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Senior Technician (Glassblowing)

Employer
DURHAM UNIVERSITY
Location
Durham, United Kingdom
Salary
£29,605 - £36,024 per annum
Closing date
4 Dec 2023
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The Role and the Department

Working as part of the Chemistry Technical team, the post holder will provide expert scientific glassblowing support. The Glassblowing Workshop supplies a glassblowing service to teaching and research laboratories mainly within the Chemistry department, but also across all of the science departments. This involves creating bespoke scientific glass apparatus and repairing existing glassware. This is performed for a variety of users of the service, with each job being tailored to the user's specific needs. The users include undergraduates, postgraduates, fellow technicians and academic staff. The workshop also supplies support to industry and external stakeholders.

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

  • Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values.
  • Ensure that the University's procedures and values are always reflected in all aspects of the glassblowing service and adapt ways of working where this is not evident.
  • Provide specialist advice and make decisions to resolve problems relating to the glassblowing service.
  • Share technical glassblowing knowledge and expertise to support researchers and colleagues across the university.
  • Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues brought to the glassblowing service and make recommendations based on your findings.
  • Provide the best possible service to staff, students and others who you work with by reviewing and make suggestions to improve the glassblowing service.
  • Collect, organise and record data and information accurately to provide reports.
  • Manage, maintain and monitor equipment, facilities, and systems in the glassblowing workshop to ensure safety, security and compliance.
  • Contribute towards the completion of specialist risk assessments and help to resolve incidents that require specialist expertise.

Planning and Organising

  • Plan and organise own workload to deliver the role.
  • Deliver assigned projects in accordance with agreed objectives ensuring a high level of accuracy, complexity, originality and excellence.
  • Seek feedback from stakeholders to ensure that the service is updated to meet customer expectations.

Teaching and Learning Support

  • Commission, construct and setup test glassware for experimental scenarios and practical sessions.
  • Construct, test and repair glassware used for research and teaching primarily in the Chemistry Department but also across the Faculty of Science.
  • Provide high-level technical guidance and advice in the glassblowing field to solve problems and help shape the delivery of teaching, learning and research outcomes.
  • Setup, demonstrate, instruct and supervise the use and operation of specialist pieces of equipment.
  • Record, monitor and collate information, analyse patterns and trends as part of teaching and research activities.

Communication/Liaison

  • Develop and improve services by taking part in meetings, working groups and committees.
  • Explain and demonstrate to others how to carry out tasks related to basic glassblowing techniques.
  • Create good working relationships, including internal and external networks which allow you to increase your knowledge and skills, while swapping information with peers
  • Build relationships with contractors and third-parties to share good practice, exchange information and work together on joint initiatives.

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