Lead Lab Technician
Start Date: September 2014
Salary: £18,000 - £23,000
As we move towards an extraordinary first year at UTC Cambridge, we are looking to hire our
founding staff team to coincide with our first Year 10 and Year 12 student cohorts.
We are looking for a Lead Lab Technician with exceptional skills to join our team. As a vital part of
our support team you will play a key role in the development of UTC Cambridge.
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Do you have the desire to be a part of a ground breaking educational experience?
Can you support the UTC ethos as it delivers a high quality educational experience for all
students?
Do you work collaboratively to achieve the highest possible standards of work and conduct?
Do you have a commitment to building positive relationships with students in order to guide
them through their individual learning journeys?
As the successful candidate, you will be part of a team that is working alongside university and
industry partners to develop and deliver an outstanding education. There will be nowhere more
exciting to work when we open in our brand new building. You will be joining us in the UTC’s
innovative learning environment, as we begin our journey to excellence.
Supported by world renowned local sponsors, we will provide specialist education combining
traditional GCSEs and A-Levels with specialist vocational qualifications and L2 and L3 Applied
Science BTECs. The UTC will be a thriving science hub delivering a fully integrated, academic and
vocational education to create the next generation of scientists, technicians, healthcare
practitioners, engineers and entrepreneurs.
Application Form and Candidate Pack can be downloaded from
www.utccambridge.co.uk/recruitment
Closing date: 1pm 24th March 2014
Interviews will be held in April & May 2014. (Dates to be determined.)
This UTC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Dear Colleague,
I am delighted that you are interested in applying for the post of Lead Lab Technician at UTC
Cambridge. Please find attached the candidate information packet, which includes an overview of
the UTC Cambridge mission, a job description and person specification. If you feel you could
flourish and make a significant contribution to supporting the education of our students, I look
forward to receiving your application.
This is an important post. The successful candidate will be a founding member of the UTC team. It is
a post that will require intelligence, vision, commitment and the consistent role modelling of best
practices to develop our students.
I want founding staff to be instrumental in creating a strong culture of learning, where behaviour is
workplace-appropriate and self-regulating. Our parents have high expectations of a personalised
education for their child and excellent communication from UTC staff.
We will expect you to work hard, be flexible, and show commitment to our mission. In return, you
will work with a team that will provide relentless enthusiasm and great practical and moral support.
In addition, you will work in an environment where your opinions are sought and welcomed. You
will help us create a culture where students and staff feel acknowledged and excited by the journey
ahead.
To apply please complete the application form and supporting letter as requested. In your letter,
highlight your reasons for applying, the key moments in your career to date, and the impact you
have made in your previous positions.
Please submit your application by 1pm on March 24th, 2014. For an informal, confidential discussion
please contact me on 01223 418802 or mradford@utccambridge.co.uk
We are holding an Open Day for all potential staff and students on March the 8 th. Please join us for
an informal overview of this exciting new adventure where your questions can be answered. If you
are interested in attending, please pre-register at: www.utccambridge.co.uk
Yours sincerely
Melanie Radford
Principal
UTC Cambridge Candidate Information
VISION
UTC Cambridge will provide outstanding and inspirational educational opportunities for learners
aged 14-19 linked to the leading edge industry sponsors in the Cambridge region. When they
progress from the UTC, learners will be confident, enthusiastic, highly skilled and qualified to
enter higher education, further specialist training, apprenticeships, or to move effectively into
the workforce. UTC learners will also have the self-determining skills to play a full part in society.
UTC Cambridge at the heart of word class industry
Cambridge is a major worldwide centre for research and development in the bio-medical sciences,
life sciences, healthcare, and the rapidly emerging Environmental Science and Technology
industries. Many of the world’s largest and most successful research facilities and pharmaceutical
companies are based in Cambridge. Cambridge is home to 185 biotech companies, 17 of the UK’s
publicly quoted biotech companies and a quarter of the public biotech companies in Europe. There
are currently over 400 Environmental Science and Technology companies in the UK, and in excess
of 250 of these are located in Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Cleantech Ltd., an organisation
supporting the growth of environmental goods and services (“cleantech”) companies in Greater
Cambridge and beyond, will act as the conduit to engage these additional companies as they
emerge.
Inspiring and preparing young people for world class employment
The Sanger Centre for genomic research (Wellcome Trust), the Babraham Institute, Cambridge
University Health Partners, Cambridge University Hospitals, the Medical Research Council, and
Napp Pharmaceuticals, along with many other companies based on both the Cambridge Biomedical
Campus and the Cambridge Science Park are fully engaged partners in the UTC and will give UTC
learners unprecedented access to a multitude of inspirational people and resources.
