"Senior Teaching Technician – Pharmaceutical Science"

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Teaching Technician – Pharmaceutical Science to join the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland. This senior technical education role plays a critical part in supporting high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching laboratories within pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice.

In this hands-on and collaborative position, you will provide expert technical and educational support across formulation science, drug analysis, compounding, aseptic, and regulatory compliance. You will work closely with academic staff, course coordinators, and other technical specialists to co-design, test, and deliver safe, compliant, and pedagogically effective laboratory-based learning experiences.

As a senior technician, you will also provide operational leadership within teaching laboratories, coach others to build technical capability, and ensure facilities, equipment, and systems are maintained to the highest standards. This position suits a technically skilled practitioner who enjoys applying their specialised pharmaceutical science expertise when ensuring excellent learning

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide technical support for academic staff in the planning, co-design, testing, and delivery of pharmaceutical science laboratory teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate.
• Delivering technical training to teaching assistants in laboratory techniques, specialist equipment, and health and safety practices.
• Demonstrating and instructing students in pharmaceutical formulation, analytical techniques, compounding, and pharmacy practice skills.
• Supporting assessments, including practical exams and objective structured clinical examinations, where required.
• Ensuring teaching laboratories operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with University, Ministry of Health, MPI, and hazardous substance regulations.
• Maintaining, calibrating, and troubleshooting specialist laboratory and AV equipment, and developing standard operating procedures.
• Managing laboratory facilities, consumables, stock control, and liaison with Property Services and external contractors.
• Acting as a Designated Lab Person (DLP) when required and contributing to risk assessments and safety improvements.
• Providing leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to other technical staff and students.
• Supporting outreach activities, public engagement demonstrations, and laboratory innovation initiatives.

This is a fulltime, permanent position.

The salary range for this role is $73,400 - $90,700 depending on skills and experience.

For more detailed information, please review the position description.

He kōrero mōu | About you

You’re a technically skilled professional with a passion for supporting high-quality teaching and learning. You thrive in collaborative environments, can build strong working relationships, and have the ability to navigate complex technical challenges with care and professionalism. Your attention to detail and proactive approach mean you can manage multiple priorities while maintaining a safe, compliant, and well-organised laboratory environment.

You will bring:

• A Bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical science, pharmacology, medical science, or biological science (postgraduate qualification preferred).
• 5–7 years’ technical experience in pharmaceutical sciences, including formulation
• Proven ability to operate and maintain specialised equipment and analytical instruments (e.g., HPLC, UV-Vis, FTIR, dissolution systems).
• Experience supporting teaching activities and a commitment to delivering high standards of laboratory practice.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams.
• Knowledge of compliance requirements and health and safety standards in laboratory environments.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities. The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

For more information, please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications must be submitted online by the closing date of 5 February 2026 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and CV highlighting how you meet the skills and experiences detailed above.

For a confidential conversation, please contact a.wei@auckland.ac.nz. Please note we are happy to answer your questions, but we do not accept applications by email.