HR191
NOTES




JOB DESCRIPTION
Forms must be downloaded from the UCT website: http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/sapweb/forms/forms.htm
This form serves as a template for the writing of job descriptions.
A copy of this form should be kept on file in your office.
For re-evaluations, this form must be sent to your relevant HR Advisor/Officer
POSITION DETAILS
Position Title (current title)
Principal Technical Officer
Status of Post (tick)
Existing post
Job Grade (current grade)
PC 11
Faculty (if applicable)
Health Sciences
Department
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Section (if applicable)
Electron Microscope Unit
Date of Compilation
20 August 2013
Re-evaluation
FOR OFFICE USE
Job Title
Date of Grading
Grading Result
ORGANOGRAM
Head of Department
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Chairman EMU Committee
Head of Division
Medical Biochemistry
Director
Electron Microscope Unit
Principal
Technical
Officer
Maintenenance
Principal
Technical
Officer
SEM
Principal
Scientific
Officer
TEM
Principal
Scientific
Officer
Preparation
Chief Scientific
Officer
Physical Sci
Technical
officer
Logistics
19 June 2012
HR191
Page 1 of 7
PURPOSE
To service and maintain the equipment in the Electron Microscope Unit. Design, build and test specialized
experimental equipment. Develop and implement customized configurations as required for various research
platforms in the Unit..
19 June 2012
HR191
Page 2 of 7
JOB CONTENT
Key Performance Areas (4 – 6)
1) Maintain and service all Unit
equipment including the
microscopes and associated
preparative equipment.
% of
time
spent
50
Activities / Objectives / Tasks








19 June 2012
Ensure all systems are
correctly installed and are
working to specification.
Plan and execute routine
preventative maintenance and
re-calibration of all Unit
equipment so that there is
minimum disruption to user
services.
Publish a schedule of routine
maintenance.
Apply specialist knowledge to
troubleshoot, diagnose and
repair faults when they occur.
Maintain service and
maintenance logs of all
equipment
Maintain contact with the major
instrument manufacturers and
implement modifications and
software updates as required.
Maintain an awareness of the
maintenance requirements of
all equipment in the Unit based
on both experience and the
manufacturers requirements.
Instruct other members of Unit
staff in the appropriate and
safe use of instruments in
order to minimize downtimes.
Page 3 of 7
Results / Outcomes










Electron microscopes,
light microscopes and
associated equipment
function reliably
Cost effective repairs.
High value repair reports to Director
Downtime estimations
and notifications
Low cost high mortality
spare parts in supply
Repair costing
Minimum routine
downtime
Maintenance cost report
Maintenance records
Safety awareness
Competencies









Specialist theoretical and
practical knowledge of
electronic systems, vacuum
systems, mechanical
systems, software and
maintenance in the electron
microscopy environment.
Specialist knowledge of
applications as appropriate to
electron microscopes and EM
preparative equipment.
An understanding of how
instruments work and the
ability to operate the
instruments at a level
appropriate to enable their
maintenance and calibration.
Creativity, ingenuity and
innovation
Decision making and problem
solving skills
Quality commitment
Keeping abreast of
developments in field
Continuous learning
Safety awareness
HR191
2) Maintain vacuum and pneumatic
systems of electron microscopes
and associated equipment.
15


Locate and repair all vacuum
leaks and pneumatic failures
that occur in the Unit's
equipment.
Obtain appropriate diagrams
and information for vacuum
and pneumatic systems






3) Source and Order Spare Parts
15





19 June 2012
Find sources and prices of
spare parts needed for
maintenance and parts
required for special projects
Negotiate the purchase the
spare parts through the
appropriate channels with the
approval of the Director of the
Unit.
Keep stocks of failure prone
items
Maintain catalogues and other
information which is required
to facilitate sourcing and
ordering.
Prepare an annual budget of
maintenance costs for the
following year for presentation
to the director in mid-August of
each year.
Page 4 of 7



Leak rates maintained
within specification
Cost effective repairs
High value repair reports
to Director
Downtime estimations
and notifications
Basic spare parts in
supply
Repair costing

Writing reports and
documentation
Reliable low cost
suppliers
Parts availability
Annual maintenance
budget
HR191
4) Supervise installation and
servicing of equipment by third
parties.
10



5) Development of specialized
Experimental Apparatus
3



19 June 2012
Engage with service engineers
during delivery/dismantling,
installation, testing and or
servicing/ repairing of
instruments
Perform all SAT’s with the
service engineers and verify
results
Engage with service engineers
and advise the Director on the
best way to achieve
environmental specifications
for the instruments

Be available to users and Unit
staff by appointment to discuss
their needs for customized
experimental apparatus.
Cost the construction of the
apparatus in terms of time and
materials. If necessary consult
with technical staff from
elsewhere in the University or
outside contractors.
Design and build the
apparatus if the project is
approved by the director - if
necessary in collaboration with
technicians from other
University departments or
elsewhere.

Page 5 of 7



Liaise with all service
providers and monitor
installations and/or
repairs
Set standards and
demand high
performance and quality
outputs as required by
the Director / users
Suggest new ideas and
approaches
Users experimental
apparatus facilitated
Costing
HR191
6) Act as custodian for manuals
related to all equipment in the Unit.
1



7) Ad hoc Duties
6



Hours of Work:
19 June 2012
Collect user, service and other
manuals for all instruments in
the Unit and file in an orderly
and accessible manner.
Obtain circuit, vacuum and
mechanical diagrams and
other relevant information of all
apparatus in the Unit and store
these systematically.
Make the contents of the
manuals available to other
students and staff as
appropriate.
Assist Unit Staff in the effective
use of the computer network
and systems.
Assist in maintaining systems
aspects of the Unit’s
computers
Any other reasonable duties
that are specified by the
Director of the Unit

Instruments are correctly
used and serviced.

Effective use of IT
systems
Awareness of new
computer technology
Willingness to
accommodate
reasonable requests.


The incumbent will work 37.5 hours per week. Under normal circumstances these will include the core hours specified by the
Director. Occasionally, in line with operational requirements, the incumbent will be required to work longer hours on a specified
day. The extra time will be credited to the incumbent and he /she will be allowed corresponding time off.
Page 6 of 7
HR191
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Qualifications
Tertiary diploma or degree in Electronic Engineering.
Minimum Experience
Relevant experience and knowledge of electron microscopes including an understanding of
electron physics, optics and vacuum systems would be advantageous
Proven skills in electronics design, build and repair
AUTHORITY
PRINT NAME
SIGNATURE
CONTACT NO.
DATE
Compiled by
Approved by
Reviewed by
19 June 2012
Page 7 of 7
HR191