Stores Technican in Kilmarnock

Grade and Salary: Grade 5 (£26,707‑£31,236 per annum).

FTE and Working Pattern: 1 FTE (35 hours per week) open-ended. The successful candidate is expected to be flexible with working hours. Normal working hours are 8:30 am–4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Occasional weekend work may be required for Open Days, student events and other events.

Holiday Entitlement: 28 days annual leave plus 9 building closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday).

Purpose of Role: We are seeking to appoint a full‑time Stores Technician to work in the school's busy William Perkin stores. The EPS School Store is led by the Store Supervisor, an assistant stores supervisor and two Store Technicians, and is based in two locations within the school. This is a busy environment servicing the needs of 150 academic staff, 120 Research Associates, 400 Post Graduate students and School technical services staff with all the materials required across the scientific and engineering disciplines for research and teaching.

The role covers all activities, from receiving purchase requests, entering them into the system, receiving deliveries, dealing with the administration of invoices, accounts, reports etc., dispensing goods including equipment, dry chemicals, wet chemicals, gas cylinders, liquid nitrogen, solvents etc., as well as dealing with the waste disposal streams of equipment, chemicals, and other waste materials. Manual handling of goods, cylinders and equipment is required, so the post requires fitness and physical effort, working both internally within the building and outside the building environment. Staff training of others is required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 especially Excel is essential, as is competency in the use of systems for electronic stock management and financial accounting. The analysis of financial data and preparation of reports is required for management reporting. A formal qualification in procurement would be an advantage.

The work will be varied and will require the successful candidate to provide a fair, friendly and timely service to staff, student partners and visitors to meet our commitment to pursuing service excellence. To achieve this commitment all professional services staff need to be adaptable and prepared to support other teams and colleagues in order to meet the needs of academic staff and students.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist the Stores Supervisor to manage the Stores finances against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs), e.g. cost neutral operations, inventory levels, accuracy of data, distribution of deliveries and report income and expenditure monthly to senior management.
• Purchasing and receipting of goods and services using the University Oracle system or purchasing receipting and reconciliation of goods and services using the purchase credit card.
• Assist to develop processes that are aligned to delivery of customer needs and expectations by constantly looking for ways to improve processes, productivity and efficiency whilst looking to reduce waste and costs to ensure cost neutral operations.
• Develop electronic systems to increase efficiency of stock control and recharging.
• Customs clearance of goods including arranging and payments of duties and taxes for import/export.
• Liaise with suppliers for delivery of goods, check deliveries against orders and coordinate queries and returns, liaising with end users and suppliers.
• Issue, maintain and dispense Store stock items including gas cylinders, liquid nitrogen, solvents, chemicals and stock items, reporting of stock turnover, reordering stock and recharging for goods used.
• Disposal of clinical waste including solvents, powders etc.
• Ensure all duties are carried out in accordance with current Health & Safety guidance and complete Risk Assessments under the supervision of the Store Supervisor.
• Advise and arrange for transport of goods off‑site, awareness of dangerous goods and liaising with couriers and maintenance of appropriate statutory records.
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional customer service and assist in the continual improvement of services both front facing and back‑office system.
• Maintenance and update of stock/purchase system/electronic gas cylinder system – update location/move assets/rotate aged assets.
• Work accurately, methodically and independently, exercising personal initiative in the majority of the role.
• Organise your own time effectively and take responsibility for planning tasks assigned to you.
• Communicate effectively at all levels, display excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work effectively within a team.
• Work flexibility, be prepared to learn and willing to provide support in other areas of the school as required.
• Commit to ongoing personal development.
• Ensure that all Stores staff operate safely and in accordance with proscribed University policies.
• Ensure all customers and staff operate in accordance with procurement and financial regulations concerning the purchase of equipment and materials.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive; the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Essential Criteria:

• HNC or equivalent in Chemistry/biology/life sciences, Mechanical/Chemical Engineering or extensive experience in a similar role.
• Experience of electronic purchase order systems including payments of duties and taxes for import/export.
• Experience of working within a similar environment as outlined above.
• Competent in the use of relevant IT packages (Word, Excel, Outlook etc).
• Experience of staff training.
• Experience of health & safety legislation in a technical environment including risk assessment and COSHH.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working in Higher Education.
• A procurement or similar qualification.
• Experience of shipping (dangerous) goods and Import/export regulations.

Heriot‑Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot‑Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups.