Technician (Battery Recycling)

Job Purpose

The post holder will be a technician based in the Metallurgy and Materials department, supporting the day-to-day operations of the recycling of lithium ion batteries. The post holder will also perform other technical support duties in Mechanical Engineering workshops and laboratories. The duties require collaborative working and close liaison with academics, technical staff, students, external companies and contractors.The post also requires knowledge and skills in the field of materials, materials handling and lithium ion batteries. A broad range of technical skills are also required in order to complete the additional duties as described in the role.

The postholder will have overall responsibility for providing technical support to the battery recycling and the energy materials laboratories in the School, incorporating lithium ion battery disassembly, materials sorting and battery manufacturing. The post holder will manage their own workload to help prioritise work in the labs. They will attend and provide technical support to University Open Day / Applicant Visit day activity for the School as directed by the Technical Manager, assist in the collection of deliveries from stores using pallet trucks and sack trucks, ensuring delivery notes and invoices are forwarded to accounts via EPS stores. They will use fume hoods, glove boxes, and other processing equipment and perform machining operations with accuracy and productivity, prioritising machining jobs to achieve realistic deadlines.

Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health clearance prior to appointment.

A full UK driving licence is essential to this post in order to operate forklifts and minibuses as part of the role

Person Specification

Minimum

• 5 GCSE qualifications (or equivalent)
• Level 3 BTEC qualification in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent and preferably level 2 NVQ.
• NEBOSH General Certificate or similar H&S qualification highly desirable or willingness to undertake.
• Significant relevant laboratory/engineering workshop experience required, including use of lathes, millers and mig and tig welders; together with evidence of bench fitting and the maintenance and repair of equipment.
• Demonstrably good knowledge, experience, understanding and appreciation of health and safety issues is essential, including working with fume cupboards and pressurised gas bottles and regulators.
• Experience of lifting and slinging and manual handling.
• Full UK diving licence essential.
• Demonstrably good organisational and administrative skills
• Demonstrable ability to record information accurately using online systems and databases.
• Demonstrable ability to work flexibly and proactively.
• Demonstrably strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrable ability to persuasively influence compliance from principal investigators to students.

Desirable

• To be qualified as a first aider
• GCSEs to include Maths, English and Science.
• Basic fire safety training (including evacuation procedures)
• Chemical handling training
• Working knowledge of batteries
• Fork lift truck licence (or willing to train)
• Mini bus licence (or willing to train)

Closing Date 30 May 2019

Additional Information

Informal enquiries for this post can be made to Prof. Emma Kendrick e.kendrick@bham.ac.uk or 0121 414 6730

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated OH pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

A full UK driving licence is essential to this post in order to operate forklifts and minibuses as part of the role.