Support Technician

Overview

As a Support Technician you will work as an integral member of the School’s existing technical team. Reporting to Senior Technicians and Technical Managers, you will support the School’s teaching and research activities by providing an effective and efficient technical service across the School and where required will support wider School activities. This will include supporting student projects (UG, PGT & PGR), a range of academic research projects and specific or specialist business needs of the School.

You will adopt high working standards to ensure the School’s technical team continues to be recognized for its service excellence and exemplary Health and Safety record.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide technical support on a range of issues across the School. This includes liaising with academics and PG students regarding potential work and carrying out experimental procedures under the guidance of senior colleagues and/or study leads. Report technical issues to senior staff as appropriate.
• Support general lab activities and provide basic lab management duties, working under the guidance of study leads and senior technical colleagues to ensure high quality sample processing, storage and record keeping.
• Use, monitor and maintain a variety of general and specialist technical equipment, to meet the needs of the School with regard to research, teaching and experimental work.
• Provide a high standard of customer service to staff, students and visitors. Make suggestions for improving service and refer customers to senior colleagues where appropriate.
• Present data and results accurately and appropriately to staff and students involved in the research study as required.
• Plan and perform general laboratory maintenance, including ordering, routine maintenance of equipment, consumables, stocks, etc.

• Maintain comprehensive, accurate and tidy records of research & teaching activities.
• Maintain an awareness and commitment to the relevant Health and Safety rules and regulations.  Provide safety information to staff and students and assist with creating relevant safety documentation. Maintain appropriate records for own work area and report breaches of H&S to senior colleagues. Attend all required safety and training courses, and comply with required safety, licensing and ethical regulations at all times.
• Work collaboratively across the School providing support, advice and guidance when required.
• As a member of our Professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework. Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framework .
• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Experience equivalent to minimum qualifying GCSE grade in English and Maths, or equivalent Level 2 qualification.

Essential

Application

Experience of providing an effective and efficient technical support service in a research laboratory environment.

Essential

Application / interview

Previous experience of supporting relevant life sciences technologies such as cell culture, molecular biology or histology, and associated sample processing.

Essential

Application / interview

Knowledge of safe working practices and experience of applying Health & Safety in a laboratory or teaching environment.

Essential

Application / interview

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate to academic, research and technical staff at all levels within the organisation.

Essential

Application / interview

Technical professional registration or the willingness to work toward this.

Essential

Application / interview

Ability to work well within a team whilst also being able to work independently when required.

Essential

Application / interview

Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications.

Essential

Application / interview

Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities around tight deadlines and with a high degree of accuracy.

Essential

Application / interview

Experience in cell culture and aseptic technique.

Desirable

Application / interview

Experience in molecular biology assays and techniques.

Desirable

Application / interview

Further Information

Grade

4

Salary

£20,199 - £21,366

Work arrangement

Part-time, 80% FTE (28 hours per week)

Duration

9 months (15/09/2026 - 15/06/2027)

Line manager

Senior Technician

Direct reports

Senior Technicians, research groups

Our website

https://www.sheffield.ac/smph

For informal enquiries about this job contact Mark Ariaans, School Technical Manager: on [email protected] or on 0114 215 9561

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 1st of September 2026. This will consist ofan interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing17th August. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact XXXX

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

A basic DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).