Apprentice Teaching Support Technician - 98277

Position Details

Collaborative Teaching Laboratory

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK 

Your starting salary will be £14,882 and after 12 months in post your salary will increase to £18,602 per annum 
Apprentice Band 300

Full Time/Fixed term for 2 years

Closing date – 5 October 2021

Apprenticeship summary

The apprentice will learn to ultimately be able to provide skilled technical support over the full range of activities supported under the Preparation manager, and which will include, but is not limited to, supporting undergraduate practical sessions for the Bioscience, Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering. 

The apprentice will also provide additional support for Outreach events, open day, applicant visit day events as well as for external courses hosted within the teaching facilities or hosted technical academy events.
The post holder would be expected at times to operate outside of the standard support staff hours during term time due to the timetable driven nature of the post (with Time Off In Lieu) and help to ensure that local and University Health & Safety policies are enforced within the laboratories.

Main duties the apprentice will learn

The post holder will be a key member of the technical support team. The post holder will be expected to assist the technical team in ensuring that timetabled teaching can be successfully delivered. Duties that the apprentice will learn include:

Class Support 
•    Provide general teaching laboratory support including the setting up and clearing away of equipment, consumables and reagents;
•    Prepare materials and reagents (e.g. stock solutions, agar plates etc.).  This will require the accurate use of measuring devices such as balances and pH meter and sterilisation equipment such as serialisation ovens and autoclaves;
•    Assist in the preparation of more complex reagents and biological materials;
•    Monitor and replenishing consumables.  This will include preparing orders and collecting items from stores;
•    Recording and signing out materials and equipment for student loan.

Operational Support (including Equipment) 
•    To be responsible for ensuring that equipment is accurately calibrated prior to classes starting and that all requirements are in place;  
•    To complete equipment function tests, maintenance and calibration.  Equipment may include: water baths, rotary evaporators, pH meters, microscopes, data loggers, electrophoresis equipment etc.;
•    To identify simple faults and troubleshoot equipment during classes; 
•    Setting up of IT equipment;
•    Receive deliveries (equipment, consumables and hazardous substances) and delivery documentation.  Ensure deliveries are safely unpacked and that hazardous substances are stored according to regulations and that temperature sensitive deliveries are stored in appropriate fridges/freezers;
•    Assist with the organisation and housekeeping of storage rooms, this may involve bringing equipment required for the day’s classes to the front of the store for easy access etc.
 

Health and Safety

• Assist with the implementation and follow safety policies and procedures as directed;
• To work in compliance with good Manual Handling practices;
• Read, understand and follow risk assessments and standard operating procedures (SOPs) e.g. the use of chemical cleaning agents;
• Dispose of hazardous materials according to local and University policy (e.g. sharps, biological organisms, radioactive material etc.)
• Assisting with the maintenance of a high standards of housekeeping;
• Assisting with portable appliance testing;
• To act as an Emergency First Aider and a Fire Warden.

While the focus of the role is to provide support preparation, set-up, clear-away and associated processes close collaboration with the Laboratory based Managers and Teaching Technicians will be required.  The apprentice will be expected to assist with in-class and in-lab operational support.  This will be when the role holder has specific skills, knowledge or experience not held elsewhere within the CTL or during quiet periods.
The hours of operation of all CTL laboratories are heavily dependent on the outcome of the annual timetabling exercise.  As a result, hours of operation and therefore working patterns may need to change to accommodate future requirements.  An informal and mutually agreed way forward would always be sought in the first instance.

This apprenticeship would suit:

This post would suit someone with a keen interest in science. You will be ambitious to develop a technical science career and keen to work for a leading University. 

You will be enthusiastic and motivated to take full advantage of the apprenticeship experience and will be punctual and reliable with excellent levels of learning and engagement.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience 

•    GCSEs at grade C/4 or above in English Language, Maths and Science is desirable.
•    Previous experience of laboratory activities (biology, chemistry, physics) from school or further education.
•    Good IT literacy
•    A keen interest in science.
•    An enthusiasm to learn.
•    Good communication and interpersonal skills that can be further developed
•    Accuracy, attentive to details and prioritisation skills that can be further developed
•    Be able to develop good organizational and time management skills as the post holder will routinely work under considerable pressure due to the timetable-dependent nature of the work.
•    To gain the ability to be able to work in a flexible manner due to changes in the prioritisation of tasks.
•    Ability to use own initiative and prioritize tasks.
•    Ability to work accurately & pay attention to detail.

Career Pathway

Apprentices may progress into the following roles during their career:

• Specialist technician
• Technical assistant
• Teaching Laboratory Technician
• Research Laboratory Technician
• Workshop Technician
• Senior Technician
• Team leader
• Technical Support manager
   

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