Engineering Technical Team Leader

Newcastle University; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 36,636 - 38,784; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement

Pension schemes

Health & wellbeing programs

Job summary

Newcastle University is seeking a Technical Team Leader to lead a team of technicians across civil engineering labs, fieldwork and testing facilities. You will plan workloads, manage resources and ensure labs are compliant, safe and operational to support teaching and research.

You will lead health and safety, asset management and continuous service improvement while collaborating with academics to develop facilities and new research initiatives. The role is full-time, on site.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a team of technical staff within an engineering lab environment.
• Experience managing multiple laboratories, infrastructure, equipment and resources.
• Strong knowledge of geotechnical engineering and lab testing techniques.
• Up-to-date knowledge of health and safety legislation and lab compliance.
• Experience implementing change and developing technical staff.
• Excellent planning, organisation and problem-solving for lab operations.
• Experience with project management, procurement and budgeting.
• Proven written and verbal communication skills.
• Good numerical skills to analyse and present data.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a technical staff team responsible for engineering labs, fieldwork and testing facilities.
• Plan workloads, manage resources and ensure labs remain compliant and operational.
• Oversee maintenance, calibration and lifecycle planning of laboratory equipment.
• Lead health and safety management, risk assessments and inspections.
• Coordinate with academics to align resources with teaching timetables and research.
• Manage budgets, procurement and financial records for the labs.
• Support strategic development of laboratory facilities and new initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement of technical services and operations.

Skills

Team leadership

Laboratory management

Geotechnical testing

Health and safety

Risk assessment

Project management

Budget management

Communication skills

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

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Salary: £36,636 to £38,784 with progression to £46,049 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 4 August 2026

The Role

TheSchool of Engineering at Newcastle University is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to the role of Technical Team Leader.

Our highly skilled and professional technical colleagues are essential in supporting and delivering successful teaching and research activities to an international standard. We have approximately 75 technicians employed within the School of Engineering, working on both our city campus and off-site facilities throughout the North East of England. Our technical expertise spans a wide range of engineering disciplines and plays a fundamental role in Newcastle University’s teaching, research and external engagement.

As Technical Team Leader, you will lead and develop a team of technicians responsible for supporting specialist engineering labs, fieldwork and testing facilities. You will provide operational leadership across a range of civil engineering labs, ensuring the safe, efficient and effective delivery of technical services that underpin undergraduate teaching, post graduate research, commercial testing and externally funded research projects.

Working closely with academic colleagues, researchers and professional services, you will be responsible for planning workloads, managing technical resources, supporting strategic developments and ensuring laboratories, equipment and facilities remain operational, compliant and fit for purpose. The role also provides opportunities to contribute to future developments within the school, including new teaching programmes, specialist laboratory facilities and research infrastructure.

You will support the Technical Operations Manager in the leadership and development of civil engineering technical services, taking responsibility for areas including health and safety, lab operations, staff management, infrastructure, asset management and continuous service improvement.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced technical professional looking to take the next step in their career, leading a highly skilled team and contributing to the continued success and growth of Engineering Technical Services at Newcastle University.

The position is full-time and offered on an open-ended basis.

At Newcastle University we are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment. For further details about Newcastle University please visit our information page at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/about .

Successful candidates will require satisfactory evidence of a full UK driving licence and will be subject to DVLA driving licence check as the role involves fieldwork outside campus grounds, sample collection, and the use of a forklift truck on public roads.

This appointment is also subject to satisfactory medical clearance. Successful candidates will receive a link from our online medical clearance system during onboarding.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead, manage and develop a team of technical staff, ensuring effective performance through recruitment, induction, workload planning, performance management, staff development, conversations and priorities, wellbeing support and the effective allocation of resources
• Support the Technical Operations Manager with the management of Engineering laboratories, technical facilities, infrastructure and estates within your area of responsibility, ensuring facilities remain safe, secure, compliant and operational. Lead on infrastructure and estates projects where required
• Manage the maintenance, servicing, calibration and replacement planning of laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Maintain the School's equipment asset register and support equipment lifecycle planning for financial, operational and insurance purposes
• Lead the management of health and safety within your area, ensuring compliance with University policies and statutory legislation. Develop and review risk assessments, standard operating procedures and local safety arrangements, whilst leading laboratory inspections, audits and emergency planning activities
• Manage the delivery of technical services supporting teaching, research, fieldwork, commercial testing and external engagement activities. Work closely with academic colleagues to ensure technical resources are effectively planned and aligned with teaching timetables, research programmes and operational priorities. Provide technical leadership, advice and training to staff, students and external collaborators, promoting high standards of technical practice and safe working
• Oversee the operational readiness of laboratories, facilities, materials, samples and equipment, ensuring effective support for teaching, research and commercial activities. Maintain accurate technical records and support the management and analysis of experimental data where appropriate
• Manage allocated budgets, procurement and financial records, ensuring value for money and supporting commercial activities through client liaison, costing and financial monitoring
• Work collaboratively with academic colleagues to support the strategic development of laboratory facilities, technical capability and new research and teaching initiatives, including the specification, design and implementation of new laboratory infrastructure and equipment
• Lead and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance technical services, laboratory operations, customer service and ways of working
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of managing or supporting a team of technical staff within an engineering lab environment
• Significant experience of managing or supporting multiple laboratories or facilities and their associated infrastructure, equipment, instrumentation and technical resources
• Strong specialist knowledge of geotechnical engineering, including laboratory testing techniques and the management, operation and maintenance of geotechnical and materials testing laboratories and associated equipment
• Up-to-date and detailed knowledge of health and safety legislation and laboratory compliance, including extensive experience of developing risk assessments, standard operating procedures and safe systems of work
• Demonstrable experience of implementing change, managing operational priorities and motivating and developing technical staff
• Excellent planning, organisational and technical problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads, delegate effectively and deliver high-quality technical services
• Experience of project management, procurement and budget management within a technical or lab environment
• Proven written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships
• Good numerical skills with the ability to analyse, interpret and present technical and management information

Attributes and Behaviour

• Demonstrates strong leadership by motivating, supporting and developing others to achieve high performance and deliver an excellent technical service
• Works collaboratively with colleagues, building positive relationships and valuing the expertise and contributions of others to achieve shared objectives
• Establishes effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing a professional, responsive and customer-focused service
• Plans and organises work effectively, prioritising competing demands, making efficient use of resources and ensuring activities are completed to a high standard
• Demonstrates a proactive, flexible and solution-focused approach, adapting to changing priorities while maintaining service delivery
• Embraces change and continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance technical services, laboratory operations and ways of working
• Communicates clearly and effectively, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and a positive team culture

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent level qualification (in a relevant Engineering subject) plus experience in a similar role or significant technical experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding, relevant roles
• Full UK driving licence

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a GoldAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.