The University of Reading is currently seeking a Senior Teaching & Research Technician. The successful candidate will be joining the Department of Technical Services and the University is willing to offer sponsorship to a strong candidate.
The University of Reading is a research intensive campus university in south-east England. With more than 150 years of history, it’s now recognised for its expertise in areas such as climate science, business, agriculture, and food science. It also has a global presence, with two overseas campuses and dozens of international partnerships. It’s the university’s ambition to become net zero carbon by 2030, and we have been ranked the fourth greenest university in the UK according to the 2022/23 People & Planet University League.
The school is ranked 169th in the world and are a top 30 university in the UK according to the QS World Rankings 2024. Many of their courses are available to study part-time to help you achieve your master’s alongside your other commitments. They have a number of facilities to help you return to study wherever you are in your life, including breastfeeding rooms on campus, and our on-site day-nursery for children of students, staff and local community members.
Position: Senior Teaching & Research Technician
Salary: £29,605 to £30,487 per annum pro rata
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
Location: Reading, UK
About the Role
The Technical Services Department is committed to the development of its staff and they actively strive to diversify our team. The Department is a founding signatory of the Technician Commitment and an Employer Champion. They are dedicated to providing all applicants equality of opportunity.
You will be supervising the team in conjunction with another Team Supervisor. You will be leading on the preparation and delivery of Undergraduate and Masters practical classes, maintaining our analytical equipment and training students and staff.
They are seeking candidates who are keen to embrace and adopt new technology, instrumentation and methods to help others transition to new ways of working.
It is also important to us that applicants wish to actively contribute towards the wider activities across the function such as: Sustainably, Diversity & Inclusion, Wellbeing or The Technician Commitment.
Main Duties
- To be responsible for the delivery of technical support activities associated with specialist teaching and/or research areas across the equivalent of a Departmental/School wide area within specialist teaching and/or research to ensure that provision is of an excellent quality and delivered in a timely, professional fashion.Â
- To maintain specialist areas and the associated teaching and research materials and collections by overseeing and participating in upkeep of allocated equipment including PAT testing, (servicing by external engineers if required), housekeeping, data recording, waste management, stock keeping, ordering and to ensure that local safety requirements are in place. This may include administration of the Permit to Work system. There may be responsibility for recharging and/or a small budget.
- To deliver training (e.g. data logging, production work, equipment usage and techniques) to students, technicians, other demonstrators, researchers and users of collections and provide day to day advice, supervision and demonstrating as required.
Either:
- Where required, to be responsible for support activities associated with entire modules or projects within the teaching schedule. This will involve direct liaison with academics and students, trialling of complex practicals, designing, constructing and developing materials, including technical delivery notes, apparatus and techniques
- To oversee and participate in the organisation, planning, ordering, preparation and laying out (/erecting or packing for field-based activities) of project and teaching materials across a number of modules according to the practical class schedule
Or:
- To apply specialist skills to develop and deliver techniques to support research and outreach activities. This may involve operation, troubleshooting, design and maintenance of highly specialised equipment and apparatus.
- In clearly defined circumstances as identified by line manager, to directly contribute to research outcomes.Â
- To provide cover for teaching and research support activities in other areas particularly within the Cluster.
- To occasionally liaise with visitors, other institutions and outreach contacts and to prepare and exchange materials for Outreach, Student Recruitment events, productions and Conferences and to be present to assist at these events.
- To work in accordance with University H&S guidelines and to fulfil roles such as fire warden or first aider.
- Any other duties, as defined by the line manager that do not change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility entailed.
Qualifications
- Skill level equivalent to achievement of HND, Degree, NVQ4 or basic professional qualification in relevant field such as Chemistry.Â
- Extensive experience in operating laboratory equipment required for Chemistry.
- Extensive technical work experience, acquired in relevant roles and job-related training.
- Sufficient experience to advise and assist on the development, construction, assembly and application of equipment and techniques.
- Able to develop understanding and achieve cooperation.
- Able to delegate effectively, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of team members to build effective teamwork;
- Able to formulate development plans to meet required skills.
- Able to proactively work with colleagues in other work areas to achieve outcomes.
- Able to seek opportunities to progress a broad range of activities within professional guidelines and in support of university policy.
- Able to clarify complex issues in writing and/or verbally.
- Able to develop and maintain a network of contacts which may be both internal and external to the University.
- Able to provide clear specialist guidance to staff and students on complex technical issues
- Able to plan and organise an area of specialist/technical support involving a range of activities, such as planning and organising resources, to time and quality standards. Planning will typically be over months.
- Able to organise and run meetings that relate to the work unit.
- Extensive knowledge across a range of techniques for Chemistry
- Sufficient theoretical knowledge of laboratory equipment used within the Chemistry division.
- Knowledge of technical support requirements to deliver teaching and research.
- Apply technical, specialist knowledge to solve complex, non-routine problems.Â
- Use knowledge to prepare work rotas and/or activity scheduling and bookings for services
Benefits
- Visa Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
- Competitive pay package
Required Documents
- CV/Resume
- Cover Letter
Application Process
Interested and qualified candidates should CLICK HERE to apply
Application Deadline
August 16, 2024