Innovative Curriculum
The UTC curriculum will be inclusive, practical, promote excellence, and foster creativity. It will be
transformational for learners who will develop highly valued skills evidenced in the most
appropriate qualifications in one of the two specialist curriculum pathways. The curriculum will
combine practitioner skills, occupational skills, interpersonal skills, and theoretical knowledge to
ensure learning is relevant in an applied and very practical way. Learners will experience both
breadth and depth of learning and will be engaged by an approach which emphasises team work,
problem solving and creativity. The integration of technical, vocational and academic elements of
the curriculum through projects set in workplace contexts will powerfully emphasise to learners the
potential for shaping their future and ensuring a fulfilling and rewarding working life. Our goal is to
concurrently develop both vocational and learning skills to ensure that every learner is able to
realise their full potential, and be well placed to identify future learning needs and opportunities as
they arise throughout their life.
The UTC size, student number targets, and staffing levels
The UTC is a regional facility that will draw students in a 25-mile radius from Cambridge. In its
steady state the UTC will be a small, highly specialised institution of 670 or so students aged 14-19.
The UTC is a new institution and it is planned that it will grow to steady state over four years from
September 2014 when it will open with a target of 185 students (year 10 and year 12 cohorts).
Steady state capacity will include 125 students in both year 10 and 11, and 210 students in both
year 12 and 13.
The expected staffing pattern for 2014–15 is currently modelled to include 15 teaching staff
(including heads of science and maths), 1 SENCO, 1 IT technician, 3 teaching assistants, 2
technicians, 2 administrative staff and contract facilities maintenance and Catering staff working on
the site. For 2015–16, the staffing will grow proportionately with student numbers.
Working at UTC Cambridge
We expect that working at the UTC will be both challenging and rewarding partly because of:
 our employer-led, project-based curriculum
 our stretching aspirations - to be an outstanding college at our first inspection
 learner-centred, individual learning paths
 our state of the art - open plan - science facilities
 a tablet and/or smart phone on every learners desk
However, UTC Cambridge will be a small institution in year 1 of operation and our staff structure
and staffing numbers will reflect this for the first year of operation. This will mean that many staff
members will have multi-layered roles and will be expected to work flexibly in meeting institutional
goals and student aspirations. We see the hiring and development of a strong, happy, ambitious
and confident team of staff as key to the success of UTC Cambridge. Our focus in year one will be to
develop and support an enthusiastic, creative, innovative, vibrant and professional atmosphere that
encourages all students and staff to succeed. UTC Cambridge will have world class integrated IT and
conference facilities that support teaching and learning goals and we are committed to ensuring
that all our staff are capable, creative and confident users of ICT.
Business etiquette and a business ethos will pervade UTC Cambridge and our code of conduct is
written in business terms. We have a dress code rather than a uniform, our sanctions and rewards
for students will use the language of business wherever we can to build our students capabilities in
this area. To this end, we are focused on hiring quality teachers with a background in industry who
will model, mentor and monitor these business disciplines and behaviour’s for our students.
We will have a longer working day than most secondary schools. We start at 08:30 and continue
until 17:00 on Monday to Thursday and until 16:30 on Fridays. We require our staff to be on site
during these hours as you will be engaged in; direct instruction, team teaching, active and proximity
- learning and behaviour management, individual and small-group tutoring and facilitation, flipped-
classroom and resource preparation, conversational grading, assessments and evaluations, and MIS
updates. All staff will have a pastoral role.
We also have a slightly longer working year with 200 student days and an additional 5 days of staff
development. We will endeavour to match the term dates of our local schools as closely as possible
to minimise disruption to families with children in both the UTC and other local schools. This means
that some staff development time may need to be during twilight or occasional Saturday sessions.
Anticipated staff needs are as follows:
Department
Science
Role
Head of Science
Science
Science
Science
Science
Science
Maths & Tech.
Maths & Tech.
Maths & Tech.
