Requisition ID: 26019
Location:
Newcastle, GB
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Part Time
Posted Date: 22 Aug 2023
Salary: £33,966 to £36,024 with progression to £44,263 per annum, pro rata
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 05 September 2023
The Role
The Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Postgraduate Teaching Technical Team Leader.
We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual, with technical/research experience and excellent organisational skills. The candidate must have experience in relevant laboratory environments, a good understanding of health and safety, and excellent team-working and communication skills.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of technical staff supporting the research activities in the School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, through the provision of technical support within the research and teaching labs, and in support of technical services across the school.
The role will be responsible under the direction of the School Technical Manager for the planning, organisation and management of the School PGT teaching laboratories and facilities in their designated areas of responsibility and expertise.
The post holder is the line manager of the relevant technical staff within their area, ensuring a comprehensive service which meets the School’s objectives. This will include supporting academic and research staff with technical advice to progress research projects; and support for teaching and student projects.
The post-holder will have co-line management responsibilities of teaching technicians across the school, and have responsibility for resource allocation for the appropriate delivery of teaching support within the remit of the role.
This role will also support the School Technical Manager with the management of the wider technical services and some aspects of School Infrastructure, Estates, Environmental, Health and Safety and Line Management.
The position is available immediately as a job-share, on a part-time basis, working alongside another Team Leader for a period of 2 years.
For informal enquiries, please contact David Whitaker by email: david.whitaker@ncl.ac.uk
For more information about the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, please click here
We are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment.
We appoint on merit and particularly welcome applications from groups that are currently underrepresented in technical Professional Services such as LGBTQ+, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) colleagues and individuals who legally identify as female
For further details about Newcastle University please visit our information page here
Key Accountabilities
- To lead, manage and develop a technical team, ensuring effective performance. This will include responsibility for staff induction, training, performance management and Performance Development Review (PDR), the allocation and prioritisation of duties, recruitment and authorisation of annual leave.
- To support the School Technical Manager with the planning, organisation and administration of the estate and wider technical services within their teams area of responsibility. To ensure the effective maintenance, security and facility management of the School, including third party arrangements. To lead on discrete estates related projects, including university wide initiatives.
- In conjunction with the School Technical Manager ensure satisfactory maintenance, repair and calibration of all equipment and instrumentation within their area. To assist in the forward planning to upgrade and replace equipment. In collaboration with the School Operations teams, to assist in the maintenance of the School’s asset register for planning and insurance purposes.
- Monitor and maintain safe working environment to Health and Safety guidelines in conjunction with the School Safety Officer. Attend local safety committees for their areas of responsibility.
- Ensure sound financial accounting whilst maintaining best value principles by maintaining records relating to: the recharging of technical time where appropriate; and materials and stock items especially where used for teaching and research
- To manage and organise the School’s PGT Project and Teaching Laboratories, at Category I and II level and any associated areas, to ensure the safe, secure and effective operation of these facilities. This to include line management of associated technical staff; liaison with academic stakeholders to ensure unform and consistent delivery of PGT teaching; and reviewing the PGT practical teaching timetables to ensure any organisational issues are addressed in a timely fashion.
- Train and advise staff and students in safety, research project management and specialist scientific techniques applied to the work being carried out in the School’s PGT Project and Teaching Laboratories. Training users in good laboratory practice to ensure that all users of the laboratories and associated facilities are able to carry out their own research in a safe manner.
- To support student projects as appropriate using a variety of resources. Including preparation of reagents and samples, providing services for the analysis of samples, preparation and troubleshooting of protocols, supporting the use of equipment and associated software.
- To oversee in collaboration with SAgE faculty users the management of imported soils as part of the DEFRA licensing conditions
- 1Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Substantial work experience in a scientific/biological/chemical laboratory or relevant work environment, with a proven track record of leading a technical team
- Have a thorough understanding of the Health and Safety issues of working in a scientific laboratory environment.
- Experience in training staff/students in experimental techniques and specialist equipment.
- Ability to implement and manage change with demonstrable recent experience and skills in staff management, and the ability to motivate and develop members of a team
- Proven written and verbal communication skills
- High level planning, organising and technical problem solving skills, with a proactive and innovative approach to problem solving utilising excellent prioritisation skills, and the ability to delegate tasks
- Evidence of project management and experience of financial budgetary management.
- Good numerical skills and the ability to manipulate, analyse and present information for management use.
- Experience of working collaboratively with academic staff.
(Desirable)
- Experience with safe use and management of category II containment facilities.
- Have or be working towards professional registration with a suitable awarding body
Attributes and Behaviour
Thinking strategically
- Has the ability to see the “big picture”, to think strategically and to manage complex problems and issues.
- Able to create a vision for own area and explain how it fits in with the overall strategic vision of the University
- Understands and makes sense of complex or conflicting data and different perspectives of stakeholders and University areas/faculties/etc
- Works through the implications of situations in order to identify the most appropriate way forward in order to meet strategic goals
- Uses analytical techniques to break down complex problems into component parts.
Embracing Change
- Recognises the need for change and is forward looking.
- Promotes the benefits of change to others and regularly comes up with new ideas.
- Has the willingness to adopt new ways of working and to make improvements.
- Accepts the reality and requirements of change as part of achieving organisational goals
- Is able to achieve change at individual and functional level
- Reviews and revises plans to meet with changing circumstances
- Is supportive of others during change
- Develops and implements new ideas
Team-working
- Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the project where different skills, expertise and opinions are valued
- Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
- Shares relevant and useful information with others. Keeps other team members up to date with progress
- Gets involved with team tasks
- Willing to help others and share workloads
- Supportive of team decisions
- Asks others’ opinion
- Encourages others to get involved
- Talks about other team members in a positive way
- Respects the value that different views bring to the team
Developing Talent
- Motivates and develops self and others to achieve high performance. Demonstrates a positive approach to developing skills and general performance
- Personally involved in supporting the development of others – acting as a coach, mentor or trainer
- Provides feedback identifying areas for development and recognising good work
- Actively manages and supports staff through the PDR process, promotions and reward mechanisms
- Helps others to recognise their own strengths and weaknesses
- Gives timely and constructive feedback
- Gives “on the job” support and training, looks at enabling skills transfer
Planning and organising
- Manage time and resources by prioritising and organising effectively
- Identifies quickly what is important and prioritises accordingly
- Establishes clear roles and responsibilities for self and others
- Maintains flexibility in work plans to allow for changing circumstances
- Works in a planned and structured way
- Ensures all activities are completed on time
- Uses systems and tools to ensure records and audit trails are clear and up to date
Qualifications
(Essential)
- Degree or equivalent level qualification in a relevant subject or significant vocational experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding, relevant roles
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 26019