Senior Technician

FTE and working pattern: 1 FTE, 35hrs per week

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the effective running of the Sport & Exercise Science related facilities on a day-to-day basis 
• Establish new laboratories, including specifying and ordering appropriate equipment to meet teaching and research needs.  
• Develop and maintain laboratory procedures according to standards set by professional bodies (e.g. BASES). 
• Plan, set up and prepare teaching labs and provide technical instruction and guidance for students and staff. 
• Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain and troubleshoot equipment.  
• Set up experimental apparatus and carry out tests under operational conditions 
• Assist in the development of specialised equipment or processes for use in research and teaching.  
• Diagnose faults and undertake repairs/ maintenance on relevant equipment, and apparatus used in research and teaching laboratories 
• Mentor, train and instruct junior staff  
• Understand and acknowledge risks associated with the work activity and always operate in a safe and compliant manner applying control measures identified through risk assessment.  
• Order equipment and consumables 
• Assist with field trips, where required  
• Monitor changes/trends and technical advances/ developments in Sport & Exercise Science and continue to expand and improve skills to keep up with these developments 
• Establish strong working relationships to understand and manage the user demand and  
• requirements, ensuring that the requirements of our teaching programmes and research activities are understood, assessed, and prioritised. 

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Essential

1. Educated to SCQF Level 7-8 (HNC/HND) or an Apprenticeship in a relevant subject plus ideally 3-5 years’ post-qualification work experience in a relevant role; or the equivalent comparable relevant work experience
2. Experience of working in a Sport & Exercise Science, or a relevant scientific discipline, demonstrating development through involvement in progressively more demanding work/roles
3. A clear understanding of practical Sport & Exercise Science teaching and research issues/considerations 
4. Ability to use, maintain and advise users on specialist equipment 
5. Ability to understand and capture Sport & Exercise Science data 
6. Experience of relevant health and safety protocols 
7. Able to plan and organise assigned projects/programmes of work
8. Analytical and technical problem-solving skills
9. Experience in providing technical support to undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels 
10. Experience in using Microsoft Office and statistical software (e.g., R) 
11. Demonstrable self-motivation and desire to achieve the objectives agreed with managers working towards the strategic goals set by the School 
12. Demonstrable willingness and ability to continuously learn and develop new skills in line with changing trends in the field

Desirable

1. A degree in a relevant subject area (or other similar qualification) 
2. Experience in establishing new laboratory facilities 
3. Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice guidance and procedures for human research 
4. Experience of working with biological samples 
5. Experience of working with equipment used for biomechanics teaching and research

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Sunday 27^th April 2025.

Please submit your CV & covering letter via the ‘Apply’ button above.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Sean McMenamy, Senior Technical Services Manager – S.L.McMenamy@hw.ac.uk  

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

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