The Role
The Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) is looking for an enthusiastic Biology Teaching Technician to become part of our dedicated team supporting the delivery of practical classes in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.
Your role as part of a technical support structure, affording you an opportunity to join a community of technicians working in a world class academic hub and supporting the faculty research, learning and teaching.
The post holder will provide biological UG and PGT teaching laboratory technical support for academic staff and students within the School of NES.
1. Under the direction of the technical management team, the post holder will be responsible for:
2. Planning for and preparation of reagents, chemicals, and equipment to use in busy student laboratory classes.
3. Undertaking COSHH, BIOCOSHH and general risk assessments.
4. Regular lab housekeeping activities such as clinical, chemical, and biological waste disposal, cleaning, and stocktaking.
5. Supervising students in a busy environment, where multiple experiments are being carried out.
6. Providing technical support, especially in the event of breakages and/or spillages.
7. Carrying out regular laboratory safety checks and tap flushing.
8. Ordering general lab consumables and reagents for practical classes.
You will have a good working knowledge of Health and Safety policies and procedures in a laboratory setting. You will preferably have some experience in a relevant technical role in a science environment. You will have good organisation skills, be proactive, forward thinking and be able to meet tight deadlines. You should be forward-thinking diligent with excellent attention to detail. We are seeking to appoint a positive individual who embraces team working and collaboration.
For informal enquiries, please contact Kirsten Wyness by email: k
The position is available on a full time (37 hours per week), open-ended (permanent) basis.
For further details about Newcastle University please visit our information page at:
To apply, please complete an online application, upload a CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should be a detailed supporting statement outlining why you are a good fit for the role. Please explain how you meet the essential criteria outlined below and evidence this with examples.
Key Accountabilities
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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 stautory or local safety arrangment).
13. To provide assistance to staff and students in the use (methodology and techniques) of equipment and apparatus in the teaching laboratories. To demonstrate standard microbial techniques to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
14. 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
15. To prepare solutions, media, materials, 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.
16. Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
17. Thorough working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures, and experience of safe waste management within a biological teaching laboratory environment.
18. Demonstrable work experience in a relevant technical laboratory role
19. Excellent team working skills
20. Demonstrates technical and problem solving capability
21. Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines with a positive and proactive approach to duties and attention to detail
22. Contribute to design and specification of teaching/research activities
23. Ability to adapt to changes in teaching/research priorities
24. Knowledge of the standard protocols for the preparation of materials for practical classes
25. Ability to carry out the routine feeding and maintenance of insect cultures
26. Ability to prepare culture media and plates, and to maintain and produce microbial cultures using good aseptic technique
Attributes and Behaviour
Team-working (Self)
27. 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.
28. Shares relevant and useful information with others
29. Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
30. Willing to help others and share workloads
Planning and organising (Self)
31. Works in a planned and structured way
32. Ensures that all activities are completed on time
33. Ensures that others know how processes and systems work
34. Set own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
Finding Solutions
35. Looks at ways of overcoming obstacles rather than coming to a standstill
36. Keeps an open mind to alternative ways of doing things
Delivering services (Self)
37. Keeps fellow team members up to date with progress
38. Pays attention to detail
39. Has a positive attitude for doing things better
40. Takes responsibility for achieving own targets
41. Co-operates with others to achieve targets
42. Strives to deliver high quality results
43. Is enthusiastic in getting job done on time
Embracing change (Self)
44. 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.
Qualifications
45. HNC/HND (or equivalent) in relevant subject or equivalent relevant experience
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 silver award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a 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: 28376