Core Technologies Hub Manager

14234BR

Cardiff School of Biosciences

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS

Advert

Core Technologies Hub Manager
School of Biosciences

The School of Biosciences is looking to appoint a key member of its Technical Team, a position that has two key aspects: Management of Core Facilities within the School and leading the Core Technology Hub. The position will be a dynamic and varied role working within many areas of research within the School.

The successful applicant will be responsible for maintaining and leading the development of Core Research Facilities within the School delivered to researchers either directly or as components of the Core Technology hub. The position will supervise these shared research spaces ensuring they are maintained to SHE standards, being well organised and running effectively.

The role will be based in the School of Biosciences within Sir Martin Evans Building but on occasion duties may require also working in School of Biosciences areas in Main Building located on Museum Avenue and the Hadyn Ellis Building located on Maindy Rd.

We wish to identify an individual educated to Degree level/NVQ4 or above in a scientific discipline and/or have significant work experience work in bioscience laboratories, has overseen good laboratory practices and have the appropriate skills to maintain School Core facilities. Experience of accreditation is desirable.

The candidate will need to have good organisational skills, enjoy problem solving, be able to balance multiple objectives and priorities and self-manage workloads. Being a team player, having a ‘can do attitude’ and a willingness to roll up sleeves to get the task done is crucial. Key to this role is leading on projects that provide innovative solutions that enhance researchers access to and the smooth running of the School Core facilities.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a suitably qualified individual to help shape and deliver the future vision of the School of Biosciences in this area.

For informal queries, please contact Mr Ian R Horton (Research, Commercialisation and Facilities Manager) [email protected]

This role is full time, open ended and available immediately.

Salary: £34,304 - £40,927 per annum (Grade 6)

Date advert posted: Friday, 20 May 2022

Closing date: Friday, 10 June 2022

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Facilities

•    To provide strategic leadership and day-to-day managerial and technical guidance to ensure the effective running of the School Core facilities for the benefit of customers (Including but not limited to: centrifugation, tissue culture, constant temperature rooms, cold rooms, sample storage and purified water provision) within the Sir Martin Evans Building
•    Take responsibility for resolving issues independently within the School of Biosciences Core Facilities Hub, liaising when appropriate with academic and technical leads including the investigation and analysis of specific issues within core facilities and producing recommendation reports
•    Leading the development of the School facilities, proposing new initiatives and working practices, and developing these in collaboration with academic staff to support of School facilities and enabling them to meet the changing needs of School research
•    To manage access rights and user training of the School Laboratory facilities.
•    To prepare and maintain standard operating procedures for the School Core facilities and to undertake reviews of technical processes and procedures, advising on options for improvement within work areas
•    To be the point of contact in relation to fault reporting and issues raised by users for the School facilities and equipment
•    To lead on the installation of major new equipment, ensuring necessary services are available and liaising with suppliers to lead on technical aspects of procurement, installation and set-up
•    To be responsible for ensuring maintenance and warranties of School equipment are kept up to date.
•    Take the lead in developing a strategy for procuring cross-School maintenance service contracts for equipment, working with the Core Technology Hub and colleagues in School finance team
•    To manage the inventory of technical equipment assets based in the School and institutes falling under the School’s remit including audit returns to finance department and ensuring the inventory captures equipment location changes, retention of equipment, plus monitoring of core equipment assets for depreciation and the need for replacement and maintenance
•    Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required

Shared Labs
•    Be responsible for the oversight of shared research laboratories, including Life Science Building and basement areas, ensuring good laboratory practices are promoted, areas are provisioned with laboratory coats and PPE equipment (where required) and laboratories are kept in good order
•    Advise and assist research groups, whether relocating to or from the Sir Martin Evans Building, in the set-up or disassembly of equipment, decontamination of laboratories and disposal of samples, old equipment or rubbish
•    To coordinate with the Safety Manager and Building Manager in their duties as required i.e. supporting staff moves, decanting laboratories and undertaking tasks associated with moving equipment
•    In conjunction with Research group leaders and the SHE Manager carry out WEEE assessments, and instigate disposal of equipment no longer required, including ensuring all appropriate approvals and certifications have been carried out

CONTINUED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (...)

Person Specification

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criteria as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (eg. 1234BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1. Degree/NVQ 4 and/or substantial relevant laboratory work experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.  Substantial experience/knowledge of working in a biological sciences laboratory environment within the context of research facilities support.
3. Able to demonstrate professional knowledge of biological sciences research equipment with a view to providing advice and guidance to internal and external customers
4. Proven experience in developing new processes and procedures to support the research community

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
5. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people
6. Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments
7. Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered to effectively support research
8. Proven ability to work collaboratively to achieve shared goals.

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving
9. Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions.
10. Demonstrable knowledge of equipment, techniques and approaches used in biological science research.

Desirable Criteria

11. Experience of laboratory management
12. Experience of working within an externally accredited laboratory environment
13. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Additional Information

JOB DESCRIPTION CONTINUED (...)

•    To provide training in the use of Hub equipment and techniques to students and staff
•    To be responsible for maintenance and repair of an extensive range of equipment organising with external contractors when necessary
•    To provide training and Standard Operating Procedures for Hub equipment and ensure their safe operation
•    To collaborate with others using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood.
•    To undertake a variety of administrative duties associated with the management of the Core Technology Hub and the maintenance of equipment

General Duties
•    Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
•    Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
•    Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Additional Information
The School of Biosciences is one of the largest biological and biomedical science departments in the UK with over 100 academic staff and a wide range of research across whole organism and ecosystem biology, molecular biosciences, biomedical research and neuroscience. The School has invested in new research laboratories and in state-of-the-art equipment provided through “Technology Research Hubs” which bring together academic expertise and access to equipment and play a key role in supporting the School’s cutting edge research (see http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biosciences/research/technology-research-hubs ).

Job Category

Management & Executive, Technical