Senior Technical Assistant

Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a Senior Technical Assistant to provide essential support in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The role involves preparing for practical classes, maintaining laboratories, and assisting with various technical duties. Ideal candidates will have experience with laboratory equipment and strong communication skills. This full-time position offers a salary of £23,176 – £23,414 per annum.

Qualifications

• Experience of using and maintaining appropriate machinery and equipment.
• Experience of working in a technical support environment.
• Experience of using MS Outlook, Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive technical support to the School of Pharmacy.
• Assist in the preparation and clearing of practical teaching sessions.
• Maintain teaching spaces and communal areas through cleaning and routine care.

Skills

Experience of using and maintaining appropriate machinery and equipment

Experience of working in a technical support environment

Experience of using IT packages including MS Outlook, Excel and Word

Ability to deal with customers and other employees in a professional manner

Evidence of working well as an effective team member

Ability to follow instructions and work independently

Education

Basic Numeracy and Literacy (e.g. NVQ 1/GCSE level D-G)

Job description

Advert

Senior Technical Assistant

School Of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the top UK schools of Pharmacy. Our degrees are informed and supported by our research and allow students to explore the different aspects of pharmacy.

We aim to recruit an enthusiastic and effective team player, who will positively contribute to the school’s technical services, to support the educational experience of undergraduate and postgraduate students and our impactful research community.

Working in partnership with academic and technician colleagues, you will be key in the preparation for practical classes, workshops and examinations. You will support the school’s research laboratories assisting in ensuring the functionality and safety of the laboratories.

This position is full-time (35 hours per week) and open-ended.

Salary: £23,176 – £23,414 per annum (Grade 2).

Please note that it is not expected that we will appoint above grade 2.9, currently £23,176 per annum.

Date advert posted: Monday, 11 August 2025

Closing date: Monday, 1 September 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

To provide comprehensive technical support to the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and assist in the preparation and clearing of practical teaching sessions and support research activity. You will help in all activities to necessitate the smooth running of teaching sessions and also provide general help across the School when required.

Duties to include: operation of autoclaves; routine solvent delivery and collection; writing solvent orders; monthly chemical waste collection; primary operation of photocopiers; dry ice, liquid nitrogen and compressed gas external and internal deliveries; collection and processing of empty Winchesters; collection and processing of chemical waste; processing and removal of clinical waste; assisting in the preparation and cleaning up of practical classes of all disciplines.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensure teaching spaces and communal areas are maintained through cleaning and undertaking routine care of area, machinery and equipment, and undertaking stock control, ensuring adequate security and levels of stock are maintained and stock is distributed as required.
• Ensure teaching spaces and communal areas are prepared for use by others, by issuing equipment to staff and students and provide guidance on its use and preparing and clearing away as required.
• Assist with the assembling and manufacture of equipment, as well as checking on satisfactory operation of the equipment (e.g. {PAT Testing).
• Deal with simple and routine enquires from internal and external customers in a professional manner, following established procedures, referring complex enquires to relevant staff members, ensuring all relevant facts and information needed is recorded and passed on.
• Assist in the maintenance of routine records, updating databases and analysing routine data/information as required.
• Work on own initiative using creativity to complete set tasks ensuring standard guidelines and procedures are adhered to, recognising when to refer a problem to others.
• Participate actively within the work team, setting an example and showing a flexible approach to delivering team results.
  
  

General Duties (standard)

∙ Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.

∙ Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.

∙ Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

IMPORTANT NOTE: When submitting your supporting statement, you must provide evidence as to how you meet each of the essential (and desirable if applicable) criteria below. We suggest that you do so by using each of the criteria as sub-headings, providing written evidence of your relevant skills underneath. Before uploading this attachment, please ensure that you include ****BR within the filename.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications And Education

• Basic Numeracy and Literacy (for example NVQ 1/GCSE level D-G)
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of using and maintaining appropriate machinery and equipment
• Experience of working in a technical support environment
• Experience of using IT packages including MS Outlook, Excel and Word
  
  

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

• Ability to deal with customers and other employees in a professional manner
• Evidence of working well as an effective team member, providing advice and guidance to other team members where necessary
• Ability to deal promptly, effectively and courteously with requests for information or services
  
  

Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving

• Ability to follow instructions and work independently within set procedures/practices
  
  

Other

• A willingness to undertake further training and development
  
  

Desirable Criteria

• NVQ 2 or GCSE’s at A – C, or equivalent
• Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral
  
  

Salary Range Min.

23,176

Salary Range Max.

23,414

Job Category

Technical

Grade

Grade 2