Closing date 26 Aug 2019 23:00 (UK time)
Salary £22,017–£25,482 (Grade 5)
Location Edinburgh
Department School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
Category Technical
Status Either
Duration 12 months fixed-term

About Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry. We connect with industry at every level and develop programmes to match their needs – so employers get work-ready industry-fit graduates.

Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

We have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

For full details on our University please view our Careers at Heriot-Watt http://www.hw.ac.uk/about/careers-at-heriot-watt.htm

About our Team

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society is one of the UK’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. We aim to attain excellence in the teaching of the core disciplines that contribute to a sustainable, resource and energy efficient society and are committed to undertaking high value, high impact research and knowledge transfer in topics of relevance to global challenges. The School enjoys facilities consistent with its location in modern, purpose-built accommodation on the Edinburgh campus. The School is well equipped in respect of laboratories for materials, structures, engineering, building services and hydraulics research and teaching. Our research and teaching facilities in Dubai and Malaysia are contained within purpose-built campuses in Dubai Academic City and Putrajaya, respectively. Teaching The School’s undergraduate teaching on our Edinburgh campus covers civil and structural engineering, architectural engineering, construction project management, quantity surveying, geography, urban studies, interior design and the biology suite. On our Dubai campus we teach civil & structural engineering, architectural engineering, architecture, construction management, quantity surveying and interior design. On our Malaysia campus we teach civil engineering, construction project management, quantity surveying and petroleum engineering. We offer a high quality educational experience underpinned by practical and laboratory teaching, and informed by contact with professional practice. Most of our degree programmes hold the appropriate accreditation from the relevant professional body. This educational philosophy ensures excellent employment prospects for all of our graduates. Programmes of postgraduate study are aligned to the expertise contained in each of our research institutes. Our postgraduate students therefore benefit from state-of-the-art knowledge in their chosen study area. You can find further information about the School’s postgraduate programmes at https://www.hw.ac.uk/schools/energy-geoscience-infrastructure-society/postgraduate-programmes.htm Research The School is one of the leading research centres in the UK. It has sustained a high reputation for the international standing of its research over two decades. Research within the School is organised into six Institutes: https://www.hw.ac.uk/schools/energy-geoscience-infrastructure-society/research.htm - Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (ILES) - The Urban Institute (TUI) - Institute of Petroleum Engineering (IPE) - Institute for Infrastructure and Environment (IIE) - Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design (CESBD) - Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) All academic staff based on the Edinburgh and Dubai campuses contribute to the research activities of one of our Institutes. These Institutes support a wide range of research activities of relevance to a sustainable, resource and energy efficient society. Institute staff undertake research funded by research councils, charitable foundations, local and national government.

Research outcomes are published in leading international and national journals and key findings are widely disseminated through other media and forms of output.

Detailed Description

The Institute for Life and Earth Sciences (ILES) undertakes multidisciplinary research in the areas of Environment, Health and Food Science, based both in Edinburgh and at the International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT) in the Orkney Isles. ICIT is internationally recognised for its research, training and consultancy in renewable energy, marine science and environmental resources. Further information can be obtained at - https://www.hw.ac.uk/schools/energy-geoscience-infrastructure-society/iles.htm The Fish Pathology Unit is a small team (currently 2 staff) involved in development and commercial testing of fish vaccines, as well as some disease diagnostics and microbiological work. Aspects of the Unit's work were recognised as "world leading" in the 2014 Research Excellence Framewor (REF) assessment. The Unit works to GMP standards. We are looking to appoint an experienced technician to support the work of the Unit, with the possibility of either full-time or part-time appointment for a suitable candidate. The technician role would involve routine husbandry and maintenance of fish stocks, maintenance and upkeep of aquarium systems, collection of fish from fish farms (typically in the Borders or Yorkshire), assistance with microbiological work (including culture, storage and characterisation), assistance with fish handling, disease challenge and vaccination procedures, assistance with management of a Category 2 microbiological laboratory and associated administrative tasks. This is a fixed term post until 31 July 2020 and the hours of work available are 17.5 - 35 per week.

Key duties and responsibilities

The successful appointee will be expected to undertake the following:

• Fish feeding
• Tank cleaning
• Aquarium maintenance
• Fish collection by vehicle
• Fish transporter tank maintenance
• Fish handling
• Fish injection
• Microbiological work
• Writing of specified Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Administration of relevant SOPs
• Sourcing and ordering aquarium and laboratory supplies
• Oversight of day-to-day laboratory management of a Category 2 microbiological laboratory

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Education, qualifications and experience

Essential Qualifications

• Min qualification = 4 Highers / 3 A - Levels
• Home Office Personal License holder (in fish handling & procedures), or willingness to acquire this license
• Full clean UK driving licence

Experience

• Experience in the area of fish or aquatic disease biology
• Experiece in microbiological techniques
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience of working on their own initiative, and proactively in their approach to managing day-to-day affairs.
• A flexible and adaptable approach, coupled with the ability to prioritise workload to meet deadlines.
• Good all round organisational and forward planning abilities.

The post-holder will be expected to work under pressure and handle changing priorities effectively and, at any one time, balance a varied group of concurrent tasks and activities.

Competencies, Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent IT skills
• Good team player with good interpersonal skills

Other: Desirable: An understanding of COSHH and carrying out risk assessments BSc or MSc degree in a relevant discipline

How To Apply        

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Monday 26th August 2019.

At Heriot-Watt University we understand that being diverse makes us better which is why we support a culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and creative environment.

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UKVI to enable sponsorship of non-European nationals. Therefore we cannot progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK. For further information on this please visit the UK Visas and Immigration website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.