Energy Centre Technical Assistant - Estates - 53064 - Grade 5

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Birmingham seeks a Technician Assistant to support the Energy Centre's operations. This full-time role involves ensuring efficient plant operation, maintaining safety standards, and assisting with maintenance tasks. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits, including generous holidays and development opportunities.

Benefits

40 days paid holiday

Occupational sick pay

Pension scheme

Subsidised day nurseries

Volunteering day

Qualifications

• Educated to A Level standard or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics and English.

Responsibilities

• Support the Technician in the operation of the Energy Centre.
• Monitor operating conditions and parameters.
• Carry out adjustments to maintain safe and efficient running.

Skills

Mechanical

Electrical

Plumbing

IT Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Education

A Level or equivalent

GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics

GCSE grade C/4 in English

Job description

Position Details

Estates

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £29,647 to £31,460, with potential progression once in post to £35,388

In addition, you will receive contractual overtime and additional allowances which can equate to circa £20k per annum

Grade: 5

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 28th May 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.With almost 5,000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai, there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are,and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working.In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops,places to eat and drink,our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham

Background

Birmingham is a member of the Russell Group of Universities, which are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and unrivalled links with business and the public sector. We accommodate 30,000 staff and students, of whom 5,000 reside on site, in buildings dating from the early 1900’s to the present day, totalling some 500,000m2 of floor area.

The Energy Centre provides heat and power to the majority of the estate the University operates an energy centre, which includes two CHP units and steam boiler plant. Power being distributed via the University’s private wire system consisting of 32 HV substations and is connected to the grid via a 132/11kV primary substation and heat is distributed via three district heating systems as hot water and steam.

This Energy Centre consists of a 4.6MWe gas turbine feeding heat recovery boiler, a 2.1MWe gas engine backed up by 45MWe of steam boilers.

This role will provide shift cover for the Energy Centre, and while normally will be paired with a Technician, will at times be the sole member of staff on duty and thus responsible for the safe, efficient and economical operation of the CHP installation. The shift pattern is currently 6am/6pm to 6pm/6am alternating between four shifts on days, four shift on nights and four rest days in between.

Role Summary

The Technician Assistant will support the Technician in ensuring the safe, efficient and economical operation of the Energy Centre and the integrity of utility services to the University.The objective will always be to attain maximum operation/production and minimum downtime consistent with achieving the greatest cost effectiveness.

Main Duties

• Under the direction of the Shift Technician ensure any plant repairs are completed in a timely manner and ensuring work of the highest quality with all H&S and legislative requirements being met.
• Issuing and authorising of permits to work as required for competent people.
• Constant monitoring of all operating conditions and parameters.
• Carry out the necessary adjustments to plant for maintaining safe and efficient running.
• Take Run / No Run decisions based on up to date cost effectiveness and operating conditions.
• When necessary override automated systems and operate them manually in order to protect the plant equipment when problems identified.
• Monitor and record all aspects to prove the effectiveness of the P.M.S. to minimise plant downtime.
• Operate and assist in the scheduling of a Planned Maintenance System to ensure the Energy Centre’s plant efficiency, effectiveness and robustness of supply.
• Under the direction of the Shift Technician implement all Pressure Systems inspections to schedule and liaise directly with Insurance Inspectors to meet legislative requirements.
• Upkeep of the logbook and recording of the required logs of plant performance including meter readings and log sheets.
• Carry out work using core skills outside of the Energy Centre as necessary, for example in supporting the Delivery and Operations function.
• Ensure the induction and briefing of any contractors, visitors within the Energy Centre.
• Assist the Technicians to maintain an up to date stores inventory of essential spares, ensuring manufacturer’s recommendations adhered to and downtime is minimised.Obtaining quotes and ordering spares when required.
• Ensure continuity of the service through maintaining staffing levels in the Energy Centre and using outside trade skills when required.
• To use computerised systems and to override automatic operation to manual control.Interrogate and alter as required computerised automatic parameter settings.
• Compile and complete to schedule Key Performance Indicator reports (KPIs) for monitoring and communication of the Energy Centre’s effectiveness. Monitor and report on Key Performance Indicators for all plant.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Any other duties as may reasonably be expected by the relevant manager.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to A Level standard, or equivalent level 3 qualification or work experience evidencing the skills and ability to undertake the role.
• Recognised and registered CITB or EITB apprenticeship or equivalent.
• Minimum of GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics and English at GCSE or equivalent level 2 qualification.
• Relevant work experience with the ability to diagnose and repair faults in mechanical / electrical / electronic / plumbing installations, plant and equipment.
• Demonstration of ability of operate and take reasonability for large engineering plant, ideally a steam boiler plant and energy conversion plant.
• Excellent engineering maintenance experience and capable of understanding the work of all trades.
• Ability to manage the operational tasks and general maintenance of the Energy Centre.
• The ability to develop and enhance the Team ethos and promote the Energy Centre as a centre of excellence.
• Ability to be self-motivated organised with an ability to make decision based upon information and experience.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and individual responsibilities within an Energy Centre environment.
• Good IT skills including plant operation systems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. You will need to inspire confidence and command authority with a range of colleagues and provide excellent customer service at all times.
• A high degree of initiative, personal judgement, resourcefulness, flexibility, and a self-motivating approach.
• Ability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation, and to develop a good understanding of howthe Universityand higher education institutions work.
• Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Dimensions

This role will require the exercise of personal initiative within and beyond the department.You may manage a team or budgets.

Planning and Organising

You will be required to independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision. May manage other staffs’ workloads.

Problem Solving and decision making

You will be working under the direction of a manager, with a significant degree of autonomy.You will deal with more complex queries and be expected to resolve any problems in your area of responsibility.You may also manage the workload of others or coach others to achieve results.

Internal and External relationships

You will liaise with internal colleagues across the University and stakeholders.

Informal enquiries to Richard Berridge, email: [e-mail] telephone: [phone]

View our staff values and behaviourshere

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 everyoneon our website .