Technician - Biological Laboratory Operations

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Reporting to the Technical Manager (Bio-Laboratory Operations), you will be responsible for providing a comprehensive, responsive, and enthusiastic technical support service for staff, students and external customers across the Faculty of Engineering.

This will primarily involve working with a number of research groups that occupy biological or biomaterials laboratories in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering. You will provide advice and guidance on a broad range of technical issues to support experimental work as well as undergraduate and postgraduate student research projects. The post-holder will require good practical skills combined with a patient, methodical approach and a logical troubleshooting ability.

The role will involve calibrating, operating and maintaining a variety of biological lab equipment in addition to analytical instrumentation such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry equipment, and fermenters. You will also provide training and demonstrations on the operation of technical equipment and safe working practices, ensuring maintenance of records. In addition, you will undertake administrative support tasks, for example, requisitioning consumables, chemicals and equipment.

You will adopt high working standards to ensure continued recognition for our service excellence and exemplary health and safety record. This will include maintaining a detailed awareness and full commitment to the relevant regulations, providing safety information, advice and updates alongside carrying out COSHH and risk assessments.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

Provide a high-quality, comprehensive and effective technical service across the School's research and teaching laboratories and wider Faculty of Engineering. Liaise with customers regarding potential work, provide guidance, and carry out experimental procedures. Where required, provide cost estimates and timescales for jobs and materials. Use, monitor and maintain a range of general and specialist technical equipment and consumables to meet the needs of the School with regard to experimental work and teaching, ensuring minimum impact is caused by faulty equipment. Be involved in the development, testing and construction of new equipment and/or techniques. This involves installing, monitoring and maintaining technical equipment and systems. Carry out commissioning of experimental apparatus and carry out experimental testing and experimental work, including the recording and dissemination of data to staff/students/customers. Support the Technical Manager (Bio- Laboratory Operations) in the daily running of the School's laboratories to ensure continued safe and reliable service excellence. Provide technical advice and training/demonstrations in the use of specialised equipment to staff, students and visitors. Contribute to short-term projects within own work area or contribute as part of larger, department-wide project teams to support the achievement of project objectives. Plan experimental tasks up to 3 weeks ahead, although advance planning may vary from 1 week to 3 months ahead, depending on the research programme and scale. Provide a high standard of customer service to staff, students and visitors. Make suggestions for improving service and refer staff/students/customers to senior colleagues as appropriate. Maintain an awareness and commitment to the relevant Health and Safety rules and regulations. Provide safety information to staff and students. Carry out and document risk assessments on student and staff activities, maintain training records and liaise with the Department Safety Officer to ensure compliance with legislation and University policies. As a member of our Professional staff, you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework. Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framework. As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University's sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible. Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential Or Desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Higher National Diploma or higher in a biological subject (or have equivalent experience).

Essential

Application/interview

Broad ranging experience of working in a biological or biomaterials laboratory environment.

Essential

Application/interview

Experience of working with HPLC systems, fermenters, molecular biology or microbiological techniques and equipment.

Essential

Application/interview

Knowledge of COSHH and BioCOSHH, and understanding of application to laboratory-based applications.

Essential

Application/interview

Knowledge of relevant systems, policies, safety legislation and quality standards.

Essential

Application/interview

Effective IT and communication skills, both written and verbal, report-writing skills, communicating to staff at all levels the organisation’s strategic plan and their personal contribution towards it.

Essential

Application/interview

Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to phone, email and personal enquiries.

Essential

Application/interview

Ability to troubleshoot technical problems and to seek relevant advice as appropriate.

Essential

Application/interview

Awareness of electrical safety issues when carrying out repairs.

Essential

Application/interview

Ability to work to deadlines, assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities.

Essential

Application/interview

Professional registration or the willingness to work towards it.

Essential

Application/interview

Experience of working in a team and developing and maintaining a network of contacts throughout own work area.

Essential

Application/interview

Further Information

Grade

5

Salary

£27,319 - £31,236 per annum with the potential to progress to £33,951 per annum

Work arrangement

Full-time

Duration

Open-ended

Line manager

Technical Manager (Bio - Laboratory Operations)

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/cmbe

For informal enquiries about this job contact Andrew Crawford, School Technical Manager: on andrew.crawford@sheffield.ac.uk or on 0114 222 5500.

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place 2 weeks after the closing date. This will consist of an interview and test. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage as soon as possible. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact cmbe-staffing-contracts@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

A minimum of 38 days of annual leave, including bank holidays and closure days (pro rata), with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parents' networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development, access to learning and mentoring schemes, integrated with our Technical Career Route. A range of generous family-friendly policies paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies support for those going through the menopause paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.