THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
Recruitment Role Profile Form

Job Title:Teaching Support Technician

School/Department:Technical Services, School of Biosciences

Salary:£22,029 – 26,274 per annum depending on skills and experience.

Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.

Job Family and Level:Technical Services Level 3

Contract Status:Permanent

Hours of Work:Fulltime

Location:Sutton Bonington Campus

Reporting to:Teaching Technical Team Leader & Technical Services Manager

Purpose of the New Role:

To provide skilled technical support within the teaching technical team in order to deliver high quality practical classes. This will include the organisation, preparation and delivery of student laboratory practical classes within the School’s main teaching facilities.

This post will primarily support teaching within the Microbiology and Food Safety sections of the School & will require an in depth understanding of working at ACDP 2.

Main Responsibilities / % time per year
1. / Work with the Teaching Team Leader to support the operation of all of the laboratory teaching facilities within the School.
In particular:
Provide highly skilled specialist technical support in the area of Microbiology & Food Safety. This involves meticulous planning of classes to ensure all consumables and equipment are available in correct quantities to enable classes to run to date and time.
  • Maintenance of bacterial & bacteriophage strains (ACDP 2) required for teaching practical’s.
  • Maintenance of mammalian cell lines & provide expert advice on transfection, developing new monoclonal lines & provision of frozen stocks
  • Provision, purification & maintenance of viral stocks
  • Maintenance of current & future stock requirements of equipment & consumables for own work area
  • Set & monitor standards in own area of work;ensure accurate completion of documents, records & reports.
  • Advise on interpretation of results.
/ 40%
2. / Demonstrate safe handling of category 2 pathogens to students (undergraduate, MSc, PhD) & also media preparation, classical microbiological techniques and safety procedures (including safe handling & disposal of micro-organisms).
Train & supervise students in tissue culture, molecular biology & virology techniques.
Train students in microscopy techniques (light, phase, uv, epifluorescence & imaging techniques).
Work with academic staff to develop new practical classes & adapt & refine existing classes to accommodate changes to modules. / 25%
3. / Ensure equipment in own area of responsibility is maintained, serviced & repaired as required, diagnose & rectify faults with equipment & procedures. / 15%
4. / Monitor & maintain a safe working environment in accordance with statutory & University Health & Safety procedures. / 15%
5. / Any other duties appropriate to the level of the role. / 5%

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/ Education / Minimum of HNC in a relevant subject, or equivalent qualifications plus considerable relevant technical/scientific experience in a relevant role
OR
Substantial work experience in a relevant technical or scientific role.
Skills/Training / Proven technical and/or experimental expertise in microbiology & molecular biology.
Knowledge of light, phase, uv, epifluorescence & other microscopy & imaging techniques.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice & record keeping requirements
Proven planning and organizational skills
Proven ability to organize own work load & multi task in a busy environment / Knowledge & experience in the areas of tissue/cell culture & histology
Experience / A sound understanding of Health and Safety regulations and the implications of non-compliance.
Experience of working under the regulatory framework for ACDP2 pathogens & ACGM2 organisms. / Experience of supervising junior staff or students in an academic research or teaching laboratories
Experience of working at ACDP3 containment level
Other / Self-motivated
Possess a commitment to providing a high quality practical learning experience to all students within the School

Decision Making

i)taken independently by the role holder

Plan and oversee day to day technical running of the practical classes.
Carry out a range of high skilled specialist technical tasks to support the practical classes.
Advise and assist staff and students on the development, design, preparation, construction, assembly and application of equipment, the setting up of experiments and the deployment of techniques.
Ensure equipment is maintained, serviced and safety checked.
Appropriate training requirements for junior staff and students
Maintain appropriate laboratory consumables required for projects

ii)taken in collaboration with others

Modifications to classes
Use judgement to seek appropriate help / assistance on non-routine and/or complex matters

iii)referred to the appropriate line manager (please name) by the role holder

Breaches of Health & Safety
Purchase of new equipment