Job Profile

Core job information
Job Title / Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratories Manager
Dept./School/Inst. / School of Biological and Chemical Sciences / Section/Centre/Unit / Chemistry and Biochemistry
Career Family / Technical / Grade / 5
Working hours per week / 1 FTE as contract / Appointment period / Permanent
Reports to (job title) / Head of Department / Current location / Mile End Campus
Job purpose
The Laboratory Manager will have overall responsibility for the effective day-to-day management and technical support for all the research activities in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department.
The responsibilities of the role include -
  • Provide leadership and management for the technical staff in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department on working in line with College strategic aims of being an upper-quartile Russell Group University; and be willing to go the extra mile to support research and teaching excellence and the other technicians in the Department and School.
  • Operational management and planning of the research laboratories within the department (including the allocation of space with input from Head of Department or designated academic)
  • Providing expert advice, training and trouble-shooting service to all users of the research laboratories
  • To be the Health and Safety co-ordinator for the Joseph Priestley and Bancroft Buildings including all the teaching laboratories in the Joseph Priestley and maintain a positive safety culture in the research and teaching laboratories.
  • Support research and teaching needs within the School to ensure high quality technical support is provided. This may involve on occasion working in other laboratories in support of wider School needs for research and teaching.
  • To provide expert technical advice and introduce new research equipment (e.g. liquid handling robots, multi-angle light scattering) and to help build and maintain innovative combinations of equipment for research. Also to use equipment in innovative ways.
  • To contribute to research in Chemistry and/or Biochemistry according to the post holder’s expertise and working with academics in the School. To analyse data, interpret results, and write-up results in formats suitable for publication in publications suitable for submission to REF assessments.
  • To represent and support the technical support staff within the department at staff meetings, senior executive meetings, and at other forums. To contribute to specialised research group meetings such as the protein club.
  • To promote cross-disciplinary research and research at the Chemistry/Biochemistry interface through specialist technical knowledge.
  • To be a specialist source of technical knowledge in the Department and to maintain this knowledge as the Department evolves.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Requirements / Essential/ Desirable
Qualifications / Relevant BSc degree or extensive work experience in a related laboratory technician role
Further vocational qualification in relevant laboratory management skills or MSc, PhD in a relevant area / E
D
Experience / Demonstrable skills in laboratory management, preferably in a research facility or similar setting
Significant post-graduation experience of laboratory management
Experience of Health and Safety management in biological/chemical laboratories
Experience of Standard Operations Procedures management in biological or chemical laboratories
Some experience of accounts administration e.g. ordering, financial record keeping and stock control.
Experience of managing and controlling budgets and financial management relating to research grants
Working knowledge of the Agresso system.
Experience of working in a research and teaching environment
Experience of supervising or ideally line managing people, with an ability to provide good leadership
Experience of working in a research Laboratory
Publication or demonstrable contribution to publications / E
D
E
D
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D
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E
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E
Knowledge, skills & abilities / In depth knowledge of Health and Safety and COSHH regulations and an understanding of the implications of complying/not complying with health and safety and best practice and commitment to role modelling best practice in health and safety.
A good understanding of the research process.
Ability to develop a good understanding of academics’ research areas and to use this and more general knowledge about the work of academics to effectively support, inform, negotiate and influence both new and well established academics
Good communication skills to enable clear written guidance and contributions to research on technical aspects appropriate to the audience. Ability to explain clear laboratory equipment and procedures to students, less experience academic users through to expert users appropriately. Able to provide effective support and guidance to staff role line manages. Able to write clear and concise emails and reports.
Good laboratory bench skills.
Good level of literacy- able to comprehend technical instructions and scientific theory.
Good numeracy skills, able to analyse and interpret scientific data and also understand and effectively manage, monitor and control budgets with recourse to central finance teams.
Ability to trouble- shoot technical equipment, through sound technical knowledge.
Ability to work safely and effectively unsupervised, and also as an active team member
Ability to cope with demanding work under pressure and to tight deadlines; to deal with the conflicting demands and timescales of concurrent research projects to ensure deadlines are met.
Ability to organise and prioritise own work and oversee the prioritisation and work of a small technical team with regard to effective use of resources.
Solid understanding of basic concepts in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Good interpersonal skills to provide a supportive laboratory environment to academics and students and fellow technicians. This will include having the ability to influence and negotiate with users to ensure best use of laboratory and to manage shifting priorities from multiple sources.
Good analytical and problem-solving skills able to use initiative to identify potential problems and opportunities to manage them effectively resolving independently were appropriate. / E
E
E
E
E
E
E
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E
Attitude & disposition / An interest and willingness to engage in and make contributions to interdisciplinary research projects.
