Nutrition Laboratory Technician

at  Massey University

Job Description: Nutrition Laboratory – Technician
Position Purpose: The purpose of this position is to perform a range of routine chemical
analyses of a range of food and feed sample types, and to undertake
sample preparation, sub-sampling, record keeping, equipment
maintenance, waste disposal activities. Analytical techniques will include
those used to determine: Total solids, ash, fats, dry matter, Dietary fibre,
pH, and calorific value.
Department: Nutrition Lab
Location: Manawatū
Reports to: Manager - Nutrition Laboratory
Responsible for: Nil
Delegations: Nil
Job Title: Nutrition Laboratory – Technician
Key relationships: Internal External
Manager – Nutrition Laboratory Service Technicians
Laboratory Staff
Researchers/Students
Service Technicians

ITS

Massey University: We are a world-leading university in many academic disciplines and fields
of research. Our point of difference is research that is connected to
community and industry. Our researchers are developing expertise and
skills to advance human knowledge and understanding. Working together
across disciplines and locations, we solve national and global problems
through fundamental, applied and interdisciplinary research, while
culturally and artistically enriching our world.
We are deeply committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university, demonstrating
authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles
through our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a
real opportunity for the nation and its people.
Our educators are preparing a new generation of global leaders. Our
students are diverse and are attracted to Massey because they want to
achieve their personal goals or make their mark in the world. They
experience world-class learning that recognises their intellectual and
cultural strengths, expands their horizons and prepares them to contribute
to a rapidly transforming world with skills, critical and creative thinking and
leadership.
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We will be renowned for our passion and caring attitude. All Massey
campuses will be innovation ecosystems, acting as magnets for smart
enterprises. Wherever we are, we will operate in partnerships founded on
respect, trust and mutual benefit. Massey is not only defined by what we
do, but by how we do it.
About this area The Nutrition Laboratory is an IANZ accredited independent testing
laboratory servicing Massey University’s research and student projects as
well as external commercial clients in the Food and Feed industries.
Massey core capabilities

At Massey we are Tiriti-led, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practice, we:

• Demonstrate awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand

society.

• Understand the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to the work of the University and the

people we serve.

• Embracing Te Reo in relevant and practical ways in our workplace interactions and engagement

with external stakeholders, giving expression to Tikanga Māori and protocols that demonstrates
that we respect and value Māori conventions in appropriate settings.

At Massey we work together with mutual respect and caring. we:

• Act with integrity and trustworthiness and give credit to others for the work they do.
• Work cooperatively and inter-dependently to foster and promote the One University approach.
• Share knowledge and communicate professionally with courtesy and mutual respect.
• Are ethical in all transactions, working within the parameters of our policies and procedures.
• Are direct, truthful and maintain confidentiality.
• Seek to understand and appreciate our differences.
• Keep ourselves and others safe; work together to embrace with the University’s health, safety

and wellbeing policies, procedures and programmes; display commitment by actively supporting
all safety and wellbeing initiatives: and by actively engaging in health and safety improvement
opportunities.

At Massey we are future-focused, results- oriented and strive for excellence. we:

• Take ownership and responsibility for delivering results to support achievement of University

objectives.

• Provide the best quality services to our customers (internal and external) ensuring our students/

stakeholders are at the heart of everything we do.

• Deliver or support world-class research, teaching and learning and citizenship.
• Take personal responsibility for our performance, take pride in doing our job well, and commit

to ongoing personal and professional development.

• Are motivated and create a positive working environment where our values are reinforced.
• Anticipate and respond with agility and resilience to the changing needs of the University and

the communities we serve.

• Seek ways to improve our services to deliver in an efficient and effective way.
• Embrace technology and apply this innovatively to better meet the needs of those we serve.

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• Challenge ourselves to reach our potential and help bring out the best in others.
• Understand how what we do contributes to the objectives of the University.

Accountabilities

Technical Duties • Independently carry out routine analyses to the required standard

• Calibration of equipment as required.
• Provide technical support for routine analyses
• Provide internal reporting and filing of analyses data
• Perform sample preparation & sub-sampling
• Perform routine maintenance of equipment
• Follow laboratory protocols and work to strict IANZ/RLP requirements
• Work to Massey University Health and Safety guidelines
• Develop and maintain familiarity with hazards involved with each

individual method

• Strictly adhere to MPI Transitional Facility requirements.

