Biological Teaching Technician

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Key Accountabilities

• To monitor the satisfactory operation of biological UG and PGT teaching laboratory equipment, reporting any defects to the relevant technical team leader. Carry out basic preventive maintenance of equipment in relevant workshop/laboratory areas. Operation and operational maintenance of teaching apparatus, equipment and instruments for UG and PGT teaching purposes.
• To support the operation of the biological teaching laboratories to ensure effective use and availability for UG and PGT teaching. Assistance in the training of academic, technical and research staff, postgraduate and undergraduate project students in specific experimental techniques and the use and application of equipment.
• To be responsible for the determination of all requirements to ensure adequate availability of materials, chemicals, glassware, equipment and botanical and animal specimens for laboratory/field activities that the post-holder is supporting; and for initiating purchase orders to ensure sufficient stocks of these items.
• To be responsible for keeping up to date with relevant Health and Safety legislation, codes of practice and regulations ensuring safe handling, storage and disposal of materials in accordance with local rules and legal requirements (including risk assessments and any other statutory or local safety arrangement).
• To provide assistance to staff and students in the use (methodology and techniques) of equipment and apparatus in the teaching laboratories. To demonstrate standard molecular biology and microbiology techniques to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• To liaise with academic staff with regard to the preparation of COSHH forms relating to their practical classes.
• Responsibility for the production of the COSHH forms resides with the researchers
• To prepare solutions, media, materials, molecular biology reagents, microbial cultures and equipment (both sterile and non-sterile) required for practical classes and deploy them appropriately in the laboratory to permit efficient working during classes.
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential (must provide clear examples of)

• Demonstrable work experience in a relevant technical role
• Thorough working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures, and experience of safe waste management within a biological teaching laboratory environment
• Excellent team working skills
• Demonstrates technical and problem solving capability
• Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines with a positive and proactive approach to duties and diligence and attention to detail
• Contribute to design and specification of teaching/research activities
• Ability to adapt to changes in laboratory teaching/research priorities
• Knowledge of the standard protocols for the preparation of materials for practical classes
• Ability to carry out the routine feeding and maintenance of insect cultures
• Ability to prepare culture media and plates, and to maintain and produce microbial cultures using good aseptic technique

Qualifications

Essential

• Apprenticeship in an appropriate subject with experience in a relevant technical role; or BTEC level 4 / HNC / HND; or A level (or equivalent) qualification; or relevant broad work experience acquired through a combination of vocational training and considerable on-the-job experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding relevant roles.

Desirable

• M Biol/M.Sc in a relevant scientific subject

Attributes and Behaviour

Team-working (Self)

• Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the organisation where different skills, expertise and opinions are valued.
• Shares relevant and useful information with others
• Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
• Willing to help others and share workloads

Planning and organising (Self)

• Works in a planned and structured way
• Ensures that all activities are completed on time
• Ensures that others know how processes and systems work
• Can work autonomously and set own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives

Finding Solutions

• Looks at ways of overcoming obstacles rather than coming to a standstill
• Keeps an open mind to alternative ways of doing things

Delivering services (Self)

• Keeps fellow team members up to date with progress
• Pays attention to detail
• Has a positive attitude for doing things better
• Takes responsibility for achieving own targets
• Co-operates with others to achieve targets
• Strives to deliver high quality results
• Is enthusiastic in getting job done on time

Embracing change (Self)

• Recognises the need for change and is forward looking. Promotes the benefits of change to others and regularly comes up with new ideas. Has the willingness to adopt new ways of working and to make improvements.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 29753