Senior Facility Technician - School of Chemistry - 102093 - Grade 5 in Birmingham

Position Details

School of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £29,647 to £31,460, with potential progression once in post to £35,388. Grade 5 Full Time, Permanent. Closing date: 1 March 2026.

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Job Context

The School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham is a vibrant and thriving academic community, with 140 academic and research staff, 25 Professional Services staff and over 600 students. With a strong focus on its three main research themes, energy, sustainability and health, and a number of interdisciplinary interest groups, the School has ambitious plans to grow research activity; indeed, major investment from the University for a state-of-the-art research building (opened in 2023) and a new Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (opened in 2018) that is revolutionising how we teach undergraduate practical chemistry, means we are entering an exciting period. We provide an inclusive and supportive environment where we strive to support every member of staff in realising their career potential.

The School of Chemistry's Analytical Facility provides comprehensive facilities for the examination and analysis of materials produced by the various synthetic chemistry research groups within the School, the University and external clients. The post holder will provide technical support to the School of Chemistry's Analytical Facility including, but not limited to, chromatography, and mass spectrometry. This support will include the operation and maintenance of instruments, providing guidance and training to users, running samples, ensuring that the research laboratories function in a safe, efficient and effective manner, cryogen fills and any other duties as may reasonably be requested by the Mass Spectrometry Facility Manager and Technical Manager.

Job summary

You will provide technical support and expertise in the Analytical Facility and more widely across the research school as required. You will be expected to act as a good team member, assisting colleagues when asked and being open to new challenges and activities. You will be expected to train and advise others as appropriate. You will need an in-depth understanding of the analytical techniques and experimental protocols in your area of the Analytical Facilities. You will be able to use your in-depth knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate experimental procedures. In order to flexibly use resources you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university.

Main Duties

• You will be responsible for providing technical support to the research activities in the School of Chemistry, mainly in the analytical facilities, but also supporting the research laboratories.
• You will support chromatography and mass spectrometry by managing the instrumentation specifically concerned with separation of chemical mixtures (liquid and gas chromatography). This will involve instrument and column maintenance, solvent management and providing guidance regarding separation techniques and approaches.
• You will be expected to run samples in chromatography and mass spectrometry, following suitable training, where necessary. You will need to use your judgment to assess the correct technique to use, and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your manager for approval on any proposed changes.
• You will provide training to facility users, including inductions for new users of liquid and gas chromatography instrumentation. You will use your in-depth knowledge of instrumentation, experimental procedures and techniques to advise and support facility users. This will involve communicating with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students.
• You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to instrumentation and techniques, particularly in regard to chromatography and mass spectrometry.
• You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques, experimental procedures, maintenance and troubleshooting you carry out.
• You will be expected to manage stocks of chemicals, solvents and replacement parts in the chromatography lab spaces and to assist with this activity across research lab spaces.
• You will be responsible for disposal of waste solvents, chemicals and packaging in a safe and efficient manner.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
• Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area.
• You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety duties

• Proactive support for health and safety within the laboratory. This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties. Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.
• Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.
• Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained. Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for the laboratory.
• Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider and fire warden.

General Administration and Organisation

• Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.
• Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
• Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents.
• Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
• Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained.
• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
• Assist in the update and maintenance of Analytical Facility websites.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification or Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Extensive relevant workplace experience, equivalent professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• GCSE level 2 (A*- C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods.
• Extensive experience of similar laboratory based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve problems with instruments and to maintain and repair them, where appropriate.
• Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others.
• Ability to organise and manage own workload and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team.
• Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role.
• Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same.
• Proficiency in commonly used software packages.
• Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Dimensions

You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers. You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff. You may be involved in budget monitoring.

Planning and organising

You will be required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision. You will ensure that you have the resources required, which will require planning ahead and procurement of goods.

Problem solving and decision making

You will be able to research, modify and adapt protocols after consulting relevant manager, and provide support to facility users. You will be able to uphold Health and Safety procedures. You will need to be confident in identifying problems, breaking them down and implementing solutions. Although you will work under the direction of more senior staff you will be able to carry out your work with a large amount of autonomy.

Internal and external relationships

This role will be advising and supporting research staff and/or students, and with external contacts such as company representatives.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Chris Williams, Mass Spectrometry Facility Manager or Katherine Twiggs, Technical Manager.

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.