Technical Assistant

UNSW; Sydney; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Superannuation

Flexible working

Leave loading

Career development

HR practices

Job summary

The Technical Assistant at UNSW Medicine & Health provides routine facilities and laboratory housekeeping support across on-campus and off-campus UNSW-managed facilities, contributing to safe, efficient research environments.

You will assist with equipment maintenance, media preparation, waste management, testing services and logistics, reporting to the Technical Team Leader, with no direct reports.

Qualifications

• Year 12 or higher, with relevant experience, or a certificate/associate diploma in a relevant discipline.
• Assist daily operations of the Faculty’s research laboratories under the guidance of the Technical Team Leader.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and conduct routine maintenance.
• Clean and sterilize equipment, glassware, autoclave and disinfect to high standards.
• Dispose of hazardous and biomedical waste per procedures.
• Prepare media and solutions for UNSW Stores.
• Work well in a team and independently, including when directed.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; provide high-level customer service.

Responsibilities

• Provide routine facilities and lab housekeeping support.
• Join a collaborative technical services team supporting research across labs.
• Hands-on role maintaining high laboratory standards.
• Maintain equipment, support labs, prepare media, manage waste, run tests, coordinate logistics.
• Collaborate with researchers to keep facilities safe and efficient.
• Reports to Technical Team Leader; no direct reports.
• Moderate physical activity; manual handling up to 10 kg; valid driver’s licence.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Customer service

Independent work

Education

Year 12 or equivalent

Certificate or Associate Diploma

Job description

• Employment Type: Continuing, Full - time (35 hours a week)
• Remuneration: $84,588-$89,230 base, plus 17% superannuation and leave loading
• Work rights required: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must hold full rights to work in Australia to be considered for this position.
• Location: Kensington, Sydney

This Job is based in Australia

Technical Assistant

About UNSW

UNSW Medicine is a national leader in learning teaching and research, with close affiliations to a number of Australia’s finest hospitals, research institutes and health care organisations.

The Medicine & Health Research Infrastructure and Operational Services (MEDRIOS) Team, led by the Research Infrastructure Manager, supports over 650 researchers across the UNSW Kensington, Randwick and St. George Clinical and Sutherland Campuses. Research and technical support services are shared between buildings and off-campus UNSW-managed facilities to provide logistics support, effective laboratory infrastructure, equipment maintenance and media preparation services as part of the larger UNSW Biomedical Precinct.

Details of the role

The Technical Assistant provides routine support to UNSW Medicine & Health researchers in regard to facilities, resources and general laboratory housekeeping at both on-campus and off campus locations within UNSW-managed facilities.

Join a collaborative technical services team supporting world-class research across multiple laboratory environments. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on work, takes pride in maintaining high laboratory standards, and thrives in a service-focused environment. You will contribute to the smooth operation of research facilities through equipment maintenance, laboratory support, media preparation, waste management, testing services, and logistics coordination. Working closely with researchers and technical staff, you will play an important role in ensuring facilities are safe, efficient, and well maintained, helping research teams focus on delivering high-impact outcomes.

The role of Technical Assistant reports to the Technical Team Leader and has no direct reports. This position involves a moderate level of physical activity. The successful candidate will be required to safely perform manual handling tasks, including pushing, pulling and moving equipment and materials of up to 10 kg and also possess a valid driver’s licence.

Some Key Skills Required

• Completion of Year 10 or 12 and relevant experience, or completion of a Certificate or Associate Diploma in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent level of knowledge gained through any other combination of education, training and/or experience.
• Assist with the day-to-day operations of the Faculty’s research laboratories under the guidance and direction of the Technical Team Leader.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure regular and systematic maintenance is carried out where required.
• Ensure all equipment, instruments and glassware washing, autoclaving, disinfecting, and cleaning is conducted to a high standard and in accordance with directions.
• Dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, including biomedical waste, in accordance with relevant processes, procedures and legislation.
• Prepare media and solutions for purchase by all researchers across the University through UNSW Stores, as required.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment as well as independently, including under direction when performing more complex tasks.
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, with proven ability to provide high level customer service to a wide range of stakeholders of various backgrounds and levels of seniority.

UNSW Benefits And Culture

• 17% Superannuation and leave loading
• Flexible working
• Additional 3 days of leave over the Christmas Period
• Access to lifelong learning and career development
• Progressive HR practices

Pre-Employment Checks

As part of our recruitment process candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, which may include reference checks, qualification verification, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.

Medical fitness check (this role requires lifting of goods up to a weight of 10 kgs)

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

Applications close: Wednesday 16th September before 11.30pm Sydney time

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.