Risk jobs in United Kingdom

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University of Birmingham

United Kingdom

Other

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Yes

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d00b5667b189

4

12.08.2025

26.09.2025

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Summary

You will provide technical support for teaching activities as required, utilising your technical skills and a wide range of techniques.You will also be expected to ensure your working area is safe and support others in following health and safety instructions. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes. In order to flexibly use resource, you may be given the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider University.

Main Duties

Teaching Duties

You will provide a wide range of support in the teaching laboratories, including active participation in the delivery of practical classes, by carrying out the following tasks:

• contribute to planning the most efficient/effective means to turnaround the daily classes;
• setting up and clearing away of equipment, consumables and reagents, ensuring laboratories are suitably prepared for practicals;
• testing, maintaining and calibrating a wide range of precision instrumentation;
• monitoring and replenishing consumables, including preparing orders and collecting items from stores;
• diagnosing and resolving the majority of in-class problems, including with equipment;
• demonstrating the use of a wide range of relevant equipment and techniques during classes;
• testing and, where appropriate, modifying protocols in conjunction with manager;
• liaising with relevant managers with regard to requirements and accurately instruct other staff;
• preparing the laboratories for other events such as open days. You may be asked to participate in demonstrations on open days.

Health and Safety

• You will be expected to uphold compliance with all University and local Health & Safety policies, including risk assessments and manual handling, reporting any breaches or non-compliance to the relevant manager.
• You will be expected to manage the safe handling and disposal of all materials used in practical classes or research laboratories, including hazardous materials.
• If required, assist or prepare risk assessments and keep these up to date.
• You will need to maintain all records as appropriate.
• Carry out regular maintenance processes as appropriate.

Administrative Duties

• Maintain stocks of consumables and, if necessary, creating purchase order requisitions.
• Receipt and correct storage of consumables and chemical reagents.
• Ensure that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems.
• Reporting any problems with equipment or services which cannot be resolved to the line manager as appropriate.
• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures where practicable.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and skill base of the post holder.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Working knowledge of manual Lathes and Millers would be advantageous, or a willingness to learn.
• A good knowledge, experience, understanding and appreciation of health and safety issues is essential.
• Full UK diving licence essential, due to forklift use.
• Very good organisational and administrative skills, able to record information accurately using online systems and databases.
• A flexible and proactive attitude is essential.
• Very good communication and interpersonal skills, able to persuasively influence compliance from principal investigators to students.
• This post will require some work to be carried out during evenings and at weekends. The Activities section of the post will require occasional extended periods (. a week) of work away from Birmingham, including overseas travel.
• A willingness to be a qualified as a first aider is desirable.
• NVQ, BTEC/ONC at level three or equivalent level three qualification and specific relevant experience in an appropriate subject would be advantageous.
• GCSE level 2 (A*- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• Practical experience of battery-operated vehicles would be an advantage and a working knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice.
• Experience of working in a laboratory-based teaching or research environment; or be able to demonstrate the capability to participate with practical classes.
• Ability to organise and manage own workload after consultation with manager.
• Proactive approach to Health and Safety matters, together with the communication skills to interact with a range of people, including students.
• Ability to be flexible to meet deadlines.
• The post holder will be fully familiar with the safe handling and storage of laboratory materials.
• Good IT skills, having a familiarity with both Windows and/or Apple Macintosh OS will be advantageous.
• Understands the importance ofequality 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 have no direct line management responsibility (other than occasional instructions to other staff) and no budget to manage.

Planning and Organising

You will be able to schedule and organise your own work within the priorities and requirements for the area.

Problem Solving and decision making

You will deliver a level of service to colleagues/customers/students as agreed, carrying out daily teaching support as required.You will be expected to apply your knowledge and experience to resolve issues with equipment or experiments for student classes.

Internal and External relationships

This role will be primarily concerned with advising and supporting students/staff.