Senior Technician (Mass Spectrometry & Separations)

University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer pension contribution

Christmas closure across all depts.

Purple Place employee discount

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a Technical Specialist (Mass Spectrometry & Separations) to join the Mass Spectrometry & Separations team within the School of Chemistry. You will provide technical support for research and teaching and oversee instrumentation including LC-MS, GC-MS and MALDI-MS.

You will deliver accurate analytical results, interpret data, supervise junior staff and apprentices, and ensure health and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Substantial hands-on experience with mass spectrometry and chromatography equipment.
• Knowledge of chemical nomenclature and interpreting complex data.
• Ability to lead and deliver technical operations.
• Excellent health and safety knowledge in science environments.
• Experience supervising junior staff or apprentices is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver excellent MS service with accurate mass (ESI, APCI), MALDI-MS.
• Operate, calibrate and maintain chromatography systems and hyphenated MS instruments.
• Liaise with academic staff to interpret and report data.
• Supervise, motivate and develop junior staff and technical apprentices.
• Ensure health and safety requirements are implemented and monitored.

Skills

Mass spectrometry expertise

Chromatography experience

Data interpretation

Team leadership

Health and safety compliance

Education

Science/Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

LC-MS systems

GC-MS

MALDI-MS

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Technical Specialist (Mass Spectrometry & Separations). This role offers an exciting opportunity to join the Mass Spectrometry & Separations team and provide technical support to research and teaching within the School of Chemistry and the wider University. You will be responsible for the oversight and usage of a range of analytical instrumentation including but not limited to, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation-mass spectrometry. You will work as part of a team to provide timely provision of analytical results and interpretation thereof, as a fully serviced analytical facility.

You will be responsible for:

• Ensure the delivery of an excellent mass spectrometry service provision Inc. accurate mass (ESI, APCI), MALDI-MS.
• Operation, calibration and routine maintenance of a range of analytical techniques including but not limited to chromatography systems and hyphenated mass spectrometers.
• Liaison with academic and research staff including the interpretation and reporting of accurate and reliable data.
• Supervise, motivate and develop junior staff and University of Manchester technical apprentices.
• Implement, comply with and monitor all relevant health and safety requirements in the workplace in order for the University to meet its legislative requirements and duty of care to all staff, students and visitors.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria:

• A qualification in a science or engineering-related subject area e.g. degree, HND, HNC, OR significant work experience in a relevant technical, engineering or scientific role.
• Substantial hands‑on experience with mass spectrometry and chromatography equipment.
• Substantial knowledge of chemical nomenclature and experience of interpreting complex data.
• Ability to lead and deliver technical operations.
• Excellent knowledge, understanding and experience of implementing and applying relevant health and safety requirements in a science and engineering environment (e.g. risk assessments, operating procedures, COSHH assessments).

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge of teaching and research operations gained from within a Higher Education setting.
• Line management / supervisory experience.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer pension contribution
• Christmas closure across all departments outside of annual leave and bank holidays
• Purple Place employee discount platform

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Contract: Approximately 24 months. Precise contract length will be dependent on start date. Contract end date is fixed as Friday 29 September 2028.

Working arrangements: 35 hours per week. Due to the in‑person requirements of this role, hybrid working is not feasible.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Dr Katherine Hollywood, Senior Technical Specialist Mass Spectrometry & Separations

Email Address: [e-mail]

General enquiries and administrative support

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Technical and job portal support

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This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must demonstrate the right to work in the UK.

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.