Reports To:Technical Officer (Biological Sciences)

Job title:Technician

Post number:SP5042

Reports to:Technical Officer (Biological Sciences)

Department: Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences

Location:Moulsecoomb

Grade:3

Purpose of the role:Tosupport laboratory teaching, research and consultancy

Line management responsibility for: None

Main areas of responsibility:

To support laboratory teaching, research and consultancy as appropriate, meeting agreed standards and deadlines and referring complex issues to more senior staff.
To assist with stock ordering and control, and the basic care, maintenance and security of fittings, equipment and materials, ensuring a high standard of care and safety, as appropriate.

To ensure health and safety requirements are met.

To assist elsewhere in the school, covering absence, at times of increased workload as appropriate.

Specific duties:

To support laboratory teaching, research and consultancy as appropriate, meeting agreed standards and deadlines and referring the more complex issues to more senior staff.

To set up laboratories with apparatus and equipment as required.
To operate instruments and demonstrate techniques as required.
To assist with advising students on the design of experiments and investigations, the choice of appropriate methods and on the interpretation of results. In consultation with academic staff, to supervise students in school laboratories.
To prove technical support in specific research projects as directed by Technical Officer.

To assist with stock ordering and control, and the basic care, maintenance and security of fittings, equipment and materials, ensuring a high standard of care and safety, as appropriate.

To monitor, record, requisition, receive, check, deliver and store equipment and materials, ensuring adequate supplies.
To maintain the laboratories in a clean, tidy condition and to monitor as requested.
To undertake basic repairs and maintenance of apparatus equipment and instruments.

To ensure health and safety requirements are met.

To keep up to date on relevant health and safety requirements.
To assist with the writing and distribution of risk assessments, standard operating procedures and COSHH assessments ensuring safe operations in the laboratories.
To undertake electrical safety testing of portable appliances following completion of appropriate training.
To keep current, accurate health and safety records.

To assist elsewhere in the school, covering absence, at times of increased workload as appropriate, keeping up to date with relevant policy and procedures.

To provide technical support in other teaching and research areas as needed.
To assist in examination invigilation and similar support activities.

General responsibilities

These are standard to all University of Brighton job descriptions.

To undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser grade.
To adhere to the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy in all activities, and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible.
To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

The person specification focuses on the knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills (both general and technical) required to undertake the role effectively. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria. You will be assessed by your completed application form (A), at interview (I) and in some instances through an exercise (E).

Essential criteria / A, I, E
Knowledge
Qualifications / A’ levels/BTEC or an equivalent qualification in appropriate science subjects / A
Experience / Works co-operatively with others, achieving mutual satisfaction; able to demonstrate enthusiasm for supporting staff, students and research
Has developed effective work systems and meets agreed priorities efficiently / A/I
A/I
Managing people / N/A
Technical/work based skills / Expertise in operating relevant equipment/relevant techniques
Good capability with Microsoft Word and Excel as well as database software. / A/I
A/I
Other requirements / Communication: clear, accurate oral and written communication; able to explain relatively complex information in an understandable way.
Self motivation: meets standards and deadlines on own initiative; committed to continuous self-development
Response to change: keeps abreast of developments and contributes positively to implementation of change
Physical: able to see clearly, freedom from allergies to biological and chemical materials; a high degree of mobility with the ability to lift and move items, in accordance with health and safety guidelines; able to remain in standing position for most of the working day; good manual dexterity, sufficient to perform the above duties accurately and safely. / A/I
A/I
I
Desirable / Some experience of performing practical work in an industrial or educational laboratory. Able to demonstrate appropriate practical techniques to staff and students; knowledge of current, relevant statutory regulations and standards / I

Any appointment is generally made at the bottom of the salary range for the grade dependent upon experience and previous salary.
This is a full time, permanent post.
The University of Brighton welcomes job sharers. Job sharing is a way of working where two people share one full-time job, dividing the work, responsibilities, pay, holidays and other benefits between them proportionate to the hours each works, thereby increasing access to a wide range of jobs on a part-time basis. The advert for the post for which you are applying will indicate whether applications from job sharers can be considered (this may not be possible for a post that is already part time for example) and further information can be found on the ‘Balancing Working Life’ section here Benefits and facilities.
Annual leave entitlements are shown in the table below and increase after 5 years’ service. In addition, to the eight Bank Holidays, there are university discretionary days between Christmas and New Year. All leave, including bank holidays and discretionary days, is pro-rated for part time employees.

Grades / Basic entitlement per year / Grades / After 5 years’ service
1-3 / 23 days / 1-3 / 28 days
4-7 / 25 days / 4-7 / 30 days
8-9 / 27 days / 8-9 / 30 days
Band 10 and above / 30 days / Band 10 and above / 30 days

More information about the department/school can be found hereProfessional Services Departmentsor hereAcademic departments (schools and colleges)
Read the University’s 2016 - 2021 Strategy
The University has an attractive range of benefits and you can find more information about them on our website.

Date: 22/01/2018