Support Technician

Dunhillmedical; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Wellbeing programs

Discounts and rewards

Job summary

University of Sheffield is seeking a Support Technician to join the School of Medicine & Population Health. You will provide technical support for teaching and research activities, assist with laboratory maintenance, and ensure high health and safety standards across the School.

The role requires experience in life sciences laboratories, strong communication, and the ability to work both in teams and independently. Hybrid working and a range of benefits are available.

Qualifications

• Experience of providing an effective technical support service in a research laboratory environment.
• Previous experience of supporting life sciences technologies such as cell culture, molecular biology or histology.
• Knowledge of safe working practices and Health & Safety in lab or teaching environments.
• Effective written and verbal communication with academic, research and technical staff.
• Technical professional registration or willingness to work toward this.
• Ability to work well in a team and also independently when required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support across the School and liaise with academics and students.
• Assist with general lab activities and basic lab management duties, ensuring sample processing and record keeping.
• Maintain and monitor general and specialist equipment to support teaching and research.
• Deliver high-quality customer service to staff, students and visitors, and escalate to senior staff when needed.
• Present data and results to staff and students as required.
• Plan and perform routine lab maintenance, including ordering and stock management.
• Maintain accurate records of research and teaching activities.
• Adhere to Health & Safety rules and ensure safety documentation is up to date.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the School to share knowledge and provide guidance.

Skills

Lab experience

Cell culture

Molecular biology

Histology

Health & Safety

Communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

Time management

Education

GCSE English & Maths (Level 2)

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

School/Department: School of Medicine & Population Health

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Salary per annum (£): 25,249.00

Closing Date: 06/09/2026

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

As a Support Technician you will work as an integral member of the School’s existing technical team. Reporting to Senior Technicians and Technical Managers, you will support the School’s teaching and research activities by providing an effective and efficient technical service across the School and where required will support wider School activities. This will include supporting student projects (UG, PGT & PGR), a range of academic research projects and specific or specialist business needs of the School.

You will adopt high working standards to ensure the School’s technical team continues to be recognized for its service excellence and exemplary Health and Safety record.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide technical support on a range of issues across the School. This includes liaising with academics and PG students regarding potential work and carrying out experimental procedures under the guidance of senior colleagues and/or study leads. Report technical issues to senior staff as appropriate.
• Support general lab activities and provide basic lab management duties, working under the guidance of study leads and senior technical colleagues to ensure high quality sample processing, storage and record keeping.
• Use, monitor and maintain a variety of general and specialist technical equipment, to meet the needs of the School with regard to research, teaching and experimental work.
• Provide a high standard of customer service to staff, students and visitors. Make suggestions for improving service and refer customers to senior colleagues where appropriate.
• Present data and results accurately and appropriately to staff and students involved in the research study as required.
• Plan and perform general laboratory maintenance, including ordering, routine maintenance of equipment, consumables, stocks, etc.
• Maintain comprehensive, accurate and tidy records of research & teaching activities.
• Maintain an awareness and commitment to the relevant Health and Safety rules and regulations. Provide safety information to staff and students and assist with creating relevant safety documentation. Maintain appropriate records for own work area and report breaches of H&S to senior colleagues. Attend all required safety and training courses, and comply with required safety, licensing and ethical regulations at all times.
• Work collaboratively across the School providing support, advice and guidance when required.
• As a member of our Professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework. Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framework.
• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• 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 is 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

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 is 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.

Stage(s) assessed at

Experience equivalent to minimum qualifying GCSE grade in English and Maths, or equivalent Level 2 qualification.

Application

Experience of providing an effective and efficient technical support service in a research laboratory environment.

Application / interview

Previous experience of supporting relevant life sciences technologies such as cell culture, molecular biology or histology, and associated sample processing.

Application / interview

Knowledge of safe working practices and experience of applying Health & Safety in a laboratory or teaching environment.

Application / interview

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate to academic, research and technical staff at all levels within the organisation.

Application / interview

Technical professional registration or the willingness to work toward this.

Application / interview

Ability to work well within a team whilst also being able to work independently when required.

Application / interview

Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications.

Application / interview

Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities around tight deadlines and with a high degree of accuracy.

Application / interview

Experience in cell culture and aseptic technique.

Application / interview

Experience in molecular biology assays and techniques.

For informal enquiries about this job contact Mark Ariaans, School Technical Manager: on [e-mail] or on 0114 215 9561

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 1st of September 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 17th August . If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact XXXX

• 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; integrated with our Technical Career Route.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

We are a Disability Confident Employer. 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.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

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.

The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
[phone]