Qualifications and Experience
Qualifications: Previous laboratory experience essential. NZCS, BSc qualification, or
equivalent experience required.
Experience: • Well established laboratory technical skills including: use of analytical
Essential balances, pipetting, dilutions, sample and reagent preparation,
handling of hazardous materials, and use of laboratory

instrumentation.

• Experience with routine food and nutrition analytical testing including:

moisture, ash, fat, fibres, gross energy, sub-sampling and sample

preparation.

• Ability to trouble shoot and provide routine maintenance on a range of

laboratory equipment.
Experience: • Experience with any of the following analytical techniques would be
Desirable desirable: Dietary fibre, GC/HPLC, total solids, dry matter, amino acids,
calorific value and nitrogen content.
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Capabilities - Behaviour

Communication

• Conducts discussions in a respectful manner, that are sincere and fully Essential expressed.
• Recognises which communications need to be formalised to provide clarity,

including when escalation is required.

• Communicates any potential issues to the laboratory manager in a timely

fashion i.e. client deadlines, equipment failures/maintenance, consumable

supplies etc.

• Adapts listening and facilitation styles to others’ communication styles.
• Ability to work with a range of staff and students.
• Communicate effectively with laboratory personnel.
• Self motivated
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team environment.

Working Together

• Maintains client confidentiality at all times. Essential • Adapts interaction style appropriate to different situations and people.

• Understands the factors for high performance and creates positive

partnerships and cohesive teams.

• Works to understand alternative points of view to guide productive working

relationships.
Continuous

Transformation

• Works with agility, adjusting current working processes or adopting new Essential approaches in response to changes in the organisation environment.
• Seeks challenging opportunities or assignments to grow and develop one’s

own knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Communicates and analyses assumptions about a particular issue with

colleagues to gain new perspectives or more effective solutions.
Delivering Results

Essential • Maintains focus on critical work and expectations.

• Able to track and complete agreed work in planned timeframes.
• Takes responsibility for escalating issues that impact on planned work and

outcomes.

• Documents how results were obtained to support knowledge transfer and

best practices.

• Supports self during change by remaining flexible, focusing on the positives,

and proactively seeking out opportunities to get involved
Service Centric
Essential • Acts with the customer in mind, seeks to understand and deliver on

customer requirements.

• Provides a level of customer centric service excellence that contributes to

the department’s objectives.
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Capabilities - Technical
Accuracy and • Identifies tasks or outputs that require accuracy and detail-level attention.
Attention to • Processes large amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.
Detail
Essential • Utilises specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking

outputs.

• Learns from mistakes and applies lessons learned.

Digital Skills
• Ability to learn and use core Nutrition Laboratory systems. Desirable • Proficient in the use of Excel spreadsheets.
Laboratory • Able to prepare laboratory equipment for tasks / activities as required.
Practice • Ensures laboratory supplies / equipment are stored and used appropriately
Essential in line with safety and quality standards.
Priority Setting • Understands own role priorities on a day-to-day basis.

Desirable • Completes current work according to assigned priorities.

• Recognises changing demands and priorities; validates changes with

management.

• Ability to work under pressure and to prioritise work schedules to meet

client deadlines is required.
Technical
Management • Effectively performs the technical job aspects, continuously building

Desirable knowledge.

• Helps others solve technical or procedural problems or issues when

requested.

• Capacity to develop a high level of expertise in several analytical areas and

competency in other areas to provide resilience to the Nutrition Lab
operations.
Quality • Works with quality assurance methods, tools and techniques.
Management • Adheres to organisational quality management processes and practices.
Desirable
Other • Technical skills

Desirable • Work to IANZ accreditation requirements

• Work to the relevant Health & Safety requirements.

Pre-employment checks
Essential • Requirement to pass a Qualifications Validation Check

• Calibration of equipment as required.
• Provide technical support for routine analyses
• Provide internal reporting and filing of analyses data
• Perform sample preparation & sub-sampling
• Perform routine maintenance of equipment
• Follow laboratory protocols and work to strict IANZ/RLP requirements
• Work to Massey University Health and Safety guidelines
• Develop and maintain familiarity with hazards involved with eac