Work flexibly and co-operatively alone or as part of a team
Willingness and ability to learn new skills and experimental techniques and promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement personally and with direct reports and students role interacts with.
Commitment to providing a high quality service to internal users with due regard to sustainability, value for money and equality and diversity. / E
E
E
E
Other circumstances / The role will involve moving laboratory equipment on a daily basis and the setting up of complex equipment which required good manual dexterity. Aids such as trolleys will be available to move larger equipment. / E
Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Role
Laboratory Management
Provide technical support for the research groups using the Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratories.
Effectively line-manage the technical staff in the department together with the Head of Department.
Have a positive approach to facilitating research in the department.
Be responsible for the operational management and day-to-day running of the department’s research laboratories.
Develop and implement appropriate strategies for the future use of laboratories and other facilities, as research agendas change, and in keeping with the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences strategic plan.
Ensure that all laboratory and facility users are adequately trained and skilled to work in a safe and competent manner.
Work independently, and in conjunction with other staff and students, to plan and conduct laboratory work in support of research projects.
Define standard protocols for the use of equipment, experimental techniques and for the processing of samples.
Work with the Building Manager to ensure that the department’s research space is being utilised efficiently.
Liaise with users of laboratories and field facilities, and with relevant committees at school and college level.
Ensure that laboratory consumables and items of equipment are sufficient, correctly inventoried and audited.
Finance
Source and purchase consumables and equipment for the research groups within the department.
Contribute to the management and monitoring of budgets, budget codes and financial areas for the laboratory and research grants.
Contribute to the research and teaching activities of the School of Geography, including fieldwork.
Working in conjunction with Facility Managers to set internal and external charges for Facility Services within the Department.
Equipment and Instrumentation
The postholder will be expected to know how to use all the equipment within the department.
Acquire and deploy new skills where appropriate e.g. use and maintenance of specialist scientific equipment in the laboratory
Provide training on how to use the equipment to all users.
Ensure equipment is serviceable and ready for use, checked and maintained/serviced as necessary.
Health and Safety and COSHH
The role will be the Health and Safety Co-ordinator for the Joseph Priestley and Bancroft Buildings including all the teaching laboratories in the Joseph Priestley and will work in conjunction with designated persons to ensure that University policies on Health and Safety and Ethics are applied. This may include
  • Supplying specialist Health and Safety knowledge/expertise to inform policy as required and assist in writing health and safety local policies, local rules and standard operating procedures for the department
  • Be responsible for implementing any policies or procedures required by the Occupational Health and Safety Directorate. With the H&S co-ordinator for the Fogg Building devise policies, procedures, initiatives and development plans for the estate and health and safety within the school, consulting with the Head of School and School Manager as appropriate, to include preventative or protective measures as needed.
  • Conduct health and safety and fire induction training to academics, visitors and students in the Department as required.
  • Ensure that appropriate COSHH and risk assessment procedures are followed and documented for all laboratory work; assist and undertake inspections, audits, accident investigations where necessary and ensuring that fire regulations are adhered to.
  • To be a member of the school’s Health and Safety Committee and to be the Health and Safety representative for the Joseph Priestley and Bancroft Buildings at the Faculty Health and Safety Committee meetings.
  • To coordinate the dissemination of best practice advice and information across the Joseph Priestley and Bancroft Buildingsincluding H&S web pages; and to contribute to preparation of the annual H/S plan including an index of H/S arrangements within the School.
  • To identify areas of weakness in H/S arrangements in the Joseph Priestley and Bancroft Buildingsand take appropriate action, including the suspension of activities to the HoS/School Manager where health and safety is being, or is likely to be, compromised or damage caused to the environment.
  • To be responsible for the safe handling, storage and disposal of equipment, glassware, chemical, solvent and biological waste within the department.
  • To take on any other activity reasonably expected of an H&S co-ordinator by the Head of School, School Manager or Occupational Health and Safety Directorate
Management
To line manage the technicians supporting the Department’s activity, ensuring regular feedback to staff, identification of any development needs are recognised and met and quality appraisals take place in line with University and School people management practices.
To manage Chemistry and Biochemistry technicians supporting the Department’s activities and motivate them to deliver excellent services by having regular reviews and encouraging them to participate in decision- making and be innovative in their particular areas of responsibility.
To ensure that technical staffing in the Department is adequate to ensure delivery of service to the required standard
Other
Evaluate new techniques and equipment that may be of use to enhance the effectiveness of research carried out within the department.
Work in a flexible and supportive manner covering for peaks in demand and ad hoc needs for technical support in laboratories across the School to ensure, as part of a technical team, there is high quality support for teaching and research.
Other duties as may reasonably be expected and agreed with the Departmental Lead.

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.