Communication
Communication
Communication
Communication
Communication
Administration
Biology Teachers
Chemistry Teachers
Physics Teacher
Senior Technician
Technician
Maths Teachers
Computer Science Teacher
IT Technician
Head of Communication
English Teacher
Geography Teacher
SENCo
Teaching Assistants
PA to Executive Team
Administration
Receptionist / Admin Assistant
Notes
60% A Level, GCSE, L2/ L3 BTec, Challenge
Projects
A Level, GCSE, L2/L3 BTec, Challenge Projects
A Level, GCSE, L2/L3 BTec, Challenge Projects
A Level, GCSE, L2/L3 BTec, Challenge Projects
School and industry experience preferred
A Level, GCSE, Challenge Projects
A Level, GCSE, Challenge Projects
Some student contact preferred
75% GCSE Challenge Projects,
GCSE Lang/Lit, Challenge Projects,
A level, GCSE, Challenge Projects,
50% teaching science or maths preferred
Term time only
HR or marketing background and advantage
Accounts clerk and/or SIMS experience desirable
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Lead Lab Technician
LOCATION:
UTC Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge
SALARY:
£18,000 - £23,000 per annum
HOURS OF WORK:
A minimum of 37 hours per week
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Head of Science
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
To organise, deliver and develop technical services to the
Science Department of the UTC. Line management of other Lab
Technicians.
OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB
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To support the Head of Science with the planning and delivery of practical teaching sessions.
To liaise with Science Department staff in planning for practical learning.
To oversee the day to day Science support in the learning environment.
Commitment to the UTC ethos and believing that all young people can achieve more than they
thought possible.
To ensure all laboratory areas are regularly monitored, kept clean, tidy and safe at all times.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Classroom/Practical support
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To monitor standards and practices within the classroom and identify and communicate
improvements to working practices to ensure the highest standards are achieved.
To provide technical and learning assistance and information in the classroom and across
the school community in order to support students and staff.
To assist and advise classroom teachers in the production of practical activities.
To support students in the classroom environment to assist in the learning process where
appropriate.
To assist teaching staff and sponsors with the effective delivery of Challenge Projects.
To ensure high standards of Health and Safety are maintained at all times.
Preparation
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To prepare (and where appropriate manufacture) teaching materials as required to ensure
effective support for teaching staff in the Science department.
To liaise with employer sponsors regarding equipment and resources needed for Challenge
Projects.
To repair, maintain and store equipment in order to guarantee safe and effective upkeep.
To set up Science practical’s in advance of lessons when required.
To ensure the prep areas is kept clean, tidy and safe.
Equipment Maintenance and Stock
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To assist with inventory of equipment and stock control in order to maintain a supply of
equipment and disposables for teaching use.
To receive and check deliveries of supplies to ensure accuracy from suppliers.
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To liaise with equipment providers to ensure good quality provision and value for
money.
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To procure biological consumables, i.e. fruit, hearts and other perishable items as necessary,
ensuring they are stored and later disposed of in a safe, hygienic and secure way.
To be responsible for the care of living tissue and to maintain long term experiments.
Dispose of chemicals safely and in line with health and safety regulations. This may include
safe disposal and management of biological and radioactive materials.
Make sure surfaces and equipment are clean and in good working order in laboratories after
use, including chemical spillages.
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Other Specific Duties
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The person undertaking this role is expected to work within the policies, ethos and aims of the UTC, to
carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Principal, and to play a full part in the
life of the UTC supporting its distinctive mission and encouraging staff and students to do the same.
Lead Lab Technician Specification
Qualifications
Experience
Knowledge and
Understanding
Essential
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A Levels or Equivalent.
Desirable
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Degree level or equivalent
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Professional laboratory experience.
Health and Safety training or experience
Experience of working in education.
Experience of undertaking a Health and Safety
risk assessment in specific working
environment.
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Experience of supervising a
team.
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Excellent communication skills, including
written and oral.
Excellent organisation skills.
Ability to work and plan under pressure.
Experience in the explanation and
implementation of particular strategies and
methods to help students to improve their
learning and enjoyment of Science.
Knowledge of safety issues as appropriate to
working in a laboratory.
Able to help implement the necessary routines
and patterns to establish good behaviour
management within the school.
Understands the importance of confidentiality
and discretion.
Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite 20072013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
Proficient using Microsoft OS of Windows 7
and up.
Accuracy and attention to detail, with a
methodical approach to your work.
Ability to meet tight deadlines.
Genuine passion and a belief in the potential
of every student.
Positive commitment to student achievement
and staff development.
Authoritative presence with high awareness of
student activities and a strong willingness to
intervene when necessary.
Helpful, positive, calm and caring nature.
Able to establish good working relationships.
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Excellent understanding of
databases – including ability
to use databases to produce
reports, statistics and
inventory management.
Good understanding and use
of Apple products and
operating systems.
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Personal Qualities
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