Senior Teaching Technician

The Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL) represents a £42m investment in STEM teaching. The CTL provides primarily undergraduate students with a transformational teaching experience in state-of-the-art facilities to encourage and enable inter-disciplinary working.

This position will suit a candidate with good experience working within a laboratory environment. The role holder will ensure that expert in-class support is provided to ensure that all aspects of practical classes run well, and that the student experience is high. The remit for this role is to provide support to academic teaching, although you will not be teaching yourself. Instead, the position is designed to ensure everything is in place ready for students at the start of a session and to help with any issues that may arise during teaching.

Applicants should have technical experience in a STEM subject. Experience in Electrical Engineering, Robotics or Mechatronics would be preferred. Knowledge of MATLAB, Simulink or Python would be advantageous, as would experience using Quanser and Quarc instrumentation.

Role Summary:
You will provide technical expertise, support and guidance in support of teaching. You may supervise a number of technical staff but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate. You will need a significant understanding of the requirements to deliver undergraduate classes, an in-depth understanding of all main subject areas, the ability to respond quickly and positively to changes in protocols, and troubleshoot problems, and optimise protocols to ensure a positive student experience. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes.

Main Duties:
If in a supervisory position, you will supervise the day to day activities of a number of other technical staff. You will provide support and guidance, and work closely with your staff in relation to working requirements, working environment, staff wellbeing, identifying any training requirements as appropriate. Even if you are not in a supervisory position you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach staff in the locality.

You will discuss the daily programme of work with your manager and other technical staff in the area to ensure the daily programme of work, session protocols and outcomes are clear. You will plan, based on the available timetabling information, the most efficient/effective means to turnaround the daily classes. You will research, design, trial and modify practical protocols for class teaching. Support the teaching laboratories managers where required and to deputise for them in their absence. Keep the teaching laboratories manager informed as to changes to protocols/sessions, content of any discussions with academic session leads and other matters relating to the teaching laboratories. Initiate discussion with the teaching laboratories manager on any issues that may compromise the core function of the laboratories.

Instruct and provide high level technical support for students in the correct and safe handling of laboratory and fieldwork equipment including preparation of samples, analysis methods and preparation techniques. Preparation of a diverse range of materials used during practical sessions, to be able to calculate and prepare a wide range of laboratory reagents (stocks and working solutions), be able to accurately and reproducibly dispense reagents (using aseptic techniques where necessary) and provide a consistent results delivery service.

Prepare and support open day, Applicant Visitor Day events, Continuous Professional Development and other external requirements within the laboratories or other areas as and when required. Oversee that the laboratories are suitably prepared for practicals and the setup/takedown of equipment/materials used during sessions. Check practical layouts prior to classes and ensure that all requirements are in place. Be familiar with the use of a broad spectrum of general laboratory equipment and specialised equipment. Demonstrate equipment use, high level techniques and procedures to staff and students. Trouble-shoot and respond to problems which may occur during practical sessions.

Health and Safety Duties:
Proactive support for health and safety within the laboratory, including being required to look after a communal area as part of duties. Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date. Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff at all levels on the correct usage of the equipment. Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained. Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s). Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for the laboratory. Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider.

General Administration and Organisation:
Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date. Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems. Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents. Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels. Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained. Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures. Maintain a technical support based teaching laboratory website (how to guides for the preparation of materials, practical setup guides), and keeping these up to date as and when session requirements or protocols change.

Other Duties:
In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff. Treats everyone with dignity and respect in line with current equality legislation.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience:
Applicants should have technical experience in a STEM subject. Experience in Electrical Engineering, Robotics or Mechatronics would be preferred. Knowledge of MATLAB, Simulink or Python would be advantageous, as would experience using Quanser and Quarc instrumentation. The ability to identify non-obvious faults and troubleshoot equipment. GCSE level 2 (A*-C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English. In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods. Extensive experience of similar laboratory based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment. Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others. Ability to organise and manage own workload and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements. Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team. Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role. Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same. Proficiency in commonly used software packages. Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.