Technical Group Leader

About the Job

We’re seeking an experienced and motivated Technical Group Leader to provide leadership across our Digital Fabrication Labs (dfUEL), Print and Fashion technical provision.

This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and forward-thinking technical leader to help shape a future-facing technical environment within a highly interdisciplinary Higher Education setting.

In this role, you’ll lead a multidisciplinary team of technicians supporting students, academic staff, researchers and external partners across Arts & Creative Industries (ACI) and Architecture, Computing & Engineering (ACE). You’ll oversee specialist workshops, digital fabrication facilities and technical resources, ensuring safe, effective and innovative technical support that enhances learning, teaching, research and creative practice.

A key focus of the role will be supporting advanced digital fabrication technologies, including robotic arm systems, automation workflows and emerging Industry 5.0 approaches to creative and technical practice.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, supervising and developing a multidisciplinary technical team across Digital Fabrication, Print and Fashion.
• Supporting the operation and development of Digital Fabrication technologies including the ABB robotic arm, Grasshopper and associated computational fabrication workflows.
• Managing specialist workshops, labs and equipment supporting digital manufacturing, fabrication, fashion and prototyping technologies.
• Supporting students, researchers and academic staff with practical technical learning, experimentation, research and interdisciplinary project work.
• Working collaboratively across departments and Schools to align technical provision with curriculum development, research activity and industry practice.
• Supporting a broad and diverse user base with varying levels of technical experience and technical confidence.
• Delivering technical demonstrations, inductions, workshops and specialist support within practical learning environments.
• Ensuring safe, compliant and well-maintained technical environments, embedding health and safety best practice.
• Contributing to the future development of technical services, facilities and investment planning within a rapidly evolving technical and creative landscape.