smooth and safe operation
of the laboratories (3) of the Crystallization and Precipitation Research Unit (CPU).
5 August 2009
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HR191
JOB CONTENT
1) Laboratory Assistance
% of
time
spent
70
2) Safety
10
Key Performance Areas (4 – 6)
5 August 2009
Activities / Objectives / Tasks
Results / Outcomes
Competencies
 To maintain already existing laboratory
procedures and protocols, including
general housekeeping and maintaining
laboratory discipline amongst users.
 To control the general consumables
and glassware in the CPU laboratories.
 To order and control the chemicals
and maintain an up-to-date inventory of
chemicals in the CPU laboratories.
 To control equipment inventories (if
equipment is on loan to another lab, to
record this and ensure it is returned),
assist with the maintenance schedules
and logs (e.g. balances, pH,
conductivity, particle size measurement
equipment, autoclaves, fume/extraction
hoods, pumps, etc.)
 To maintain proper procedures for
waste disposal and to co-ordinate the
disposal of waste from CPU
laboratories
 Safe, efficient, well organised
and resourced research
laboratory
 Provision of efficient
services to all laboratory
users
 The incumbent must be an
experienced, energetic,
driven, strongly disciplined
individual, able to deal with
multiple, simultaneous
demands in the high-pressure
environment of the CPU
laboratories.
 Excellent communication,
inter-personal skills, good
time management and
planning skills with a good
understanding obtained
through experience in a
multi-user laboratory
environment
 To ensure that a safe working
environment in the laboratories is
maintained at all times and to fulfill the
role of assistant Safety Representative
for CPU.
 Maintenance of research
laboratories that meet the
legal, health and safety
mandate set out by the
department and the
university.
 H & S training and
experience
 The ability to carry out
HAZOP analyses on
experimental procedures
and equipment – not sure if
this is a requirement. It is
quite a high level analysis.
 An uncompromising
attitude towards ensuring
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HR191
safety in the laboratory at
all times
3) Administration
7
4) Technical Assistance
3
5) Laboratory work
10
5 August 2009
 Sourcing of quotations for chemicals
and equipment
 Preparing purchase order
documentation and following up on
deliveries
 To assist the undergraduate and
postgraduate students on the use of
large analytical instrumentation, such as
the Malvern Laser Diffraction, Coulter
Counter electro zone sensing
instruments.
 To carryout basic ad hoc
analyses/experiments as may be
required
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
Ensuring that all the
required documentation
and procedures that fall
within the context of the
research laboratories are
carried out accurately and
efficiently

Evidence of trained users
being able to use the
equipment and interpret
the measurements
correctly.

Ensuring that analyses
and experiments are
carried out with a high
level of accuracy
Meticulous record keeping,
MS Excel proficiency,
excellent communication,
inter-personal skills, good
time management and
planning skills with a good
understanding obtained
through experience in
working in a multi-user
laboratory environment.

Adequate user experience
on the various pieces of
equipment or drive for
capacity development in
becoming an experienced
user.
 Sound experimental
experience

HR191
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Qualifications
A relevant qualification (e.g. Diploma or BTech in Chemical Engineering / Chemistry, BSc in
Chemistry, Biochemistry, Health or Food Sciences or related disciplines)
Minimum Experience
Minimum experience of at least 3 to 5 years in a multi-user laboratory environment,
PRINT NAME
AUTHORITY
SIGNATURE
CONTACT NO.
DATE
Compiled by
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Reviewed by
5 August 2009
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HR191