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Laboratory Manager - Infrastructure and Facilities, Medical and Dental Sciences

Employer
University of Birmingham
Location
United Kingdom
Salary
£27,924 to £34,304
Closing date
Jun 9, 2022
Position Details

School or Department

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,924 to £30,497, with potential progression once in post to £34,304

Grade 6

Full Time, Permanent.

Closing date: 9 June 2022

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.  We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.  With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.  We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working.  In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.  On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham .

Background

This post is part of Medical and Dental Sciences Infrastructure and Facilities team and will be responsible for the overall day to day management of the geographical area which includes research laboratories and office facilities.

Role Summary

This post also has line management responsibilities for technicians within the area. Laboratory Managers within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences are essential in supporting world class research activities and high quality infrastructure within their own defined area and encouraging best practice across the College.

The post holder will report to one of the 4 Institute based Technical Managers within the College with regard to supporting the management of Institute technical staff, basic housekeeping, estate issues and H&S matters relating to the research facilities.

Each area has specific needs and the postholder may also provide direct specialist technical support or training to the research activities in line with their own expertise.

The post holder will also provide support and contribute to College activities under the direction of the Deputy Director of Operations (Infrastructure and Facilities).

Main Duties

Bespoke duties relevant to specific areas

The role holder will provide a high level of expertise in a range of technical skills to support academic delivery to a dedicated section of the Colleges space.

The role holder will have core duties that apply to all Laboratory Managers but will also undertake specific activity in line with the bespoke needs of the research activity and their own expertise and specialisms. Examples of these are detailed below and will not be undertaken by all role holders, this list is not exhaustive and will be subject to change:
  • IBR Level 4 & 5 Laboratory Manager: Support the maintenance and management of specialist Category 3 facilities
  • NMR Laboratory Manager: Understand the operational requirements of BioMolecular NMR and undertake routine cryogenic fills
  • CTIR and RAICR Laboratory Managers: Manage and support core GCP designated labs
  • IBR West: High level of skill in cell & tissue culture sufficient to train and advise others
  • IBR Level 1, 2, 3 and Link Labs Laboratory Managers: Act as radiation protection technician supporting shared radioisotope lab and cell counting services
  • Act as Biological Safety Officer in any area
  • Assist with compliance for Clinical Trails and Studies

General administration and organisation

The post holder will contribute to general administrative tasks relevant to the suite of laboratories and offices within their designated areas.

These include:
  • Responsible for ensuring all laboratory and office facilities are maintained at an optimal level.
  • In collaboration with the Technical Manager establish appropriate induction information for new staff and students starting work within their defined area of responsibility. This will incorporate access procedures for the controlled areas, local H&S matters, core support service provision and general management issues. This should be linked to the Institute and College induction materials.
  • Responsible for the reporting of and monitoring resolution for any failures in the infrastructure supporting facilities within their area. Liaise closely with the Technical Manager to achieve a robust and effective resolution of such matters.
  • Responsible for ensuring all small items of communal laboratory equipment (such as centrifuges, balances etc) are kept in good working order and calibrated as /when required. Assisting research groups in the maintenance and/or repair of group owned equipment.
  • Establish appropriate rotas for maintenance of communal areas and monitor compliance.
  • Work closely with the Technical Manager and Academic Lead to achieve effective and efficient use of space within the defined area, and where required any refurbishment/reconfiguration of space in order to achieve optimum use.
  • Responsible for ensuring storage facilities (dry and wet) are used effectively by all groups within the defined area and that contents are effectively catalogued and kept up to date. Manage any conflict of interest and provide feedback/data to the Academic leads and Technical Manager as required.
  • Work closely with the Technical Manager as appropriate in order to ensure statutory testing of various items of equipment takes place in good time and with minimum impact on the core business activities for the research facilities.
  • Ensure an up to date asset register for all equipment located within the defined area of responsibility for the Laboratory Manager is established and maintained.

