Teaching Technician - MDLS

The University of Auckland; Auckland; On-site; NZD 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible employment practices

Five weeks’ annual leave

Job summary

The University of Auckland is seeking a hands-on Teaching Technician to support the safe delivery of practical physiology teaching within the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. You will prepare sessions, maintain equipment, handle biological materials, and assist staff and students to ensure smooth laboratory activities.

Responsibilities include dissection, tissue preparation, equipment troubleshooting and updating risk assessments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent in Biomedical Science or related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant lab and teaching support experience.
• Knowledge of physiological processes and lab procedures.
• Experience with animal tissue handling and safety protocols.
• Strong communication, time management and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and support practical physiology teaching sessions.
• Dissections, tissue collection and drug administration per approved protocols.
• Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment; arrange servicing or calibration as needed.
• Demonstrate equipment and assist academic staff, tutors and students during practical teaching.
• Prepare risk assessments and lab records; support safe handling, storage and disposal of materials.
• Maintain teaching spaces and manage equipment and consumable stocks for new activities.

Skills

Physiology knowledge

Laboratory techniques

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

BSc in Biomedical Science or related field

3–5 years lab/teaching support experience

Tools

Laboratory equipment operation

Job description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The Opportunity

We are seeking a hands-on Teaching Technician to support the safe and effective delivery of practical teaching in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS). Working within our Multi-Disciplinary Laboratories (MDLs) with a particular focus on physiology.

You will work closely with academic and technical colleagues to prepare and support teaching sessions, maintain specialised equipment, handle biological materials and animal tissue appropriately, and help ensure laboratory activities run smoothly. The role combines practical laboratory preparation, equipment troubleshooting, student support and day-to-day laboratory operations.

Key responsibilities include

• Preparing, setting up, supporting and packing down practical physiology teaching sessions, including specialised laboratory procedures and demonstrations.
• Undertaking specialised dissections, tissue collection and preparation, and relevant drug administration procedures in accordance with approved protocols and safety requirements.
• Maintaining and troubleshooting scientific equipment, carrying out basic repairs within technical competence and arranging servicing or calibration when required.
• Demonstrating laboratory equipment, techniques and software and assisting academic staff, tutors and students during practical teaching.
• Preparing and updating technical set-up notes, risk assessments and laboratory records, and supporting safe handling, storage and disposal of materials.
• Maintaining teaching spaces, managing equipment and consumable stocks, and supporting the testing of new or modified practical activities.

This is a full-time (37.5 hours/week), fixed-term opportunity for 24 months, with a salary range of $63,600 to $75,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

Mōtōmātourōpū | About The Team

The Multi-Disciplinary Laboratories (MDLs) are a cornerstone of teaching within the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, supporting thousands of undergraduate and postgraduate students each year. Our Technical Services team provides essential expertise in laboratory operations, compliance and teaching support, ensuring that academic staff and students have the resources, facilities and guidance needed to succeed.

As part of the MDLs, the Physiology teaching laboratories support practical teaching across a range of programmes, including Medical Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy and Māori Health. Teaching activities include hands-on experiments, physiological measurements, specialised scientific equipment and animal tissue dissection, providing students with opportunities to develop and apply their understanding of human physiology.

We value collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, and work closely with academic partners to deliver high-quality practical learning experiences.

He kōrero mōu |About You

You will be a practical, organised and adaptable laboratory professional with a good understanding of physiology and scientific laboratory methods. You will be comfortable working both independently and as part of a team, communicating clearly with students and colleagues, and responding constructively to changing teaching requirements.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor of Science (BSc) or equivalent qualification in Biomedical Science, or relevant discipline.
• Three to five years of relevant experience, including experience gained during tertiary study, in Science, Biomedical Science, Biological Science or a related discipline.
• Knowledge and understanding of physiological processes and laboratory procedures.
• Practical knowledge of scientific laboratory techniques and the operation, routine maintenance and initial troubleshooting of standard laboratory equipment.
• Good communication, time-management and organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to change and work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Commitment to laboratory health and safety, risk assessment, appropriate animal tissue handling and accurate record keeping.

A BSc, Honours or MSc qualification in a relevant discipline, at least two years of teaching laboratory experience, knowledge of tertiary teaching laboratories and experience in animal dissection would be advantageous.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What We Offer

The University of Auckland is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices and a culture
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave