Teaching Technician - School of Chemical Engineering - 52337 - Band 400

Position Details

School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
 
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £20,488 to £21,868. With potential progression once in post to £26,603 a year

Band 400

Full time / Permanent
 
Closing Date: 27 September 2021
 

Our offer to you
 
People are at the heart of what we are and do. 
 
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.  We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. 
 
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.  With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. 
 
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.  We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. 
 
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working.  In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. 
 
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.  On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens. 
 
Find out more about the http://benefits of working for the University of Birmingham  

Job context

We are looking for a Teaching Technician to join our Technical Team in Chemical Engineering. You will be primarily working in the Biochemical Engineering laboratories to ensure the smooth day to day running of the laboratory and the teaching sessions. You should have a good working knowledge of microbiology and good general laboratory skills.

Job summary

You will provide technical support for teaching activities as required, utilising your technical skills and a wide range of techniques.   You will also be expected to ensure your working area is safe and support others in following health and safety instructions.  You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes.  In order to flexibly use resource you may be given the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider University. 

Main duties

Teaching duties  
You will provide a wide range of support in the teaching laboratories, including active participation in the delivery of practical classes, by carrying out the following tasks:
•    contribute to planning the most efficient/effective means to turnaround the daily classes;
•    setting up and clearing away of equipment, consumables and reagents, ensuring laboratories are suitably prepared for practicals;
•    testing, maintaining and calibrating a wide range of precision instrumentation; 
•    preparing a variety of materials and reagents and equipment to a high degree of accuracy using a variety of techniques.  You will need to accurately calculate concentrations, percentages and dilutions;  
•    monitoring and replenishing consumables, including preparing orders and collecting items from stores;
•    diagnosing and resolving the majority of in-class problems, including with equipment;
•    demonstrating the use of a wide range of relevant equipment and techniques during classes;
•    testing and, where appropriate, modifying protocols in conjunction with manager; 
•    liaising with relevant managers with regard to requirements and accurately instruct other staff;
•    preparing the laboratories for other events such as open days.  You may be asked to participate in demonstrations on open days.

Health and Safety 
•    You will be expected to uphold compliance with all University and local Health & Safety policies, including risk assessments and manual handling, reporting any breaches or non-compliance to the relevant manager.
•    You will be expected to manage the safe handling and disposal of all materials used in practical classes or research laboratories, including hazardous materials.
•    If required, assist or prepare risk assessments and keep these up to date.
•    You will need to maintain all records as appropriate.
•    Carry out regular maintenance processes as appropriate.

Administrative duties 
•    You may be required to assist with PAT testing and calibration of equipment, and with updating equipment inventories.
•    Maintain stocks of consumables and, if necessary, creating purchase order requisitions.
•    Receipt and correct storage of consumables and chemical reagents.
•    Ensure that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems.
•    Reporting any problems with equipment or services which cannot be resolved to the line manager as appropriate.
•    Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures where practicable. 
•    Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. 
•    Any other duties commensurate with the grade and skill base of the post holder.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience 
•    NVQ, BTEC/ONC at level three or equivalent level three qualification and specific relevant experience in an appropriate subject.
•    GCSE level 2 (A*- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
•    Practical experience of working aseptically in a microbiology environment, preferably including preparation of growth media and preparing bacterial cultures and a working knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice.
•    Experience of working in a laboratory based teaching or research environment; or be able to demonstrate the capability to participate with practical classes.
•    Ability to organise and manage own workload after consultation with manager.
•    Familiarity with the use of a wide range of general laboratory equipment e.g. balances, pH meters, autoclaves, glass washing machines, microscopes.
•    Proactive approach to Health and Safety matters, together with the communication skills to interact with a range of people, including students.
•    Ability to be flexible to meet deadlines.
•    The post-holder will be fully familiar with the safe handling and storage of laboratory materials.
•    Good IT skills, having a familiarity with both Windows and/or Apple Macintosh OS will be advantageous.
•    Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
•    Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Informal enquiries can be made to Zoe Simon, email: [email protected]
 

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