Technician (UK DRI)

11932BR

School of Medicine

Technical

Advert

Technician
UK Dementia Research Institute
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
Cardiff University School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is looking for an experienced and proactive laboratory technician who will provide technical support for the multidisciplinary team of scientific staff and students. You will provide practical day to day assistance, in particular ensuring that equipment is always available for use and that reagents, media and other materials are prepared to appropriate standards.  In conjunction with the UK DRI laboratory manager and other lab support staff, you will ensure compliance with both University and legislative standards and requirements.

Ideally, you will possess a biological science or related degree or similar qualification and a proven track record in laboratory work and associated health and safety. Previous experience using Cell Imaging systems will be advantageous.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), fixed term for 1 year and is available immediately.

Informal enquiries regarding this vacancy please contact [email protected]

Salary £20,092 - £22,254 per annum (Grade 3) 

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 122 September 2021

Closing date: Wednesday, 20 October 2021

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only.  We now invite external applications.

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. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  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

Job Purpose
To provide professional technical support to the UK Dementia Research Institute.

Key Duties
• Provide a service to staff and students by maintaining, servicing and repairing materials, machinery and equipment within the UK Dementia Research Institute, advising and training staff and students on their appropriate use using established guidelines.
• Prepare all materials and equipment as necessary for customers use and ensure area is kept clean and tidy,  maintaining laboratory waste disposal standards.
• Undertake stock control, ensuring adequate security and levels of stock are maintained and stock is distributed as required, including assistance with ordering lab supplies and recharging.
• Deal with routine enquires from internal and external customers in a professional manner, following established procedures, referring complex enquires to relevant staff members, ensuring all relevant facts and information needed is recorded and passed on.
• Assist in the maintenance of routine records, updating databases  and analysing routine data/ information as required.
• Support the lab manager in all aspects of lab and office safety and preparation of  technical data/materials as necessary.
• Plan and manage small projects ensuring the effective use of resources.
• Participate actively within the work team, setting an example and showing a flexible approach to delivering team results.
• Participate in a call out rota for gas changeover and equipment failures.

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.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria 

Qualifications and Education
1. NVQ 2/GCSE level A-C or equivalent qualification/work related experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2. Experience in constructing, maintaining and repairing lab equipment.
3. Significant experience in working in technical support role, specifically supporting the running of imaging systems and/or tissue culture/stem cell facilities.
4. Proficiency in the use of appropriate IT packages, and University specific software including data management systems/Office.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
5. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide range of people and evidence of working well as an effective team member, providing advice and guidance to other team members where necessary.
6. Ability to deal promptly, effectively and courteously with requests for information or service.

Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving
7. Ability to use initiative in solving problems and responding to queries ensuring compliance with standard procedures and practices.
8. Ability to work on own initiative and unsupervised to deadlines, planning, organising and setting priorities for own work, as well as managing small projects as appropriate.

Other
9.Significant experience in Health and Safety procedures, including writing risk assessments.

10. Evidence of a willingness to undertake further training and development, including becoming first aid at work qualified (if not already qualified).

Desirable Criteria 

1.    Evidence of a willingness to undertake fire warden duties and to attend to equipment failures and gas supply changeover outside of normal working hours.
2.    A-levels OR a biological science or related degree or similar qualification OR equivalent work experience.
3.    Previous experience using Cell Imaging systems.
3.    Experience of working in a Higher Education environment.
4.    Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Additional Information

Additional Information
IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is School of Medicine's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.

Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 11932BR

If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcome the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.