Senior Technician Teaching and Research (Meteorology)

Technical Services is seeking to appoint a Senior Technician to join a small team of technical support staff based in the Department of Meteorology. The Department has an international reputation for excellence in atmospheric, oceanic and climate science, sitting within the School of Mathematical, Physical & Computational Sciences (SMPCS). 

The post-holder will provide technical support for laboratory-based teaching of experiments used to study atmospheric physics, remote sensing and meteorological instrumentation. They will be responsible for assisting teaching staff, students and researchers with laboratory-based project work by providing laboratory induction, training in safety critical equipment and help with setting up laboratory- and field experiments.

The post holder will be required to take an active role in the day-to-day running of the Reading University Atmospheric Observatory (RUAO), located at Earley Gate. This facility continues to provide meteorological measurements used by students, teaching staff and researchers, adding to a historical database of daily readings collected since the early 1900s. Other responsibilities include the deployment and maintenance of remote sensors, data loggers and software interfaces located at field research stations in the southeast of England. Technical support for student residential field classes in Dorset and the Lake District, is also required. 

Candidates should refer to the Essential Criteria listed in the Person Specification linked to this advert, when preparing their supporting statements.

The Senior Technician will be responsible for:

• The operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of automated instrumentation and associated field- and laboratory apparatus, used for teaching and research (including liaising with service engineers and external contacts for servicing and repairs).
• Maintaining a small suite of teaching laboratories and associated equipment, consumables, housekeeping, waste management, stock keeping and ordering. 
• The commissioning of field and remote sensing equipment and meteorological instrumentation for teaching and research projects, requiring the delegation of more basic tasks to more junior members of the team.
• Providing training and advice in the use of apparatus housed in the Meteorology field- and laboratory facilities for research, including novel solutions to research requirements.
• Maintaining field- and laboratory facilities to a higher standard by ensuring H&S compliance, best practice in laboratory procedures and good housekeeping. 
• General maintenance shared amongst the team, of the RUAO grounds.

You will have:

• A HND, NVQ4 or basic professional qualification in relevant field (Physics-based sciences), or a degree in a similar subject with more limited experience.
• A commitment to making routine (daily) meteorological measurements to the highest possible standard, including weekend rota observations.
• Experience of making measurements with manual and part /  fully automated environmental monitoring instrumentation.
• Up to date knowledge of meteorological / environmental monitoring instrumentation and data logging / measurement techniques.
• Ability to design, set-up and run instrument trials / experiments.
• Experience in risk assessment and knowledge to identify gaps in current health and safety procedures.
• Experience of working outdoors.

Interviews to be held w/c 14th February 2022

Informal contact details

Alternative informal contact details

Contact role: Technical Manager Contact role: Associate Director, Technical Services

Contact name:

Mr Andrew Lomas

Contact name:

Dr Karen Wicks

Contact phone:

+44 (0)118 378 7993

Contact phone:

+44 (0)118 378 7758

Contact email:

[email protected]

Contact email:

[email protected]

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route.  Applicants should ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement under the PBS.  There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website .

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and is a Diversity Champion for Stonewall, the leading LGBT+ rights organisation. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route.  Applicants should ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement under the PBS.  There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website .