"Teaching Laboratory Technician - School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences - 104290 - Grade 5"

Position Details

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £28,397 to £30,210, with potential progression once in post to £33,938

Grade: 5

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 20th August 2024 

Background

The School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation at the University of Birmingham is a world-leading department, renowned for our innovative and translational research. We are at the forefront of advancing knowledge in all aspects of our field. Ranked 6th in the world in the latest QS Subject rankings and top 5 in the UK's Research Excellence Framework, our commitment to excellence is unwavering. Our overall mission is to find new ways to understand and support the physical activity/sport needs of individuals and communities ranging from children to older people, elite athletes to sedentary adults, and healthy participants to those recovering from injury or living with chronic diseases. Through our groundbreaking research, we tackle societal challenges from multidisciplinary perspectives, ensuring that our degree programs are enriched with the latest insights and discoveries.

Role Summary

To support us on our journey, we are seeking a Teaching Laboratory Technician who will be responsible for the management of the SportExR Teaching Labs, to enable the effective delivery of undergraduate laboratory practicals, and other work carried out in those areas. 

Other duties will include maintaining a School inventory of equipment, carrying out routine checks, maintenance of School laboratory equipment and managing clinical waste disposal.

Main Duties

Support/Management of Laboratory facilities 

• Facilitate the smooth running of undergraduate practicals. This includes preparation and setting out of equipment, testing equipment for functionality and calibration, preparation of solutions and consumables and to clear up after use.
• Liaise with academic staff concerning equipment requirements, student numbers, risk assessments and modifications to practicals.
• Build and set up new equipment.
• Routinely maintain and service equipment, diagnosing and resolving problems – in particular for pieces of equipment no longer under warranty.
• Train users on general laboratory equipment.
• In conjunction with module organisers to manage the teaching laboratories’ timetabling system to ensure co-ordination of bookings for teaching, research, and 3rd year project use.
• Maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, ensuring that students have data to write lab reports.
• In conjunction with the Research Laboratory Manager, to manage the laboratory timetabling system to ensure co-ordination of bookings for research and educational use. 
• To track and monitor the allocated laboratories’ budget, including purchase of consumables, replacement of items and new equipment as required for the laboratories. 
• To carry out routine laundry services for the laboratories and physiotherapy rooms.
• To carry out inventories of equipment and kit.
• To liaise with the Operations Manager when new or replacement equipment is required.
• To maintain the Physiotherapy room timetables.
• Hold a master key for the School.

General Laboratory Organisation, Research Support and Administration

The post holder will assist with the daily administration and organisation of the work area, and will be expected to:

• Update and ensure compliance with the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling, and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
• To maintain a system for safe collection and disposal of clinical waste from teaching laboratories in line with University approved regulations.
• To carry out routine checks of fume cupboards, eyewash baths (where applicable), gas regulators, water flushing etc, and to maintain a robust record in line with current School systems.
• Management of equipment for fieldwork and lab work (e.g. tablets, accelerometers etc.).
• Carry out the refilling of liquid nitrogen dewars. 
• Ensure good housekeeping in laboratories including the disposal/recycling of packing materials and empty cartons, cleaning down of surfaces including lab benching and ensuring chemical are stored correctly.

Laboratory Health and Safety Support

• Act as a point of contact for all H&S queries and issues within the School.
• Complete the University of Birmingham’s First Aid Training.
• Retain records of:
• Incidents (accidents / near misses)
• Placements
• Fieldwork (receive and forward risk assessments as well as retaining records)
• Understand and comply with laboratory health and safety and compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical requirements. 
• To provide advice and guidance on risk assessments (including COSHH, Biological COSHH, Codes of Practice etc.) for communal laboratory equipment and chemicals. 
• The post holder will be required to ensure the safe handling and disposal of all materials used in laboratory projects including hazardous chemicals where applicable.
• Conduct monthly building fire walk inspections
• Join the SportExR H&S Committee as a member. Deliver a H&S Coordinator update at each meeting (report on incidences, inductions, safety inspections and any other matters arising or points to communicate since last meeting).
• To assist in the checking safety documentation and provide advice on the preparation of said documentation to academic staff and postgraduate students.
• To maintain and update the central repository for safety documentation on the schools Microsoft Teams page.
• To assist in the development and administration of safety training records of academic staff and postgraduates within the school.
• To consult with the University Safety Unit over current and future safety provision and record keeping.
• To liaise with the College H&S Manager of changes in safety legislation and guidance and to act on those changes as required.
• Understand and comply with site and local emergency procedures.
• Understand and comply with the University’s safety policies and procedures.
• Understand and comply with GCP and HTA.
• Understand the management and control of laboratory waste.
• Understand the handling and disposal of chemical substances.
• Understand environmental risk assessments (impact assessment).
• Understand and apply the concepts of resource efficiency to energy, water and waste.
• To ensure PPE cabinet is monitored and restocked. 
• Provide advice and training on safety hazards within the school.
• Ensure first aid boxes, eye wash stations and AED are regularly checked and compliant. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team.
• Degree or equivalent experience with relevance to Sport Science.
• Health and Safety qualification or relevant experience would be desirable. 
• Good working knowledge of laboratory safety and safety legislation.
• Experience as Sport Science Laboratory Technician would be desirable. 
• Extensive laboratory experience in a similar role would be desirable. 
• Good practical ability in a lab or teaching environment.
• Good health and safety knowledge in the use of safe handling of field equipment, biologically hazardous materials and hazardous chemicals and substances. 
• A qualification in First Aid is desirable (although training will be provided).
• The post holder must be able to engage in continual exchange of information with colleagues in order to facilitate and lead large practical classes.
• Working knowledge of relevant computer software packages (e.g. Word, Excel).

Informal enquiries to Dr David McIntyre, email: d.b.mcintyre@bham.ac.uk 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.