Deputy Technical Manager (Student Skills & Projects) - School of Engineering - 98340 - Grade 6

DEPUTY TECHNICAL MANAGER (STUDENT SKILLS & PROJECTS) – 98340

Position Details

School of Engineering in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,924 to £30,497 with potential progression once in post to £34,304
Grade 6
Full time
Fixed-term for up to 3 years
Location:  University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK 
Closing Date:  14 November 2021 

Job summary

The post provides specialist technical management to a team of technical staff for student-led activities in the School of Engineering. This includes providing technical expertise, support and guidance in support of student-led project work (including some Student Societies activity) and student skills development.  You will provide leadership and management in support of a number of student-focused facilities in the School of Engineering including:

•    The Student MakerSpace
•    Engineering Design Centre
•    Students Skills Workshop
•    Project lab spaces
•    Civils teaching lab
You will be required to supervise students at undergraduate and postgraduate level and any external users of the School facilities, for example during outreach activities. You will be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate, including the technical team and more junior technical staff (e.g. apprentices).

You will possess a significant understanding of the practical engineering skills required in our programmes of study, and in-depth understanding of the engineering disciplines (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical), the ability to respond quickly and positively to changes in protocols, and troubleshoot problems, and optimise protocols to ensure a positive student experience.  You will need to manage staff resources in order to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate some of the student-led activity in the School, and to flexibly use resource to support different areas of the School.

Main duties

Technical Management for Student Focussed Activities:
•    To take the lead in the day-to-day management and technical responsibility for the School’s student focussed facilities in the School including: 
a)    The Student MakerSpace
b)    Engineering Design Centre
c)    Students Skills Workshop
d)    Project lab spaces
e)    Civil Engineering teaching lab
•    To manage the workflow and resourcing of the facilities listed above in order to ensure effective delivery of the following student activities:
f)    Interdisciplinary Project work
g)    Final Year projects (UG) and Masters-level projects
h)    Student Societies
i)    Student Skills Development (i.e. Workshop Training)

•    Provide leadership and management to the Student Projects & Skills technical team responsible for supporting student-focussed practical activity in the School.
•    Recruit and line manage staff, providing continuous support, development (including the annual PDR process), mentoring and training for the technical team.  
•    Promote equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
•    Plan and make recommendations on team structures and recruitment strategies that ensure sufficient resources are available to deliver service. This includes maintaining documentation of processes, planning efficient workload allocations and ensuring essential work is covered in the event of absences.
•    Play a proactive role in the recording of skills and experience of the technical team (e.g. Skills Matrix) and to help facilitate the transfer of specialist skills and knowledge within the team as required. Provide advice and guidance relating to expertise as and when required. 
•    Manage staff performance and address areas of concern confidentially and sensitively. 
•    Build relationships and manage expectations of the team.
•    Under the direction of the Head of Operations take part in College wide initiatives linked to aspects of managing technical support staff or other related processes.

Health and Safety duties

•    Plan, manage and monitor all health and safety procedures within the student-focused facilities.  To be responsible for maintaining a safe working environment including COSHH, risk assessments and electrical safety testing. Writing procedures for the safe use of techniques and equipment, including standard operating procedures, in line with University policy.
•    Ensure that all team members understand the safety aspects of relevant equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.
•    Ensure that any offsite student activity (e.g. UB Racing) has all necessary health and safety procedures in place including necessary levels of supervision and insurance documentation. 
•    Develop and present talks on workshop H&S to undergraduate students across the School of Engineering.
•    Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained. 
•    Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
•    Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.
•    Function as fire warden and first aider for the area of responsibility, maintaining awareness of higher risk activities within area of responsibility. Liaising with the building Fire safety Officer and Security Services during any emergency situation.

Technical Support

•    Provide expert technical support and advice to students with their research projects, to assist them in improving their design and manufacturability. 
•    Use technical knowledge, skill and initiative to inspect and suggest modifications to drawings in SolidWorks and Catia before manufacture. Assist in the analysis of data collected.
•    Ensure that students are trained to a competent level in the use of hand tools, power tools, lathes, millers etc. – and for some areas (e.g. Student Societies) to provide opportunity for skills to be developed further.
•    Work with Technical Manager and Academic leads to plan student activity in relation to available space. To oversee the logistics of managing a flexible, multiple user workspaces.
•    Responsible for the management of transport and logistics where any activity requires the students to work offsite (e.g. UB Racing).
•    Actively participate in discussions around the development of future projects and/or skills-based activity.
•    Ensure that any necessary skills training programme is managed successfully in line with accreditation requirements.
•    Negotiating with external funding bodies and companies and suppliers associated with industry in order to generate cash and contributions in kind to student activity.

Facility Management

•    Ensure efficient management of the equipment usage within the facilities, including any charging for usage where appropriate.
•    Maintain an asset register of equipment and a rolling plan of maintenance and kit replacement in line with School 5-year plan.
•    Manage general maintenance of equipment and fault finding, basic repairs where possible and organising repair or replacement with external companies where required.
•    Work in conjunction with School H&S Coordinator to ensure that safety inspections and equipment examinations (e.g. PSSR, PAT) are completed according to legislation and University policy.
•    Propose any modifications and/or new equipment for the facilities including managing the ordering of any new equipment.
•    Responsibility for the reporting of and monitoring resolution for any failures of the infrastructure supporting the facilities within the area. Liaise with the Technical Manager and Buildings Coordinator to achieve effective resolution.
•    Responsible for ensuring all lab users comply with basic housekeeping policies and take effective action for areas of non-compliance. Establish appropriate rotas for maintenance of communal areas and monitor compliance. 
•    To contribute to internal and external audit procedures, and to regulatory inspections.
•    Assist Technical Manager in identifying and tracking items held on the University asset register

Other Duties
•    Ensure that technical support and assistance is available during outreach / admissions events as directed by the Technical Manager.
•    Manage staff resource in order for team members to attend and provide technical support to University Open Day / Applicant Visit day activity for the School as directed by the Technical Manager. 
•    Take a lead role in supervision for any other additional outreach type activity including risk assessments and insurance paperwork where necessary. 
•    Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. 
•    Any other duties as may reasonably be required, directed by the relevant manager.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience 

•    Minimum 5 GCSE qualifications (or equivalent) to include Maths, English and Science. Physics is desirable.
•    Level 3 BTEC qualification in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent and preferably level 2 NVQ, normally obtained through a higher level apprenticeship.  
•    IOSH General Certificate or similar H&S qualification highly desirable or willingness/ability to undertake.
•    Significant relevant laboratory/engineering workshop experience required, including use of lathes, millers and mig and tig welders; together with evidence of bench fitting and the maintenance and repair of equipment.
•    Working knowledge of electronics is desirable.
•    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.
•    Full UK diving licence essential. Fork lift truck licence desirable, as is mini bus licence (or willing to train for these). 
•    Excellent organisational and administrative skills, able to record information accurately using online systems and databases.
•    A positive, flexible and proactive attitude is essential.
•    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to persuasively influence compliance from principal investigators to students.
•    This post will require some work to be carried out during evenings and at weekends. Student Society section of the post will require occasional extended periods (e.g. a week) of work away from Birmingham, including overseas travel.
•    To be qualified as a first aider is desirable.

Informal enquiries can be made to Donna Johnson; [email protected] 

Our Values and Behaviours

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment 
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.