Assistant Technical Specialist

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,296 to £34,866 with potential progression once in post to £39,105

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to February 2026

Job Summary

You will provide technical expertise, support, and guidance in research activities within the Energy Materials Group laboratories in the School of Metallurgy and Materials. You will lead on the installation, operation, maintenance, and management of cell manufacturing equipment related to slurry and electrode manufacturing and characterisation.

As a senior member of the technical team within the Energy Materials Group, you will need to demonstrate excellent customer service skills, maintaining a proactive attitude when communicating with facility users.

You will need a detailed understanding of characterisation techniques and experimental protocols. You will be able to use your strong technical knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise. 

The role will require a commitment to maintaining high health and safety standards in shared, communal, laboratories alongside colleagues and students from a range of research groups.

Main Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of all Energy Materials Group laboratories.
• You will maintain high standards of Health & Safety in the facility laboratories.
• You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions with regard to techniques and experiments. Provide specific support and advice, often challenging and reinterpreting requests.
• Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures which will need you to use your judgment to assess the correct technique to use, and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your manager and Principal Investigator for approval on any proposed changes.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of the research activity.
• You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Person Specification

• Extensive laboratory experience.
• Experience with a wide range of laboratory equipment.
• Professional qualification or degree in relevant STEM field.
• Ability to test and implement new approaches, services or systems.
• Shows courtesy in dealing with others.
• Experience of training individuals to use specialist equipment.
• Demonstrable experience in laboratory management.
• 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.

Informal enquiries can be made to Ben Pye, email: b.pye@bham.ac.uk or Prof. Emma Kendrick, email: e.kendrick@bham.ac.uk  

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 02/01/2025

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