About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the University of Leicester's Department of Physics and Astronomy as a Departmental Technician. In this role, you will provide crucial technical support for both staff and students within the undergraduate teaching laboratories. The main focus of your responsibilities will include preparing, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory experiments for over 300 undergraduates. Your contributions will ensure the smooth running of the laboratories, helping to facilitate dynamic and effective teaching.

You will also play a key role in maintaining equipment, managing stock, and ensuring that health and safety procedures, such as COSHH assessments, are followed. A significant part of your job will involve assisting in the set-up and usage of audio-visual equipment for teaching, supporting departmental activities like Open Days, and keeping laboratory equipment in safe working order.

In this position, you will report to senior colleagues and collaborate closely with academic staff, demonstrators, and other technicians to deliver high-quality services. This is a fantastic role if you are looking to expand your experience in a technical, academic environment, while contributing directly to the educational experience of students.

About you

We are looking for a proactive and organised individual with a background in technical support, particularly in a laboratory setting. You should have an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline, or A-levels combined with relevant work experience. A solid understanding of general laboratory equipment and its operation is essential, alongside the ability to apply your knowledge of physics to assist students and staff. Experience in electrical appliance testing and familiarity with software packages related to physics teaching will also be highly advantageous.

Strong communication skills are vital, as you will be expected to provide technical instruction and support in a courteous and clear manner, contributing to a positive image of the department. Your ability to work both independently and as part of a team, along with good organisational skills, will allow you to thrive in this role. Experience with health and safety protocols, such as risk assessments, would be beneficial but can be developed on the job.

This role will appeal to someone who is enthusiastic about supporting educational activities in a practical, hands-on way, and who enjoys problem-solving.

Additional information

For informal enquiries, please contact James Mawson on 0116 252 3524 or [email protected]

We anticipate that interviews will take place on 21 October 2024.

As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying. More information regarding secondments can be found here.

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

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Departmental Technician

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