Overview
Job Description
Position Details
School of Chemical Engineering
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906.
Grade: 6
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to August 2026
Closing date: 14 September 2025
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
Background
The School of Chemical Engineering is organised into three primary research themes: formulation engineering, energy, and healthcare technologies. The school's practical learning and experimental facilities are located across five campus buildings and at the BEIC building in Tyseley. The Assistant Technical Specialist will be responsible for the daily management of equipment in the School of Chemical Engineering's research facilities, as well as providing support for basic electrical fault-finding and small-scale fabrication projects.
Role Summary
The Assistant Technical Specialist plays a crucial role in creating and maintaining a world-class academic and research environment. This position provides direct support for research groups by designing, developing, assembling, repairing, and maintaining a wide range of scientific instrumentation.
Reporting to the School Technical Manager, the post holder will be responsible for implementing and monitoring compliance with Health and Safety, Estates, and laboratory housekeeping matters within the school's facilities. They will support the management of junior technical staff by providing advice and oversight on basic housekeeping, infrastructure, and H&S issues. This role includes managing school facilities, which entails training users on instrumentation and providing workshop support for small-scale projects. The post holder will be expected to establish an effective working relationship with academic leads to ensure day-to-day activities are managed efficiently based on their input. They will also provide support for and contribute to college activities as required, under the direction of the School Technical Manager.
Main Duties
Research Facilities & Equipment Management
* Oversee the management and maintenance of the school's research facilities and instrumentation.
* Advise, train, and assist staff and students on experimental techniques, research methods, and technical issues. This may include providing paid services to external departments.
* Ensure all laboratory equipment is in good working order by arranging servicing and calibration, and maintaining accurate records.
* Guide the purchasing of new equipment, secure quotes from suppliers, and report any potential safety issues or necessary infrastructure changes to the School Technical Manager.
* Maintain a current asset register for all equipment within school facilities.
* Manage facility bookings, training sessions, and user invoicing using the university's booking software, Stratocore.
* Calculate activity costs and identify the most cost-effective solutions for research projects.
* Prepare invoices for equipment use and manage recharges to grant holders for access provided to their teams.
* Oversee research accounts, including setting budgets for consumables and equipment maintenance.
General Laboratory & Infrastructure Support
* Monitor, report, and resolve infrastructure-related failures within school facilities.
* Ensure all research staff and students comply with housekeeping policies, including establishing and monitoring schedules for communal area upkeep.
* Manage the inventory of compressed gas cylinders, including tracking purchases and assigning charge codes for rental costs.
* Conduct regular gas system checks, including leak testing, and inspect regulators to ensure they are up-to-date and registered in the school inventory.
* Oversee the University Insurance Register.
* Provide guidance on laboratory space management and coordinate the removal and disposal of redundant equipment.
* Serve as the primary point of contact for building maintenance issues.
* Prepare pressure vessels and lifting equipment for inspection, maintain inspection records, and coordinate necessary repairs.
* Perform regular checks on the school's air compressors and schedule annual inspections.
* Offer basic electrical fault-finding and fabrication support.
Health, Safety, & Compliance
* Manage all aspects of health and safety related to the school's research facilities.
* Ensure safety paperwork, including Risk Assessments, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Emergency Shutdown notices, are in place and up-to-date.
* Maintain comprehensive training records to ensure all facility users are trained to operate equipment safely.
* Monitor compliance with SOPs and control measures specified in risk assessments.
* Ensure adherence to all local, school, and university health and safety, fire safety, and housekeeping policies, and take action to remedy non-compliance issues.
* Conduct or arrange regular inspections of a variety of equipment and systems, including:
o All items on the University Insurance Register (as required).
o Fixed gas lines (annually).
o Ladders, lifting, and sling equipment (in accordance with policy).
o Compressed gas systems, regulators, and flashback arrestors.
* Assist with weekly/monthly fire checks and regular Legionella water outlet flushing.
Other Responsibilities
* Mentorship and Staff Development: Support the professional growth of junior technical staff by providing guidance, advice, and contributing to their personal development plans.
* Health and Safety Roles: Take on designated health and safety duties as needed, such as serving as a fire warden, first aider, and a member of the School's Health & Safety committee.
* College-Wide Support: Under the direction of the School Technical Manager, participate in a range of college-wide activities, including assisting in other laboratories and supporting School and College Open Days and Outreach events. This includes performing any other tasks assigned by the Head of School, Head of Operations, or College Director of Operations that align with the role's skill set.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
Skills
* Proven ability in managing research laboratory facilities.
* Comprehensive understanding of current health and safety legislation.
* Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to persuade, negotiate, and influence others.
* Strong organisational and time management skills.
* The ability to act as a positive role model for professional service delivery.
* Proficiency in IT, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and basic electronic fault-finding skills.
* Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
* The ability to effectively instruct and demonstrate analytical techniques to staff and students.
Qualifications
* A degree in a relevant scientific field or equivalent professional experience (Essential).
* GCSEs (A*-C) in Mathematics and English or equivalent (Essential).
* IOSH/NEBOSH General Certificate or a similar health and safety qualification, or a willingness to obtain one (Highly Desirable).
* Science Council Professional Registration (Desirable).
Experience
* Prior experience in a technical role is desirable, particularly with practical and theoretical knowledge of a wide range of analytical techniques and instrumentation. The ideal candidate will be expected to develop knowledge across all areas listed below over time.
* Microscopy (Atomic-force, Confocal, Raman)
* Thermogravimetric analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry
* Particle size characterisation (Mastersizer, Bettersizer, Zetasizer)
* FTIR/UV/VIS/NIR Spectrometry
* Rheology measurements
* Material mechanical testing (Zwick, Instron)
* Micro-Computer Tomography
* Helium pycnometry
* Preparing data for presentations and reports.
* Experience in designing, modifying, and performing hands-on experimental work
Informal enquiries to Chyntol Kanhimbe, email: c.kanhimbe@bham.ac.uk
View our staff values and behaviours here
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.
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