Support Technician

The University of Sheffield; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid/work options

Generous annual leave

Discounts and rewards

Staff development opportunities

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a proactive Support Technician for AMRC NW in Preston. You will help maintain the workshop, support projects, and ensure safety and quality compliance across operations.

Strong organisational and communication skills are essential as you manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Based at AMRC NW, you will assist with audits, asset Records, equipment lifecycle, and labour support for research and events teams.

Qualifications

• Trained and competent at lifting and manual handling.
• Must be extremely organised with a methodical and structured approach to work.
• Ability to assess and organise resources with guidance from the line manager.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experienced in working within a manufacturing workshop environment.
• Willing to work inside & outside in all weathers.
• Qualified to operate a forklift truck.
• Some mechanical/structural/electrical/computing knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Keep all areas of the facility clean and tidy.
• Coordinate facilities and estates maintenance requests and vehicle management.
• Promote Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality compliance through inspections and documentation.
• Maintain asset records and lifecycle information; support equipment moves and servicing.
• Maintain systems, records and training matrices; manage visitor records.
• Operate forklift trucks and pallet trucks to move stock and organise items.
• Assist with waste management activities and support events and visits.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Proactive work prioritisation

MS Word/MS Excel

Teamwork in workshop

Forklift operation

Outdoor weather tolerance

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We have a great opportunity at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre North West (AMRC NW) for a proactive and hardworking Support Technician to become part of our growing team. This pioneering manufacturing research centre is an outstanding place to work, with innovative machinery and technology. Our integrated project teams work on high value projects for numerous important clients and expect the factory and associated areas to be maintained to a high standard.

As a Support Technician working within the team at AMRC NW you will be required to undertake a wide variety of tasks including, auditing, maintaining & cleaning.You will support the day-to-day operation of the workshop, coordinate operational readiness for projects, customer visits and events. You will also play a key role in maintaining compliance with Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental requirements by coordinating inspections, audits, training records, operational documentation. You will also provide labour support for the research and events teams on the site. For this role, you will need excellent organisational and communication skills, a proactive approach and the ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced operational environment.

The role will be based within our facility in Preston.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Working with the teams to ensure all areas of the facility are kept clean and tidy.
• Support facilities and estates coordination, including maintenance requests, servicing, inspections, vehicle management and activities that impact operational delivery.
• Promote and support Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality compliance through inspections, audits, documentation management and coordination of corrective actions.
• Maintain asset records, equipment documentation and lifecycle information, supporting equipment moves, disposals, service requirements and operational readiness.
• Maintain departmental systems, records and documentation training matrices, visitor records and operational registers.
• Maintain operational safety systems, including risk assessments, method statements, PUWER records, COSHH management, hazard maps, emergency preparedness activities and safety documentation.
• Goods receipt of deliveries. Generate despatch paperwork.Audit Health and Safety paperwork and systems on site. This may require moving and stacking items using FLT or pallet trucks.
• Execute goods receipt processes and generate accurate despatch paperwork.
• Audit on-site Health & Safety systems and documentation to ensure compliance.
• Operate forklift trucks (FLT) and pallet trucks to move, stack, and organise stock as required.
• Support waste management activities, including WEEE, hazardous waste, COSHH waste, POP waste and PPE disposal in line with environmental requirements.
• Support customer visits, tours, events and stakeholder engagements through effective coordination with operational teams and Hospitality.
• Undertake pool car duties, including local deliveries and collections, as well as arranging vehicle servicing and MOT drop-offs.
• Support facilities and estates coordination, including maintenance requests, servicing, inspections, vehicle management and activities that impact operational delivery.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential Or Desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Trained and competent at lifting and manual handling

Application/interview

Must be extremely organised with a methodical and structured approach to work, and good attention to detail.

Interview

Ability to assess and organise resources, plan and progress personal work activities, with the support and guidance of the successful candidates’ line manager.

Application / Interview

Proficient with the use of the Microsoft suite of software (MS Word,MS Excel, etc.)

Application/interview

Experienced in working within a manufacturing workshop environment

Application/interview

Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances

Application/interview

Willing to work inside & outside in all weathers

Application/interview

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal

Application/interview

The personal desire to embrace ‘on-the-job’ technical guidance and training opportunities to further your knowledge and capabilities.

Application / Interview

Qualified to operate a forklift truck

Application/interview

Some mechanical/structural/electrical/computing engineering knowledge.

Application / interview

Further Information

Grade

4

Work arrangement

Full-time

Line manager

Workshop Manager

Our website

amrc.co.uk

For informal enquiries about this job contact Nick Manning, Workshop Manager: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on W/C 2nd November 2026. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 23rd October 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Technical Career Route
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• access to menopause support in the workplace
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Baseline personnel security standard

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.