To Maintain All Teaching Laboratories and Preparation Areas in Clean and Good Order

1Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number: / `
Job Description
School/Department: / School of Biological Sciences
Post Title: / Laboratory Technician (Education) (Maternity Cover)
Please enter Level under appropriate Career Pathway / ERE / TAE / MSA / CAO / R.Nurse / Clinical
2b
ERE Category / Academic Posts / Non-Academic Posts
Academic
(mixed) / Research
only / Teaching
only / Enterprise / Education Development
Posts Responsible to (and Level): / Deputy Senior Technical Manager (Education) (4)
Posts Responsible for (and Level): / n/a
Job Purpose:
As a member of a Technical Team to support the organisation and preparation of undergraduate practical classes and education provision.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities
1)Education support

• To apply a good working understanding of specialised techniques, equipment and systemsin order to provide technical support to education activities, particularly within undergraduate practical classes.

• To co-ordinate and plan ahead for supplies required for specific undergraduate classes, requiring long-term (semester) and short-term (daily and contingency) planning and preparation of material, in order to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of practical classes.

• To maintain all teaching laboratories and preparation areas in clean and good order.

2)Team Working

• To share responsibility for teaching laboratory infrastructure (e.g.centrifuges, autoclaves, RO systems, cold rooms, fume cupboards, ice makers, gases, solvents, etc)

• To be flexible and adaptable in the approach to work routines, undertaking other tasks, roles and duties within the technical team as may be assigned to meet workload demands.

3) Laboratory duties

• General laboratory duties, including maintaining operating standards throughout working areas and a clean, safe and ordered environment.

• To maintain stocks of laboratory resources and consumablesas specified by line manager. To liaise with commercial suppliers for pricing and sourcing of materials.

• To maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus and in coordination with the line manager to liaise with engineers and suppliers for service contracts and repairs

• To provide standard guidance and advice to students and staff in technical aspects and methodologies of the work of the laboratory and in the use of facilities and equipment.

5) Health and Safety

• To understand and comply with health and safety regulations including Best Laboratory Practice, CfBS Health & Safety policy and specialist safety procedures appropriate to the area of work.

• To notify the line manager of any health and safety issues which need to be raised.

• To attend health and safety training and induction and to keep records of training undertaken. This will include, as appropriate to duties, safe use of gases, autoclaves, centrifuges, isotopes, GM and biohazards, Containment levels I/II and manual handling.

• To provide standard guidance and advice to students and staff to ensure safety and competence to carry out particular techniques and to use facilities and equipment in line with health and safety guidelines and Best Laboratory Practice.

• To conduct, document, display and comply with health and safety risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures. To follow BestLaboratory Practice.

• To ensure disposal of waste in compliance with University and regulatory waste management policies and standards.

/ % Time
65%
15%
15%
5%
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)

• Deputy Senior Technical Manager (Education) as line manager
• Cooperation with technical colleagues throughout the School
• Liaison with managers of School central facilities
• Interaction with staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students to provide help and technical expertise
• Liaison with the School Procurement Officer, Accounts staff and external suppliersfor maintenance oflab stocks.
• Interaction with organisers and leaders of practical classes to provide technical assistance and expertise
• Liaison with external suppliers and service engineers for the maintenance of equipment.

Special Requirements

• Physically fit to carry out manual handling
• Some out-of-hours working during term-times which will be recompensed by time off in-lieu.
• Understanding of health and safety regulations and safe practice in use of equipment and apparatus
• Full driving licence

Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
Possess GCSE/O levels, City and Guilds, NVQ2 or equivalent plus work experience in a relevant role.
Previous Laboratory experience in a biological science setting
Working knowledge of standard bioscience laboratory processes and techniques
Experience and willingness to work with a range of biological samples
Learning gained through previous work experience and training in a UK Higher Education Bioscience environment
Relevant laboratory experience gained through working in research labs or industry
Experience of assisting in day-to-day maintenance of laboratory equipment, apparatus and facilities
Ability to make use of standard and specialist computer systems and computerised record keeping
Understanding of relevant Health & Safety regulations and procedures and Best Laboratory Practice
Experience in documenting Health & Safety Risk Assessments and of providing clear, accurate and concise written documentation
Experience of providing advice, training and assistance on technical procedures to colleagues, students and external customers in relation to technical tasks. / X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / Qualification
Application, interview and references
Application and interview
Application, interview and references
Application and interview
Application, interview and references
Planning and Organising Skills:
Able to work quickly and efficiently to carry out duties.
Ability to effectively organise and prioritise own work and follow procedures in order to deliver outputs consistent with the standard expected in terms of productivity and quality
Able to plan ahead, organise and prepare materials and equipment for practical class requirements for undergraduate students
Excellent attention to detail / X
X
X
X / Application , interview and references
Application and interview
Problem Solving and Initiative:
Able to work independently to solve a range of problems relating to technical processes, knowing when to refer more complex issues to line manager.
Proven organisation skills.
Maintain receptiveness to new ideas and approaches
Proactive approach to following the standards set for all staff and engagement in sharing best practice across the team. / X
X
X
X / Application , interview and references
Application and interview
Management and Teamwork:
Able to contribute to team efficiency through sharing information and constructively supporting others with a positive attitude.
Be flexible and adaptable in approach to work routines, be able to adapt quickly to change: be open to working with different teams/individuals as the departmentsneeds require.
Experience of providing training/coaching to colleagues and students in relation to technical tasks. / X
X
X / Interview and references
Application and interview
Communication and Influencing Skills:
Able to communicate effectively with staff and students at all levels.
Able to follow written and verbal instructions to quality and time standards
Able to provide advice on technical procedures to colleagues and external customers / X
X
X / Interview and references
Application and interview
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Excellent time-keeping
Willingness to follow established routines and protocols at the same time as having initiative to suggest improvements.
Willingness to work with a range of biological samples
Able to be flexible and work under pressure
Computer literacy (Word, Excel)
Aptitude and ability to work with basic lab based computing equipment / X
X
X
X
X
X / Application, interview and references
Application and interview
Special Requirements:
Flexibility to take leave outside semesters
Physically fit to carry out some light manual handling
Full driving licence
Willingness and ability to work between 8am and 6pm during semesters if required and as directed by Line Manager
Willingness to undertake Health and Safety training specific to role
Flexibility to undertake other duties as required by line manager. / X
X
X
X
X
X / Application
and interview

Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification

Please tick one of the following statements:

This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if ticked, no further information needs to be supplied)
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of VDU / √

Please tick all those that apply, and put N/A if not applicable

Environmental Exposures / O* / F / C
Outside work / √
Extremes of temperature (e.g. fridge/ furnace) / √
Potential for exposure to body fluids ## / N/A
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ## / N/A
Exposure to hazardous substances (e.g. solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify Liquid nitrogen/chemicals and solvents/biohazards ## / √
Frequent hand washing / √
Ionising radiation. / N/A
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling ## / N/A
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) ## / √
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ## / N/A
Vibrating tools (e.g.strimmer’s, hammer drill, lawnmowers) ## / N/A
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling. / √
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping / √
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing / √
Repetitive Lifting / √
Standing for prolonged periods / √
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders / √
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting) / √
Gross motor grips / √
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height / √
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height / √
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height / √
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public / N/A
Lone working / N/A
Shift work/night work/on call duties ## / N/A

O – Occasionally (up to 1/3 of time); F – Frequently (up to 2/3 of time); C – Constantly (more than 2/3 of time) ## denotes to HR the need for a full PEHQ to be sent to all applicants for this position.

FOR SCHOOL/SERVICE USE ONLY / ResourceLink Post Number
Which post does this job report to / For MyView hierarchy: Jane Worner-Gibbs 1560735
Is this post a Line Manager? / Yes / No / √
If yes, which posts directly report into it? / ResourceLink Post Number
Post 1
Post 2
Post 3
Post 4
Post 5
Post 6
Post 7
Post 8
Please add additional rows as required

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