Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number:
Last updated: August 2014 /
Job Description
Faculty / Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
Post Title: / Experimental Officer for the Faculty Bioengineering Laboratory
Please enter Level under appropriate Career Pathway / ERE / TAE / MSA / CAO / R.Nurse / Clinical
4
ERE & Clinical Posts: Please indicate the category / Academic Posts / Non-Academic Posts
Teaching & Research / Research
only / Teaching
only / Enterprise / Education Development
Posts Responsible to (and Level): / Associate Dean of Faculty for Infrastructure Level 7 (TBC)
Area Academic Lead
Head of Bioengineering Group Level 7
Posts Responsible for (and Level):
Job Purpose:
To support research and education activities relating to activities in the Bioengineering Facility. To assist in developing a high quality research facility. To be responsible for coordinating and conducting safety training and risk assessment activities.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities
  • To provide specialist research advice and support for the activities in the Bioengineering laboratory, liaising with faculty safety officers, technicians and researchers, advising on experimental design and procedures
  • Manage laboratory activities so as to maintain a safe working environment for all laboratory users, by ensuring that current safety regulations/policies and good laboratory practices are followed and by organising laboratory cleanliness and tidiness. Prepare and advise on Risk Assessments for the laboratories and for specific activities.
  • Oversee safety training and coordinate inspections and user lists and prepare associated documentation
  • Oversee the ordering of laboratory consumable items, equipment and spares. Oversee the budget of the work area, maintaining appropriate records and planning future resources.
/ % Time
20
35
20
25
Internal & External Relationships:
Internal
  • University and Faculty safety officers, Head of Bioengineering Group, Academic researchers using the facility
  • Academic colleagues based at the University Hospital
  • Academic colleagues in the Engineering Sciences Unit
  • Students in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
  • Research fellows, associates and assistants associated with research groups utilising the Bioengineering Facility
  • Research students associated research groups utilising the BioengineeringFacility
External
  • Academic colleagues in other institutions working in subjects allied to Bioengineering activities
  • Industrial colleagues working in relevant areas

Special Requirements:
Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
PhD (Complete or near completion) or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in Biomedical Engineeringor a related area
Masters or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in in Biomedical Engineering or a related area
Experience in cell culture and/or tissue characterisation techniques
Knowledge of servo hydraulic and servo mechanical test machines
Familiar with working in a laboratory based environment
Familiar with laboratory based practice / X
X
X
X
X / X / Application and interview
Planning and Organising:
Able to seek opportunities to progress a broad range of activities within professional guidelines and in support of university policy
Able to organise own activities and prioritise work to meet deadlines and quality standards / X
X / Application and interview
Problem Solving and Initiative:
Able to develop understanding of long-standing and complex problems and to apply professional knowledge and experience to solve them
Ability to generate originaltechniques/methods and ideas on new topics
Ability to pro-actively work with students to solve their problems in particular experimental project work / X
X
X / Application and interview
Management and Teamwork:
Able to supervise work of junior research staff, delegating effectively
Able to contribute to Academic Unit management and administrative processes
Work effectively in a team, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of others to help teamwork development / X
X
X / Application and interview
Communicating and Influencing:
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
Work proactively with colleagues in other work areas/institutions, contributing specialist knowledge on complex issues to achieve outcomes / X
X / Application and interview
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Understanding of relevant Health & Safety issues
Positive attitude to colleagues and students / 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 / x

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

Environmental Exposures / O* / F / C
Outside work / N/A
Extremes of temperature (eg fridge/ furnace) / x
Potential for exposure to body fluids ## / x
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ## / x
Exposure to hazardous substances (eg solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify cell cultures……………………………………. ## / x
Frequent hand washing / x
Ionising radiation. / N/A
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling ## / N/A
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) ## / N/A
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ## / N/A
Vibrating tools ( e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) ## / N/A
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling. / x
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping / x
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing / x
Repetitive Lifting / x
Standing for prolonged periods / x
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders / N/A
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting) / x
Gross motor grips / N/A
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height / x
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height / x
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height / x
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public / x
Lone working / x
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
Is this post a Line Manager? / Yes / No
If yes, which posts directly report into it? / ResourceLink Post Number
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Post 6
Post 7
Post 8
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