Chief Technician

at  University of Glasgow

JOB PURPOSE

Reporting to the Head of Professional Services (HoPS), the post holder will be responsible for leading the management of technical services within the School of Molecular Biosciences and overseeing all technical aspects of a diverse research/teaching service or activities. Provide strategic and functional senior technical leadership to PIs, research staff, technicians and students, assuming an active role in various committees and working groups across the School, College and Organisation as required.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lead and manage a team of technical staff with varying degrees of specialism and experience, recruiting, assigning and reviewing work; ensuring that performance objectives and deadlines are relevant and completed timeously and managing poor performance as required
2. Management of the professional/administrative support team within the School to ensure effective delivery of the school’s priorities and ensure KPI target delivery
3. Identify practical and soft skill training needs within the technical team and work towards a programme of staff development and skill retention. Ensure that team members have networking opportunities in the College and wider University community.
4. Take a leading role in relevant committees and working groups within the College and School including but not limited to School Executive Group, School Health and Safety Committee and College Chief Technician Meeting.
5. Assume the role of Health and Safety Coordinator for the School, liaising with University safety professionals at SEPS (Safety and Environmental Protection Services), Chair of School H&S Committee and Head of School, conducting inspections and audits, preparing reports on findings, updating relevant groups on best practice and supporting research groups with relevant documentation.
6. Take a leading role in the active management of all the building and fabric related issues, liaising with Estates and overseeing routine maintenance and repairs. Use specialist knowledge to ensure repairs comply with H&S requirements. With Head of Professional Services, interact with estates for more complex jobs and deal with external contractors as required.
7. Manage and oversee all School equipment; overseeing repairs and replacement of equipment including proposing investment and replacement cycles. Ensure laboratory equipment is compliant with H&S requirements and is maintained in a timely and cost-effective manner. Oversee the planning of routine servicing of essential School equipment.
8. Provide expert technical guidance and advice to HoPS on laboratory and office space within School and complete the annual space audit, as well as overseeing planning of space for new research groups.
9. In collaboration with the Head of Professional Services assess workforce planning, infrastructure and equipment needs for the annual SPR, determining allocation of funds based on year in need and update routinely on spend.
10. Lead on Technical Professional Services representation at Athena SWAN SAT, contributing to allocated working group(s), application renewals and creation and analysis of surveys and downstream data.
11. Represent Head of Professional Services as required in respect of technical matters
12. Actively participate in the security and safety of our buildings in liaison with the University Security staff, this includes being one of the ‘call out’ contacts for any out of hours building issues.
13. Undertake continual professional development and engage in networking events across the organisation
14. Work collaboratively with others, including within the wider College/School/Group and University where relevant with external contacts, to enhance the delivery of the service/research/teaching aims, promote the technical community and support the broader strategic aims of the University, including for the Technician Commitment https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/technicians/ and other UK-wide initiatives.
15. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by Head of Service/School.
16. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together and contribute to outreach activities.