Technician

Job description

The post holder is a member of the School’s professional services team split across 3 locations at Guy’s Campus, providing high quality technical support to the School and specific support to its education/ research activities.  

 

The post holder will: 

1.           Provide a range of technical support to established service standards, using accurate record keeping and data analysis skills, applying knowledge to new areas as required.  

Use technical or practical skills and a well-developed working knowledge of technical/ scientific practices and procedures. 

2.           Engage in Continuing Professional Development and training initiatives, in line with the Technician Commitment and Research Concordat for a minimum of 10 days pro rata per year. 

3.           Maintain service facilities ensuring efficient use of resources, installing, maintaining, and securing technical equipment systems and software and controlling associated stocks/store, equipment, and supplies. 

4.           Work to an agreed work plan and day-to-day objectives set by the line manager(s)/ supervisor. 

Prioritise work, dealing with activities/ enquiries/ incidents as and when they arise, working independently without reference to a line manager or supervisor, using standard procedures and initiative. 

5.           Resolve routine and complex problems that arise in the local service using established guidance to put in place mechanisms to minimise future problems. 

Use accurate record keeping and data analysis skills to interpret and evaluate routine data. 

Support less experienced colleagues in making day-to-day local operational decisions. 

6.           Work with colleagues and network as agreed by the line manager(s).  

Form a network of contacts to provide support and share best practice. 

7.           Build working relationships with School staff, students, and key partners, to coordinate activities in a timely and effective manner. 

Demonstrate and advise staff and students on techniques as appropriate. 

8.           Communicate information in a clear and precise way, both orally and in writing. 

9.           Contribute to ideas for improving current working methods and procedures. 

10.         Implement local environmentally sustainable practices, following the King’s sustainability audit process, where appropriate. Collaborate with colleagues to share good practice and support wider sustainable initiatives and suggest new ideas where you see that improvements could be made. 

11.         Understand the regulations and university policies governing the service, using safe working practices, and suggesting improvements to line manager(s) in order to reduce risks, including negative environmental impacts.  

Report accidents/ incidents to line manager(s)/ supervisor. 

12.         Facilitate an inclusive culture and ethos working with academic, research and other professional services staff and colleagues external to King’s. 

13.         Participate in cross-School/ Faculty/ university projects and initiatives for up to 10% FTE. 

 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract  

This is a full-time  post - 100% full time equivalent

 

Key responsibilities

•       To provide a comprehensive technical support service for CIBCI and 5th Floor Bermondsey/Southwark wing (Primary location) and across the school, to support the daily operations associated with the School’s Research activities, working closely with the School Leadership Team and the School Technical Manager (Although the role may be  allocated to a Primary location, please be advise that you will be expected to work across the SIMS estate – on various Campuses, as and when required.)  

•       To provide the operation and basic maintenance of autoclaves, glass washing machines and drying ovens for the School (Guy’s campus primarily/ CIBCI / 5th floor Bermondsey/Southwark Wing) ensuring continuous service 

•          Performing weekly validation of School Autoclaves, using spore testing 

•          Training new starters on the operation of the Autoclaves 

•          Maintenance of autoclave room consumable stocks 

•          Sterilisation of laboratory waste and research consumables 

•          Washing scientific glassware, ensuring high standards of cleanliness 

•          Removal of clinical waste from all laboratory areas Borough Wing (2nd/3rd Floor) on a twice weekly basis or as necessary 

•          Maintenance and replacement of shared laboratory glassware stocks. 

•          Lab coat laundry management 

•          Regularly updating Local technical team and STM (School Technical Manager) regarding the performance and mechanical failure of the equipment 

•          Assessing and ordering shared lab consumables such as sharps containers, yellow clinical waste bags, autoclavable waste bags, red tags, dish washer reagents, IMS/Ethanol supplies, printer paper, blue roll etc. 

•          Deliveries for 5th floor Berm/SouthW Lab and providing cover for the School (Guy’s campus primarily). 

•       To support the School Technical Manager, School Manager and Head of School in providing operational leadership for Technical staff within the School. 

•       To support the School Technical Manager in coordinating the School’s compliance with all regulations and guidelines for Health and Safety, ensuring that all relevant safety related Posts are filled. 

•       To support the wider School Leadership Team in fostering a stimulating, innovative and inclusive cultural environment across the School enabling students and staff to thrive and develop, ensuring that technical staff experiences are actively considered and represented in the ongoing development and implementation of the diversity and inclusion agenda. 

•       To forge relationships with colleagues in the School, Faculty and university, to contribute to process development and adoption of best practice. 

 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

 

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria  

1.       Minimum level 3 qualification, e.g. A levels, AS levels, International Baccalaureate diploma or other Level 3 qualification, plus work experience in a relevant technical/scientific post(s) OR Knowledge and skills gained through work experience in relevant technical or scientific posts. 

 

2.       Evidence of an active commitment to skills and knowledge development through vocational training and on-the-job experience. 

 

3.       Competent basic computer skills including Microsoft Office packages. 

 

4.       Knowledge of a range of technical or practical skills and procedures and their impact on the environment. 

 

5.       Ability to apply learnt techniques to the work context. 

 

6.       Clear spoken and written communication skills, along with strong interpersonal and influencing/behavioural skills. 

 

7.       Flexible team-worker who is responsive to colleagues. 

8.       An understanding of Health & Safety regulations governing area of work, particularly relating to laboratory waste disposal and recycling. 

 

Desirable criteria

1.       Evidence of a commitment to professional development including professional registration, such as RSciTech and a willingness to learn new techniques. 

2.       Able and willing to provide support beyond core hours, as required.