Senior Service Technician

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Forklift license

Job summary

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Babraham near Cambridge is seeking a Cage Wash Supervisor to lead a small team in the Cage Wash area, delivering essential services to the Animal Facility. You will manage daily operations, ensure high hygiene standards, and coordinate with senior managers to keep the facility running smoothly.

The role requires supervisory experience, a strong safety ethic, and willingness to work with automated and semi-automated cage washing equipment.

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE level, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Desirable: Forklift licence; IAT Level 2 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science & Technology.
• Essential: Supervising a team and developing strong working relationships.
• Essential: Ability to work independently and maintain high hygiene standards.
• Desirable: Experience with barriered facilities and cage wash automation.
• Essential: Understands PPE importance; good written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day cage wash and service technicians to maintain high standards.
• Communicate daily with Senior Service Support Manager and Supervisor.
• Deliver and collect animal cages within the building.
• Operate and maintain cage washing equipment and related systems.
• Handle stores and lifting equipment; assist with decontamination of supplies.

Skills

Team supervision

Hygiene standards

Communication with managers

Health and safety awareness

Manual handling

Education

GCSE level or equivalent

IAT Level 2 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science & Technology

Forklift licence (Desirable)

Tools

Jib-crane operation

Industrial washers/dryers operation

Job description

£31,916 to £33,910 per annum (pro-rata if part-time)

Overall purpose:

To supervise a small team, within our Cage Wash area, to deliver essential support services to the MRC LMB Animal Facility located in the Ares Building on the Babraham Research Campus. This Facility in turn, forms part of the larger team known as the Biological Services Group (BSG), whose aim is to support scientific researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), specifically to provide animal husbandry for laboratory mice used in medical research.

Main duties/ Key responsibilities:

• The post holder will be responsible for supervising and covering the day to day running of the cage wash and service technicians within the MRC Ares mouse facility and provide delivery of essential services to ensure the highest standards are maintained.
• There will be a need for daily communication with both the Senior Service Support Manager and Service Support Supervisor to ensure the smooth running of the cage wash area and the services supplied to the rest of the building.
• Delivery and collection of animal cages to specified area throughout the building.
• Processing of dirty water bottles and delivery of clean water in bags and bottles across both sites (semi-automated).
• Daily maintenance and routine cleaning of the cage washing/processing equipment.
• Stores duties to include accepting deliveries, moving consumables (such as bedding, diet and enrichment), to the stores areas. This includes using a jib-crane to load the bedding totes into the automated systems and decontaminating diet and enrichment before use.
• Ensuring laundry duties are carried out using industrial-sized washers and dryers for scrubs, over garments and towels used within both facilities.
• Use of various lifting equipment including the forklift truck, pallet trucks and other similar lifting equipment (for which training will be given, if required).
• Operation of automated and semi-automated machinery such as autoclaves, rack washer and decontamination locks which are in the cage/bottle processing area.
• Ensure that cage cleaning robotics equipment is functioning and is correctly operated by the service technicians.
• Trouble shooting any equipment problems that arise, by identifying the fault and reporting to it to the Senior Service Support Manager and/or Service Support Supervisor.
• Able to correct any minor faults with the robotic cage washing equipment (after training).
• Hold regular meetings with all cage wash staff to ensure the cage wash and associated areas run smoothly.

Working relationships:

You will supervise a small team under the overall management of the Senior Service Support Manager.

You will be working closely with Animal Technicians, maintenance staff and other members of the Biological Services Group. You will also interact with delivery drivers when required.

Additional information:

Appointment within the salary range will be commensurate with experience, with higher points reserved for candidates demonstrating significant relevant skills, qualifications, or experience.

Person Specification

Education / qualifications / training required:

Essential:

• Educated to GCSE level, or equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable:

• Holds a current forklift licence
• Institute of Animal Technology (IAT) Level 2 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science & Technology or equivalent

Previous work experience required:

Essential:

• Experience of supervising a team and developing strong working relationships
• Experience of working independently
• Experience of maintaining high levels of hygiene to ensure a suitable environment

Desirable:

• Experience of barriered facilities including Individually Vented Caging systems (IVCs)
• Experience of working in a cage wash facility with automated and/or semi-automated machinery
• Experience in machine maintenance.

Knowledge and experience:

Essential:

• Demonstrates an aptitude for working carefully and safely
• Ability to act on own initiative, and also to know when to seek advice
• Ability to follow instructions, both verbal and written e.g. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and carry them out with limited supervision
• Understands and is able to explain the importance of wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Good written and verbal communication skills

Personal skills / behaviours / qualities:

Essential:

• Responsible, conscientious and hard-working
• Understands the routine nature of this role
• Excellent time management and sound interpersonal skills
• Commitment to undertake standard training programs

Additional Information

We welcome applications from all and are open to discuss requests for reasonable adjustments.

Corporate Responsibilities

You must at all times carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the UKRI:

• Code of Conduct
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy
• Health and Safety policy
• Data Protection policy

Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between you and your manager.

The above lists are not exhaustive and you are required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, co-operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post, the MRC and UKRI.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.