Research Laboratory Manager - Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences - 106846 - Grade 6

University of Birmingham; Park Central; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

A renowned educational institution seeks a candidate for a position within the College of Medicine and Health. The role involves managing research activities, providing technical expertise, and supervising staff. The ideal candidate will have a relevant technical qualification and substantial experience in laboratory-based work. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with health and safety policies and managing laboratory equipment. This post can be part-time at 0.6 FTE or full-time at 37.5 hours/week, and it's funded for up to 2 years.

Qualifications

• Extensive relevant practical and technical workplace experience.
• In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods.
• Ability to organize and manage workload independently.

Responsibilities

• Manage the research group’s activities and murine colonies.
• Provide specialist technical expertise and guidance.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the research area.

Skills

Technical support

Problem-solving

Supervision

Communication

Compliance with H&S

Education

Professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject

GCSE level 2 in mathematics and English

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Commonly used software packages

Job description

This is either a part‑time position (0.6 FTE) or a full‑time position (37.5 hours/week) within the College of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, in the Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences undertaking the management of the research activity of Professor Jo Morris (0.6 FTE part‑time) and assisting with the general management of the area (additional 0.4 FTE). This post is funded for up to 2 years. There also be a requirement to supervise and mentor junior support staff and students and to ensure compliance with local SOPs, College and local H&S policies in order to establish and maintain a safe and productive local working environment.

Role Summary

The role holder will provide specialist technical expertise, practical and specialist operation and development of the equipment and facility with the ability to test and implement new approaches, services or systems. The role holder is likely to have a technical qualification (or equivalent) and substantial experience and will typically be perceived to be an expert. The role holder may supervise a number of technical staff but even where they do not directly supervise staff they will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate. The role holder should have knowledge of the research questions, techniques and experimental protocols being used in the facility. They will be able to use their in‑depth knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and pragmatically and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise. They may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate experimental procedures. In order to flexibly use resource the role holder may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university.

Core Responsibilities

• Management of the research group’s activities including housekeeping, procurement and equipment maintenance
• Management of the research group’s murine colonies including breeding
• Maintain records on various systems including genotyping, mating, ARMIS etc
• Maintain various group databases e.g.: siRNA and cell database
• Analyse tumour material and cells

Optional Additional Responsibility (0.4 FTE)

• Reporting of and monitoring resolution for any failures in the infrastructure supporting facilities within the area
• Ensuring all small items of communal laboratory equipment (such as centrifuges, water systems etc) are kept in good working order and serviced and repaired as /when required. Assisting research groups in the maintenance and/or repair of group owned equipment.
• Ensuring that technical support staff linked with academic groups located in the area receive appropriate training, mentoring and support in the execution of their duties.
• Undertaking the day-to-day line management of some technical staff working in partnership with Technical Manager and Principal Investigators within the defined area. They will be expected to refer complex HR issues to the School Technical Manager for support or resolution.
• Conducting performance development reviews for junior technical staff.
• Undertaking, in conjunction with the Technical Manager and other Team members, management of the space within the defined geographical area.
• Assisting with general management of the communal areas.

Additional Responsibilities

• Use of in-depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and/or students. This will involve communicating with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students.
• Diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.
• Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures while using judgment to assess the correct technique to use and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your Supervisor for approval on any proposed changes.
• Maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, and for any other research activities you may be involved in including results.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
• Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
• Contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety Duties

• Ensuring staff and students working within the area of responsibility comply with all basic University / College Health & Safety policies.
• Look after a communal area as part of your duties, ensuring all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.
• Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.
• Ensure that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained.
• Report any breaches or non‑compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
• Uphold the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.
• Post holders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider or Fire Warden.

General Administration and Organisation

• Ensure all records are accurate and kept up to date.
• Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
• Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents, ensuring, where necessary this is in compliance with GCLP/GCP requirements.
• Monitor income and expenditure for the facility and clearly communicate outcomes to Facility Manager.
• Ensure that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
• Ensure best use of equipment through online booking systems, if appropriate.
• Ensure that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained.
• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
• Maintain up to date protocol change or maintain relevant research lab databases/records.

Other Duties

• Take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Qualifications

• Extensive relevant practical and technical workplace experience, professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• GCSE level 2 (A- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• In‑depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods.
• Extensive experience of similar laboratory‑based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment.
• Shows courtesy in dealing with others.
• Ability to organise and manage own work load and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team.
• Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role.
• Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same.
• Proficiency in commonly used software packages.
• 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

• Dimensions You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers. You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff. You may be involved in budget monitoring.
• Planning and Organising You will be required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium‑longer‑term horizons without daily supervision. You will ensure that you have the resources required, which will require planning ahead and procurement of goods.
• Problem Solving and decision making
  • You will be able to research, modify and adapt protocols after consulting relevant manager, and prepare for research experiments.
  • You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions.
  • You will be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures.
  • Foresees wider problems and makes appropriate suggestions to solve these within own work or project area.
  • Develop and implement improvement programmes within own service area.
  • Although you will work under the direction of more senior staff you will be able to carry out your work with a large amount of autonomy.