Salary: £24,900 with progression to £26,338 per annum
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 24 July 2025
The Role
The Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Botanical and Lab Support Technician.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of technical staff supporting the research activities in the School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, through the provision of technical support within research and teaching laboratories, plant growth facilities, and in support of technical services within the University Farm sites at Cockle Park and Nafferton.
The role holder will support the Plant Research Technical Team Leader in the management of designated facilities, and act as Lab Steward, monitoring health and safety, waste management, space/equipment usage, and ensuring good laboratory practice. The role holder will also support crop research activities, in field preparation, sowing and harvesting.
We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual, with experience in a relevant support role (laboratory or farm), a good understanding of health and safety, and excellent team-working and communication skills.
The position is available immediately, and is offered on a full-time, open-ended basis.
To apply, please complete the online application and attach a copy of your CV and a covering letter. The cover letter should detail how your experience and knowledge aligns with the person specification details noted on the Job description .
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Samuel Logan by email: samuel.logan@ncl.ac.uk
For further details about Newcastle University please visit our information page at:
Please note that if you are successful to this role, you will require medical clearance before you can commence in the role
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
* Excellent team working skills
* Demonstrable work experience in a relevant technical / workshop role
* Demonstrates technical and problem solving capability
* Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines, with a positive and proactive approach to duties and diligence and attention to detail
* Contribute to design and specification of projects
* Ability to adapt to changes in laboratory research/teaching priorities
* Have a working knowledge of botanical/horticultural/crop science
* Basic knowledge and understranding of Health and Safety procedures
* Hold a current driving licence
Desirable
* Understanding of crop disease scoring and assessment, weed identification, NDVI & SPAD, plot trial set up
* Holds PA1 & PA 6 Safe Use of Pesticides and Handheld Applicator
* Ability to tow trailers (Lantra qualification or similar)
* Lantra (or similar) qualification in using handheld saws, strimmers, brushcutters etc.
* Fork truck/telehandler ticket
Attributes and Behaviour
Team-working (Self)
* 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
* Shares relevant and useful information with others
* Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
* Willing to help others and share workloads
Planning and organising (Self)
* Works in a planned and structured way
* Ensures that all activities are completed on time
* Ensures that others know how processes and systems work
* Set own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
Finding Solutions
* Looks at ways of overcoming obstacles rather than coming to a standstill
* Keeps an open mind to alternative ways of doing things
Delivering services (Self)
* Keeps fellow team members up to date with progress
* Pays attention to detail
* Has a positive attitude for doing things better
* Takes responsibility for achieving own targets
* Co-operates with others to achieve targets
* Strives to deliver high quality results
* Is enthusiastic in getting job done on time
Embracing change (Self)
* 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
* NVQ/BTEC level 3 or A’ level (or equivalent) qualification or an Apprenticeship in an appropriate subject with experience in a relevant technical role; or broad work experience acquired through a combination of vocational training and considerable on-thejob 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 Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident 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: 28324