Technician/Senior Technician

Oxitec; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnological firm in Edinburgh is seeking a Senior Technician to join their team focused on the development of self-limiting technologies in cattle ticks. This role involves working with the Roslin Institute on experimentation, data collection, and maintaining laboratory compliance. Ideal candidates will have a BSc or equivalent experience, strong organizational skills, and a passion for the firm's mission.

Qualifications

• Experience in a biological sciences laboratory preferred.
• Arthropod rearing expertise desirable.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.

Responsibilities

• Develop transformation methods for self-limiting ticks.
• Maintain tick colonies and run experiments.
• Record data and perform preliminary analysis.

Skills

Arthropod biology

Organizational skills

Clear communication

Creative problem solving

Data accuracy

Flexibility and adaptability

Education

BSc level or equivalent experience

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

About Us

We are a team of passionate individuals, developing ground-breaking biological technologies designed to sustainably, and safely control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. We do this work to improve lives and livelihoods around the world in the face of the growing threats that pests pose to human health and the global food supply.

Whilst what we do relates to developing pest control technologies, Oxitec is about people and is in service to people.

We are strongly committed to a set of values, principles, and behaviours, and foster a culture of trust, respect, creativity, and accountability. Click hereto learn more, andhereto read our CEO's blog about trust and our culture.

Purpose of the Job

We are seeking a highly motivated, passionate, and creative Senior Technician to join our team of experts dedicated to the research and development of our self-limiting technology in cattle ticks. The successful candidate will join our strain development team, working alongside our partner organisation - the Roslin Institute - to develop transformation methods and handling techniques that will streamline our strain development processes.

You will work closely with our technical experts to generate and deliver self-limiting tick strains. This role will ensure that process methods and experiments are well designed and focused on delivery results and progress, measurable against the project goals.

To be successful at this job, you will need to show a keen interest in arthropod biology, have a self-starting attitude, show strong organisational skills, and demonstrate original thinking and attention to detail. Your duties will range widely from looking after our tick colonies and/or laboratory equipment, assisting with experimental set-up and data collection, as well as helping to maintain a safe and functional working environment. You will be able to record data precisely and timely, and provide clear communication to your line manager. You will be able to manage both planned and unplanned workstreams, responding to company priorities. You will be able to work independently while maintaining a strong team ethos, to demonstrate good laboratory practices, and to follow SOPs. Excellent communication skills and an enthusiasm for Oxitec's mission are essential.

Responsibilities

• Join a small team tasked with developing the transformation methods necessary to generate self-limiting ticks and test the resulting strains.
• Tick colony maintenance for use in experiments, running experiments according to specified protocols to develop and test transgenic strains.
• Carry out data collection, recording, preliminary analysis & presentation of experimental data within internal team environment.
• Carefully record data and document activities and processes within laboratory books or other applicable records.
• Support the smooth running of the laboratory, maintaining tidiness, improving processes and support the team's compliance to established procedures, regulations and health and safety.
• Preparation and maintenance of laboratory stock solutions and equipment, including ordering of laboratory supplies.
• Manage and train any direct report in line with SOPs and training records.
• Maintain up to date health and safety records and write and update SOPs, COSHH and risk assessments.
• Provide clear communication to the strain development scientist on experimental status.
• Support the smooth running of the laboratory, maintaining tidiness, and supporting the team's compliance to established procedures, regulations and health and safety.
• Provide occasional weekend support as part of a rota within the R&D team.

Skills, Experience, and Education Requirements

• Educated to Bsc level or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working in a biological sciences laboratory is preferred, with arthropod rearing expertise desirable.
• Competency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Have a creative approach to problem solving and the development of applied solutions.
• Clear and concise communication skills.
• Demonstrate adaptability and flexibility, thriving and being resilient in an environment of change and ambiguity.
• Diligent and organised, with the ability to accurately record data.
• Strong attention to detail, with excellent timekeeping standards and responsiveness.
• Able to work independently and within a team.

Behavioural Requirements

• Committed to and passionate about the Oxitec mission and values.
• Diligent and organised.
• Comfortable working independently and within a team.
• Adaptable and flexible, thriving and being resilient in an environment of change and ambiguity.
• Responsive to the needs of an international business working across different time zones, adapting working patterns in-line with business requirements.
• Decisive and assertive with a driven and proactive approach.
• Positive, humble, co-operative and professional.
• Works with a sense of urgency and solves things promptly.
• Resilient and persistent in an innovative and constantly changing environment.
• Empathetic, with the ability to build effective relationships quickly.
• A team player who believes the success of us all depends on us working together.

Additional Information

• Please note this role is offered on a fixed-term basis until May 2026.
• There may also be an opportunity for a Technician role within the same project, offered on a fixed-term basis until May 2026, with a salary of £25,662.