Technical Support Assistant

Heriot-Watt University; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh is seeking a proactive Technical Support Assistant to join the campus facilities team. You will help maintain and develop our on-site facilities, ensuring safety, functionality, and aesthetic quality across the built environment.

Reporting to the Senior Technical Services Manager, you will carry out maintenance across trades, support fire safety compliance, assist in undergraduate labs, and perform related administrative duties.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a trade environment
• Good health and safety awareness
• Ability to perform manual handling tasks safely

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality technical support for activities in the School of EPS
• Carry out routine, reactive and planned maintenance across multiple trades
• Support fire safety, LOLER, PSSR and PUWER compliance
• Assist with setting up equipment for undergraduate labs
• Record working time and maintain equipment records

Skills

Trade experience

Health & safety

Manual handling

Communication skills

Job description

The school of EPS is seeking a skilled and proactive Technical Support assistant to join our large team of technical staff, supporting the maintenance and development of our facilities on campus. This is a key role in ensuring the safety, functionality, and aesthetic quality of our built environment.

The role holders’ main responsibilities will be to provide high-quality technical support for activities in the school of EPS working as part of the technical team. Carry out a wide range of routine, reactive and planned maintenance tasks across multiple trade areas, applying practical skills and following established procedures, guidance and safe systems of work. The role includes supporting fire safety, LOLER, PSSR, and PUWER compliance through the completion of activities.

Work with Technical Services Managers, and technical services colleagues, as appropriate, to ensure an effective support service for the buildings occupied by the school.

Reporting to the Senior Technical Services Manager the successful candidate should have previous experience gained in a trade environment and possess a proven track record of problem solving.

You will also assist the technical team with the setting up equipment and supervision for undergraduate students and have a range of other duties within the Workshop/laboratory facilities.

You must be physically capable to undertake practical manual duties which will include heavy lifting tasks. You should also possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact positively with a broad range of people.

The post includes the day-to-day responsibility for all aspects related to health and safety of staff and students within the workshop areas.

For further enquires please contact John Mason (Senior Technical Services Manager), Heriot-Watt University: email [e-mail] or telephone [phone].

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The post holder is required to:

Undertake fire safety compliance checks within our professional services buildings. Record and report any faults to estates and line manager for escalation.

Undertake & record health and safety inspections on items within the school. i.e. Ladders, lifting equipment.

Accompany and assist contractors in order that work can be undertaken.

Prepare equipment for insurance inspections.

Attend to small building/laboratory/workshop maintenance odd jobs.

Provide support with undergraduate student labs.

Assist Stores/Procurement with orders and deliveries, including handling of gas cylinders.

Assist technical services teams where required with manual handling requests, cleaning/tidying workshops, prepare offices for occupation and remove items from vacated rooms.

Use experience and judgment to identify and rectify any problems.

To always work with due care and diligence according to the requirements of Health and Safety, quality and other standards and directions relevant to the assigned task.

Respond to routine enquiries via email, telephone or in person.

To record working time on job sheets and complete any other necessary administrative duties, maintain records of equipment.

To engage in a process of continuous learning and development, acquiring new skills.

To participate in the school PDR process and undertake training, as necessary.

Any other tasks that are commensurate with grading of the post.

Cover for absent colleagues within the immediate team.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Technical Support Assistant

Company: Heriot-Watt University Salary: £27,241 to £31,861 a year Hours: Full-time Location: EH14 4AS Working pattern: On-site Job type: Permanent Posting date: 23 Oct 2026 Closing date: 15 Nov 2026

Summary

Purpose of Role

The school of EPS is seeking a skilled and proactive Technical Support assistant to join our large team of technical staff, supporting the maintenance and development of our facilities on campus. This is a key role in ensuring the safety, functionality, and aesthetic quality of our built environment.

The role holders’ main responsibilities will be to provide high-quality technical support for activities in the school of EPS working as part of the technical team. Carry out a wide range of routine, reactive and planned maintenance tasks across multiple trade areas, applying practical skills and following established procedures, guidance and safe systems of work. The role includes supporting fire safety, LOLER, PSSR, and PUWER compliance through the completion of activities.

Work with Technical Services Managers, and technical services colleagues, as appropriate, to ensure an effective support service for the buildings occupied by the school.

Reporting to the Senior Technical Services Manager the successful candidate should have previous experience gained in a trade environment and possess a proven track record of problem solving.

You will also assist the technical team with the setting up equipment and supervision for undergraduate students and have a range of other duties within the Workshop/laboratory facilities.

You must be physically capable to undertake practical manual duties which will include heavy lifting tasks. You should also possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact positively with a broad range of people.

The post includes the day-to-day responsibility for all aspects related to health and safety of staff and students within the workshop areas.

For further enquires please contact John Mason (Senior Technical Services Manager), Heriot-Watt University: email [e-mail] or telephone [phone].

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The post holder is required to:

Undertake fire safety compliance checks within our professional services buildings. Record and report any faults to estates and line manager for escalation.

Undertake & record health and safety inspections on items within the school. i.e. Ladders, lifting equipment.

Accompany and assist contractors in order that work can be undertaken.

Prepare equipment for insurance inspections.

Attend to small building/laboratory/workshop maintenance odd jobs.

Provide support with undergraduate student labs.

Assist Stores/Procurement with orders and deliveries, including handling of gas cylinders.

Assist technical services teams where required with manual handling requests, cleaning/tidying workshops, prepare offices for occupation and remove items from vacated rooms.

Use experience and judgment to identify and rectify any problems.

To always work with due care and diligence according to the requirements of Health and Safety, quality and other standards and directions relevant to the assigned task.

Respond to routine enquiries via email, telephone or in person.

To record working time on job sheets and complete any other necessary administrative duties, maintain records of equipment.

To engage in a process of continuous learning and development, acquiring new skills.

To participate in the school PDR process and undertake training, as necessary.

Any other tasks that are commensurate with grading of the post.

Cover for absent colleagues within the immediate team.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

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