Technical Specialist

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed educational institution is seeking a full-time specialist to join the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science. This role involves maintaining and optimizing sperm function assays crucial to a major research project. Candidates should possess extensive laboratory experience and knowledge of sperm handling and laboratory practices. The position offers a salary range of £33,002 to £35,608 with benefits and opportunities for progression. Apply before 11th February 2026 for this fixed-term position.

Benefits

40 days of paid holiday

Occupational sick pay

Pension scheme

Generous benefits package

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge in sperm preparation methods and good laboratory practices.
• Experience with acrosome reaction assays and standardised assays.
• Ability to supervise and mentor junior lab staff.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and maintain sperm function assays following established SOPs.
• Prepare and handle human sperm samples in compliance with safety requirements.
• Support the development and optimisation of new assay procedures.

Skills

Sperm handling

Laboratory practices

Analytical skills

Technical problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in relevant scientific field

GCSE level 2 in Mathematics and English

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

Position Details

Department of Metabolism and Systems Science, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906

Grade: 6

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 31 March 2027

Closing date: 11th February 2026

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector‑leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide‑range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state‑of‑the‑art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Role Summary

This full‑time position within the College of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, in the Department of Metabolism and Science supporting the research project the Independent Centre for Evaluating Nonhormonal Contraceptives of Professor Kirkman‑Brown and funded by the Gates Foundation for up to 18 months. The role will focus on the technical delivery and refinement of standardised sperm function assays. The postholder will join an interdisciplinary team with a goal to foster an inclusive research environment, where people and innovation thrive, creating a global impact. The postholder will work closely with senior academic and research staff to maintain high technical and quality standards across multiple complex assays and will contribute to assay optimisation, data collection, and reporting to project partners.

This post requires proven specialist knowledge of sperm handling, including sperm preparation assays (for example density gradient centrifugation, swim‑up, microfluidic sperm preparation), and good laboratory practice. Practical experience or theoretical knowledge of sperm acrosome reaction assays. There will also be a requirement to supervise and mentor junior support staff and students and to ensure compliance with local SOPs, College and local H&S policies in order to establish and maintain a safe and productive local working environment.

Main Duties

• Conduct and maintain standardised sperm function assays, including motility, acrosome reaction, sperm survival and viscous penetration tests, following established SOPs.
• Prepare and handle human sperm samples in accordance with ethical, safety, and governance requirements under the Centre for Human Reproductive Science Research Tissue Bank and HFEA Research Licence.
• Support the development, optimisation, and validation of new assay procedures and contribute to refining methodologies based on experimental outcomes.
• Assist in managing the experimental laboratories.
• Advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and/or students, communicating effectively with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students.
• Diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.
• Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures, using judgement to assess the correct technique to use, and consider how these may be improved, referring to your Supervisor for approval on any proposed changes.
• Maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, and for any other research activities you may be involved in including results.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
• Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
• Contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety duties

• Ensuring staff and students, working within the area of responsibility comply with all basic University / College Health & Safety policies.
• Look after a communal area as part of your duties, ensuring all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.
• Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.
• Ensure that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained.
• Report any breaches or non‑compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
• Uphold the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.
• Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider or Fire Warden.

General Administration and Organisation

• Ensure all records are accurate and kept up to date.
• Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
• Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents, ensuring, where necessary this is in compliance with GCLP/GCP requirements.
• Monitor income and expenditure for the facility and clearly communicate outcomes to Facility Manager.
• Ensure that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
• Ensure the best use of equipment through online booking systems, if appropriate.
• Ensure that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained.
• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
• Maintain up to date protocol change or maintaining relevant research lab databases/records.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
• Support equality and diversity, moderating own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Extensive relevant practical and technical workplace experience, professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• GCSE level 2 (A*- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• Substantial in‑depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods listed above.
• Extensive experience of similar laboratory‑based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment.
• Positive service attitude and courtesy in dealing with others.
• Ability to organise and manage own workload and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team.
• Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role.
• Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold the same.
• Proficiency in commonly used software packages.
• Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Dimensions

You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers. You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff. You may be involved in budget monitoring.

Planning and organising

You will be required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium‑longer‑term horizons without daily supervision. You will ensure that you have the resources required, which will require planning ahead and procurement of goods.

Problem solving and decision making

• You will be able to research, modify and adapt protocols after consulting relevant manager, and prepare for research experiments.
• You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions.
• You will be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures.
• Foresees wider problems and makes appropriate suggestions to solve these within own work or project area.
• You will be able to develop and implement improvement programmes within own service area.
• Although you will work under the direction of more senior staff you will be able to carry out your work with a large amount of autonomy.

Internal and external relationships

This role will be advising and supporting research staff and/or students, and with external contacts such as company representatives or collaborators.

Informal enquiries

Carole Benham, email - [e-mail] or Meurig Gallagher, email - [e-mail]

Use of AI in applications

We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.