Please note that this vacancy is only open to current University of Glasgow employees.

Job Purpose

The post holder will provide comprehensive management and strategic technical leadership to laboratory users and be responsible for the safe operation of specialist technical resources, including coordination of specialist equipment maintenance and statutory inspections, enabling collaborative research to thrive within the Advanced Research Centre. In addition, the post holder will lead a stores and washroom team to deliver an efficient service to end users.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Responsible for specified managerial aspects of the ARC laboratories including provision of specialist advice and training to service users and management of resources.

2. Lead and manage a team of operational staff with varying degrees of specialism and experience, assigning and reviewing work; ensuring that performance objectives are aligned with the Research Services strategy and deadlines are completed timeously, and managing performance as required.

3. Take a leading role in the active management of all building and fabric related issues, liaising with Estates and overseeing routine maintenance and repairs. Use specialist knowledge to ensure repairs comply with relevant Health &Safety requirements.

4. Use specialist knowledge to manage and oversee all ARC-owned laboratory equipment maintenance and service visits, and plan schedules to mitigate risks associated with equipment downtime. Propose investment and replacement cycles to Technical Operations Manager. Troubleshoot complex technical issues with ARC owned equipment.

5. Lead on coordination of thorough examination and testing (TExT) of specialist laboratory equipment (LEV, pressure systems, lifting equipment and accessories) within the ARC to ensure regular testing in accordance with legal requirements.

6. Responsibility for the management of and compliance with relevant Health and Safety and/or other specialist legal requirements. Maintain all necessary records in accordance with set requirements, keep up to date with developments or legal changes relevant to the ARC laboratories, and advise and train lab users as appropriate.

7. Applying specialist knowledge and expertise, take a leading role in ARC Health & Safety, working in partnership with University safety professionals at SEPS, conducting safety inspections and attending relevant safety committees within the Schools.

8. Project manage refurbishment programmes in accordance with predetermined objectives and timescales.

9. Establish and develop a network of key contacts relating to service and maintenance of specialist equipment, and cascade knowledge within the ARC technical community to support the delivery of operational objectives.

10. Analyse, interpret and advise on lab usage data collected from all research laboratory spaces, making recommendations to the Technical Operations Manager to optimise operational systems and the quality and effectiveness of service provision.

11. Provide specialist H&S and operational advice to ARC Stores and Washroom teams. Support these operations as required to ensure a high quality service is provided.

12. Act as one of several out of hours contacts to resolve critical issues with relevant equipment and services.

13. Keep up to date with developments in relevant technical areas to ensure contribution to research strategies is optimised. Utilise specialist knowledge to contribute to overall research strategy. Work collaboratively with others including within the Colleges to support the broader strategic aims of the University.

14. Participate in personal development appropriate to role and help identify training needs across the ARC labs.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 [Ordinary degree, SVQ level 4] or equivalent, and experience of personal development in a similar role OR ability to demonstrate the necessary competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and experience in a similar role.

A2 Significant breadth or depth of specialist technical knowledge and recognised as an expert in Life Sciences, Chemistry or Engineering.

A3 Up to date knowledge of relevant legislative requirements applicable to the role, including but not limited to Health and Safety.

Desirable:

B1 Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline.

B2 Working towards Professional Registration with relevant body.

B3 Current qualification in radiation safety.

B4 Recognised IOSH Managing Safely qualification in safety management.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Demonstrable specialist technical skills in Life Sciences, Chemistry or Engineering, exhibiting transferable skills and/or adaptability to a dynamic working environment.

C2 Significant IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant specialist or bespoke software packages.

C3 Significant analytical and problem-solving capability, including high degree of accuracy and attention to detail when dealing with complex data.

C4 Proven excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to understand, conceptualise and interpret technical requirements of research groups, core facilities, and various other stakeholders, and to adapt own style to meet the needs of others.

C5 Excellent teamworking skills.

C6 Ability to plan and prioritise a technical and operational service to meet long term strategic objectives, whilst delivering a day-to-day service.

Desirable:

D1 Excellent supervisory or line management skills.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant relevant work experience within a similar environment, including evidence of previous professional development.

E2 Experience of working in a research laboratory and experience of lab management.

E3 Experience of understanding and interpreting the technical and operational requirements of service users and implementing appropriate methods of achieving their needs.

E4 Experience of planning and organising own workload to meet the needs of service users.

E5 Experience of managing budgets, including approving spends and monitoring outgoings on behalf of others.

E6 Experience of operating independently in progressing and delivering research goals within set timescales.

Desirable:

F1 Ability to train students and new staff in core equipment.

F2 Experience working with radioisotopes.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and fixed term for up to 6 months in the first instance. 

Please Note: The University would consider a secondment opportunity for this post. Applicants should seek clearance for release for secondment from their employers / line manager before making a formal application. 

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date:  4 January 2025