Health and Safety, Environmental and Compliance
  • Responsible for ensuring all basic University / College H&S policies are complied with by all staff working in the designated area. This will include compliance by all staff with current rules governing work with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), chemicals (COSHH), biological samples, human tissue, radioactive materials and schedule 5 toxins etc. Ensure all required assessments are in place approved and up to date.
  • In areas where work with ionising and non-ionising radiation is undertaken the postholder will act as the radiation protection technician (RPT) for the defined area, supporting the academic Radiation Protection supervisor (RPS) to discharge the management requirements under University policy. Ensuring all records/returns are accurate and up to date and all safety policies/procedures relating to such work are fully complied with.
  • Undertake other designated H&S roles as required and commensurate with grade and experience
  • Responsible for managing all aspects of basic H&S relating directly to the activities of all academic groups within the designated area. This will include ensuring all risk assessments prepared by the groups are fit for purpose and appropriate for the work in progress. Ensuring all reviews and updates of risk assessments are undertaken in good time and comply with University/College requirements.
  • Work closely with the College H&S Advisor to ensure compliance with University and College H&S policies. Ensure appropriate numbers of fire wardens, first aiders and local safety co-ordinators are established and maintained for the area
  • Ensure all waste, laboratory and general, is disposed of via the correct waste management stream as governed by College or where applicable NHS Trust policies.
  • Function as fire warden and first aider for area of responsibility, maintaining awareness of higher risk activities within area of responsibility. Liaising with the building fire marshal and security services during any emergency situation.
  • Support research groups to comply with the requirements of Good Laboratory and Good Clinical Practice.
  • Promote University and College recycling and sustainability initiatives. Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
  • Maintain shared records and in line with relevant University policy.
  • Ensuring regular maintenance processes such as flushing eye wash stations are carried out as appropriate and ensuring records are maintained in line with relevant university policy.
  • Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the Technical Manager or College Safety Adviser.

Finance and Procurement
  • Where required signpost staff and students to training material for the University's procurement system and if necessary demonstrate actions needed
  • Work closely with the Technical Manager to ensure value for money concepts are achieved at all times with regard to the procurement of equipment and consumables linked directly to research groups based within the defined area.
  • Signpost staff and students to procurement / financial policies and procedures when necessary
  • Support any College procurement initiatives established to enhance the use of core equipment and/ or reduce energy consumption including in-house demonstrations of new equipment, and for required formal quotations

Technical Staff
  • Ensure that technical support staff linked with academic groups located in the area receive appropriate training, mentoring and support in the execution of their duties.
  • Undertake the day to day line management of technicians working in partnership with Technical Manager and Principal Investigators within defined area
  • Conduct PDR's for junior technical staff.
  • Proactively support the aims of the Technical Academy and the Technician's Commitment.
  • Play a proactive role in the transfer of specialist skills and knowledge within post holders relevant area of technical expertise to technical staff/students/research staff across the College. Provide advice and guidance relating to this expertise as and when required.
  • Under the direction of the Deputy Director of Operations take part in College wide initiatives linked to aspects of managing technical support staff or other related processes.

Other Duties
  • To actively engage in the Personal Development Process
  • Participate in both internal and external networks for the exchange of information such as Technical Academy, local seminars and external meetings
  • Provide expert technical guidance, as required and within areas of expertise, to staff and students
  • To contribute at a level appropriate with the grade, to internal and external audit procedures, and to regulatory inspections
  • Assist Technical Manager in identifying and tracking items held on the University asset register
  • Play a proactive role in developing new initiatives for the service area and ensure such initiatives are expressed in a professional format in order to inform and/or influence senior management
  • In collaboration with the Technical Manager assist in the implementation and where appropriate, make suggestions to comply with the University carbon reduction strategy and the effective use of energ

Person Specification

  • Extensive proven substantial practical and technical experience of a wide range of techniques as stated above and Good Laboratory Practice gained through extensive experience and formal qualification.
  • Experience of working in and managing research laboratories.
  • Significant previous experience working at a technical level.
  • Understanding of the application of the principles of good clinical practice to laboratory research
  • A professional qualification in an appropriate subject or extensive equivalent experience in a similar role
  • Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others
  • Proven ability to organise and manage own work load and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements
  • Proven ability to work independently but function as part of a team
  • Proven ability to understand customer requirements and ensure solutions are developed to meet their needs and provide advice and guidance
  • Proven ability to diagnose/ resolve problems and suggest solutions in own area, whilst having regard to the local
and wider interests
  • Effective communicator with an ability to use appropriate arguments in order to achieve compliance of staff(support and academic) with H&S/Financial/Environmental policies
  • Must be able to communicate effectively with all levels of users
  • Knowledge of current relevant H&S policies
  • Proficiency in commonly used software packages and an ability to understand and interrogate data
  • Ability to uphold and demonstrate the University values of Excellence, Leadership, Pioneering Spirit, Purposefulness and Pragmatism to a level commensurate with the grade and extent of this role
  • Ability to uphold and demonstrate the core values and behaviours of the Infrastructure and Facilities team; integrity & respect, approachable & responsive, collaboration & collective responsibility, knowledgeable & innovative
  • Willing to work towards professional registration or already hold Science Council professional registration

Further particulars can be found here: http://www.download.bham.ac.uk/vacancies/jd/MDSFPs.pdf

Informal enquires to Carol Benham, email: c.benham@bham.ac.uk

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