Senior Laboratory Technician - College of Life and Environmental Sciences - 106417 - Grade 5

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

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Birmingham is seeking a full-time Laboratory Technician to provide technical support in research laboratories. The role involves maintaining lab equipment, managing consumables, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Candidates should have a degree in environmental science or a related field and possess strong problem-solving skills. This position offers a starting salary between £29,647 and £31,460, with opportunities for progression.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a degree in environmental science or equivalent experience.
• Extensive relevant workplace experience or equivalent professional qualification.
• In-depth practical knowledge of technical and scientific methods.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for laboratory research across all Schools.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and order consumables.
• Suggest solutions to technical problems and assist in experiments.

Skills

Laboratory techniques

Health and safety knowledge

Problem-solving

Technical expertise

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in environmental science/biosciences or equivalent experience

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Software packages

Job description

Position Details

College of Life and Environmental Sciences

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

Grade: 5

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 15 October 2025

Background

The College is one of 5 colleges in the University and consists of 4 schools: Biosciences; Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences; Psychology; and Sport and Exercise and Rehabilitation. We are dedicated to exploring the diversity and evolutionary challenges of life in all its forms. Across the breadth of life and environmental sciences, we discover, apply and translate science, forging major advances in human and environmental health. From exercise, biomedicine and mental health to climate change, food security and resilience we combine original thinking and real-world experience with clear focus and rigour.

Together, we are developing solutions to ensure a healthier and a more sustainable future.

This post will provide support for the College’s practical laboratory research across all of our Schools.

Role Summary

You will provide technical expertise, support and guidance in our research laboratories and facilities. You will need an understanding of laboratory techniques and experimental protocols to enable you to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise.

The post holder will also be expected to maintain laboratory equipment, order consumables, carry out laboratory inductions and to write / maintain a database of COSHH assessments, laboratory risk assessments and standard operating procedures where appropriate.

The post holder will also provide support for and contribute to College activities under the direction of the Technical Manager and School Heads of Operations as required.

The role will be expected to work across a number of different School/research facilities depending on College priorities.

Main Duties

• Proactive support to practical laboratory research activities in the CoLES Schools including but not limited to microscopy, wet lab techniques, media/sample preparation.
• Carry out or assist in managing experiments within the facilities.
• 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 regarding techniques and experiments.
• Communicate directly and work closely with PIs, postdoctoral researchers, undergraduates and other internal and external users on projects and experiments.
• Maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out and create or update where necessary, any SOPs associated with equipment.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity e.g. COSHH, LEV, pressure systems, lifting equipment.
• Contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.
• Troubleshoot technical problems and liaise with manufacturer to organise maintenance visits and scheduled services.
• Contribute to the invoicing of facility and maintenance of facility budgets by ensuring the best use of equipment through the established booking systems, if appropriate.

Health and Safety duties

• Proactive support for health and safety within facilities. This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties.
• Ensuring all laboratory users have completed necessary laboratory inductions, including carrying out inductions as required.
• Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are completed e.g risk assessments, chemical safety assessments (COSHH)
• 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.
• Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records, including of trained users, are maintained.
• Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policies.
• Post holders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider and/or Fire Warden.

General Administration and Organisation

• Ensuring 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 that the facility is maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
• Ensuring 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.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will 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 as directed by the relevant Technical Manager.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• A degree in an environmental science/earth science/geographical/biosciences subject or equivalent in experience.
• Good health and safety knowledge in the use of safe handling of laboratory equipment and hazardous chemicals and substances.
• Extensive relevant workplace experience, equivalent professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• 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.
• Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others.
• Ability to organise and manage own workload 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.

Training in some aspects of the role will be offered.

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 be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures. You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions. 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.

Internal and External relationships

This role will be liaising with internal colleagues and stakeholders, external stakeholders as well, sometimes with customers who have issues with the service, with an expectation on maintaining good working relationships with all.

Informal enquiries to Eimear Orgill, email: [e-mail]

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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 everyone on our website.