Advanced Technician (Teaching Laboratories)

The University    

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.    

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.  Further information about the University can be found here . 

The Role and the Department    

The Advanced Technician works within the Teaching Laboratories to support and facilitate undergraduate teaching and provide a first-class laboratory learning experience for our students.

The post holder is responsible for assisting with the daily operations required to fulfil a broad range of technical requirements associated with the Undergraduate Chemistry Teaching section.  Whilst the role is focused within an Undergraduate Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, the post holder may be required to provide technical support across the Level 1, Synthetic or Physical Chemistry Laboratory. Main duties include the timely provision of course requirements, solutions and reagents and maintenance of complex scientific laboratory equipment and instrumentation.

For more information on the Department, please visit our webpages at https://www.dur.ac.uk/chemistry/.

The University is committed to developing all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive. 

Working at Durham      

• A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:     
• 27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year.  The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.    
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.    
• On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.    
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).    
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.     
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community    
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.     
• We offer generous pension schemes.      

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion 

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.   As a university equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.    

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.  

Person Specification    

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.      

 Your application should cover the following criteria:    

Essential Criteria   

Desirable Criteria 

How to apply    

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above.  Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence.  Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).    

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.      

Submitting your application     

We prefer to receive applications online.  We will update you about your application at various points during the process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails     

What you are required to submit:    

• A CV     
• Optional – A supporting statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification      

Contact details        

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Connor Sibbald ([email protected] ) or Emma Knighton ([email protected] ) would be happy to speak to you.

Typical Role Requirements    

Service Delivery 

• Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams.  
• Advise others and make recommendations into work processes and procedures for consideration by senior management to improve services.  
• Prepare safety documents and risk assessments for teaching and learning activities.  
• Resolve queries and requests for information and advice and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members.  
• Analyse work activities to ensure the effective and efficient use of capital and consumable equipment and resources.  
• Liaise with others to identify resource requirements, store and deliver resources and keep accurate records of stock levels.    
• Support the capture of business requirements from users and work with colleagues to translate these into recommendations for future service provision.  
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values. 

Teaching and Learning Support 

• Prepare and set-up equipment and facilities for the timely delivery of teaching and learning activities.  
• Provide supervision for teaching and learning activities, including students and staff. 
• Deliver professional technical and experimental services to support teaching, outreach, and learning activities to meet sector and professional body standards.  
• Ensure the smooth running of a teaching facility.  
• Record, monitor and collate information, analyse patterns and trends as part of teaching and learning activities.  
• Apply scientific knowledge and skills to build, adapt, construct and repair test set-ups, experimental scenarios and laboratory equipment. Including the development of methods for use with complex analytical instrumentation such as Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometers and Infra-Red Spectrometers.
• Utilise new and existing resources to deliver teaching and learning objectives.  
• Apply theory and practice, from academic and professional development and previous knowledge within a service team.  
• Provide demonstrations and instruction to others outside the team. 

Teamwork 

• Act as more knowledgeable team member without responsibility for team members.  
• Contribute to collaborative decision making within the team with service provision to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience in accordance with policy and procedures.   
• Collaborate with team members to implement service alterations.  

Communication/Networking/Stakeholders 

• Respond to stakeholder needs to deliver and shape an excellent stakeholder experience.  
• Work collaboratively across the organisation and/or externally with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver a service.  
• Liaise with contacts and participate in networks and communities internally and possibly externally, contributing to effective collaborative working.  
• Liaise with academic staff and students and colleagues across the University to ensure a smooth and efficient service. 
• Any other reasonable duties.  

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices – Durham University  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.      

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.