Science Technician

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Co-ordinate the use of practical resources and facilities and advise and assist in meeting the practical needs of the science curriculum, including liaising with teaching staff and support staff outside the department.
• Preparation of practical resources, including making solutions and assembling apparatus.
• Obtaining materials by local purchase.
• Giving technical advice to teachers, technicians, and students.
• Carrying out risk assessments for technician activities and experiments.
• Assisting in practical classes when necessary.
• Implementation and dissemination of all appropriate H&S legislation and guidance with respect to science education, including C.O.S.H.H.
• Ensure the maintenance of a healthy & safe working environment through:
• Actively contributing to the assessment, monitoring and review of both health & safety procedures and information resources.
• Keeping up to date with current procedures and practices through continuing professional development.
• The provision of technical advice and support on health & safety issues to teaching and trainee technical staff.
• The safe treatment & disposal of used materials including hazardous substances and responding to actual or potential hazards.
• The healthy & safe storage and accessibility of equipment and materials.
• Providing first aid to students and staff in the department as required.
• Ensure the availability of suitable materials and equipment, helping to compile orders and liaising or negotiating with suppliers and finance departments. This will include sourcing, costing and suggesting economic alternatives to maintain stock levels, and keeping up-to-date stock records.
• Checking stock, ordering, keeping stock records, maintaining resources, and placing orders as necessary.
• Ensure that both routine and non-routine checking, cleaning, maintenance, calibration, testing, and repairing of equipment are carried out to the required standard. These tasks apply to both the preparation room and the teaching rooms.
• Collecting, checking and returning equipment to stores.
• General laboratory cleaning of bench surfaces, sinks, and fixed equipment.
• Cleaning, repairing, and PAT testing equipment.
• Maintaining a digital inventory of equipment, apparatus and chemicals.
• Carry out minor repairs to equipment where possible, or arrange for repairs if necessary.
• Monitoring and ensuring that teaching rooms are in good order and stocked with functioning equipment and appropriate stationery and provide a safe working environment for teachers and students.
• Carry out administrative duties for the Science department including photocopying, filing, and retrieval of paper resources.
• Contribute to the Science Department’s preparation and presentation at Open Evening events.
• Attend Science faculty meetings as and when required.
• Report health and safety concerns and potential hazards in a timely manner, and assist and advise teachers in filling out incident reports.
• Care for the plants in the Science Faculty.
• Attend training relevant to the post held as the need or opportunity arises.
• Make use of available administrative and technical support to ensure an effective use of available time.
• Provide feedback to the Director of Faculty where necessary and as requested.
• Carry out all duties in a safe manner and in line with current school policies and procedures.
• Perform, in accordance with any directions and duties which may reasonably be given to you by the Headteacher from time to time, including supporting exam access arrangements in external exams for Science, Maths, and Technology.
• Comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to the appropriate person.

NOTES: The above duties are not exhaustive and the postholder may be required to undertake tasks, roles and responsibilities as may be reasonably assigned to them by the Director of Faculty or the Senior Management Team.