Senior Research Technician (Accelerate Battery Testing) – School of Metallurgy and Materials – 97758 – Band 500

SENIOR RESEARCH TECHNICIAN (ACCELERATE BATTERY TESTING) – 97758

Position Details

Area:                 School of Metallurgy and Materials in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Salary:               Full time starting salary is normally in the range £23,699 to £25,485 with potential progression once in post to £29,471
Band/Grade:      Band 500
Hours:                Full time 
Duration:            Fixed-term until 31 August 2021 
Location:            University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Closing Date:    22 August 2021 

Our offer to you 
 
People are at the heart of what we are and do. 
 
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.  We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. 
 
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.  With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. 
 
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.  We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. 
 
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working.  In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. 
 
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.  On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens. 
 
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham   

Job context

The post holder will be a technician based in the School of Metallurgy and Materials, supporting the day-to-day operations of the battery testing and the energy materials group. The post holder will also perform technical support duties in Mechanical Engineering workshops and laboratories. They will provide technical support to the battery testing and the energy materials laboratories in the School, incorporating battery testing, cell making, data collection and data entry. This will include, carrying out specialist work in the electrochemical testing of cells and batteries, safety testing, and routine analysis. The post holder will be expected to keep up to date with developments in the research areas covered, and how they may impact on cell testing activities. The post requires knowledge and skills in the field of materials, materials handling and lithium-ion batteries. The duties require collaborative working and close liaison with academics, technical staff, students, external companies, and contractors. A broad range of technical skills are also required to complete the additional duties as described in the role, as well as a full UK driving license to operate folk lifts on and offsite.

Job summary

You will provide technical expertise, support and guidance in either teaching support or research support.  You may supervise a number of technical staff but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.

If you are in a research post you will need an in-depth understanding of the research questions, techniques and experimental protocols.  You will be able to use your in-depth knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise.  You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate experimental procedures. 

If you are in the teaching laboratories you will need a significant understanding of the requirements to deliver undergraduate classes, an in-depth understanding of all main subject areas, the ability to respond quickly and positively to changes in protocols, and troubleshoot problems, and optimise protocols to ensure a positive student experience.  You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes.   

In order to flexibly use resource you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university.

Main duties

Research duties 

1.    You will be responsible for assisting in managing the experimental and laboratories.
2.    You will use your in-depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and/or students.  This will involve communicating with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students. 
3.    You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.
4.    Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures which will need you to use your judgment to assess the correct technique to use, and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your manager for approval on any proposed changes.
5.    You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, and for any other research activities you may be involved in including results. 
6.    Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
7.    Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
8.    You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety duties

1.    Proactive support for health and safety within the laboratory.  This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties.  Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.
2.    Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.
3.    Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained. 
4.    Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
5.    Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.
6.    Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for the laboratory.
7.    Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider.

General Administration and Organisation

1.    Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.
2.    Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
3.    Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents.
4.    Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
5.    Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained. 
6.    Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures. 
7.    Maintain a technical support based teaching laboratory website (how to guides for the preparation of materials, practical setup guides), and keeping these up to date as and when session requirements or protocols change or maintaining relevant research lab databases/records.

Other Duties
1.    In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
2.    Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. 
3.    Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience 

•    Extensive relevant workplace experience, equivalent professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
•    GCSE level 2 (A*- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and english. 
•    Level 3 BTEC qualification in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent and preferably level 2 NVQ. 
•    In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods. 
•    Extensive experience of similar laboratory based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment.
•    Experience of lifting and slinging and manual handling.
•    Significant relevant laboratory/engineering workshop experience required, including use of lathes, millers and mig and tig welders; together with vidence of bench fitting and the maintenance and repair of equipment.
•    Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others.
•    Working knowledge of batteries is desirable.
•    Very good communication and interpersonal skills, able to persuasively influence compliance from principal investigators to students.
•    Ability to organise and manage own work load and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements.
•    Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team. 
•    Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role.
•    Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same.
•    A good knowledge, experience, understanding and appreciation of health and safety issues is essential, including working with fume cupboards and pressurised gas bottles and regulators.
•    NEBOSH General Certificate or similar H&S qualification highly desirable or willingness to undertake.
•    Basic fire safety training (including evacuation procedures) and chemical handling training are desirable.
•    To be qualified as a first aider is desirable.
•    Proficiency in commonly used software packages.
•    Understands the importance of  equality and diversity in the workplace
•    Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Emma Kendrick; [email protected] 

Dimensions

You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers.   You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff.  You may be involved in budget monitoring.

Planning and organising  

You will be required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision.   You will ensure that you have the resources required, which will require planning ahead and procurement of goods.

Problem solving and decision making

You will be able to research, modify and adapt protocols after consulting relevant manager, and prepare for teaching or research experiments.  You will be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures.  You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions.   Although you will work under the direction of more senior staff you will be able to carry out your work with a large amount of autonomy.  

Internal and external relationships
This role will be advising and supporting research staff and/or students, and with external contacts such as company representatives.

Our Values and Behaviours