Overview
You will contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive maintenance and instrumentation maintenance and servicing provision for staff, students and external customers across the School underpinning the fundamental working practices of teaching, research and facilities.
Reporting to the Senior Technician: Operations, you will be responsible for carrying out routine maintenance of common laboratory equipment, maintain accurate records using the Asset Database and SAP, and perform practical tasks consistently to a high standard with attention to detail.
Responsibilities
- Carry out routine maintenance of common laboratory equipment, using standard operating procedures and keeping records. Examples include water purifiers, ultra‑low temperature freezers and vacuum pumps.
- Assist operations team members to create bespoke apparatus for research applications, providing input at all stages of development and production.
- Diagnose faulty equipment requiring repair and undertake repairs using appropriate tools, techniques and procedures under supervision.
- Maintain accurate records of work undertaken using the Asset Database and SAP for ordering.
- Assist with purchasing, including ordering and distributing goods.
- Carry out PAT for new items, adding them to the Asset Database, and for repaired items. Assist staff to scrap old items and ensure they are removed from the database.
- Participate in planning and organising the preventative maintenance service schedule for common laboratory equipment.
- Provide technical advice to staff and students regarding equipment and work areas.
- Liaise with appropriate staff to keep work areas and equipment functional; prepare areas for visiting service engineers, provide decontamination certificates, and maintain appropriate records.
- Contribute to the planning and organisation of moving significant amounts of laboratory equipment using appropriate lifting techniques and equipment.
- Assist with training staff and students to safely operate complex and specialised equipment such as compressed gas cylinders and regulators.
- Carry out inductions, training and demonstrations of relevant equipment.
- Understand and apply relevant risk assessments and departmental health and safety protocols at all times.
- Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
- Minimum qualifying GCSE grade in English and Maths, or equivalent Level 2 qualification (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Demonstrable vocational skills and experience including 18th Edition IET or more recent equivalent training (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Knowledge of electrical and mechanical skills including the use of hand tools for installation, calibration and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation (Essential; Interview/Test)
- Understanding and application of Health and Safety regulations and safe working practices (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Ability to complete technical documentation appropriately and keep accurate records (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Effective communication with colleagues, students and staff to identify and understand their needs (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Understanding how to follow correct procedures and instructions to achieve compliance with statutory regulations (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Ability to identify problems and follow suitable escalation routes (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Ability to use common IT applications such as Google Workspaces (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Adaptable to the demands of the role and changes in workflow, planning and organising routine tasks (Essential; Interview/Application)
- Technical Professional registration or equivalent or working towards (Essential; Interview/Application)
Further Information
Grade: 4
Salary: £25,249 – £26,707 per annum with potential to progress to £28,778 through sustained exceptional contribution.
Work arrangement: Full‑time (35 hours per week)
Duration: Permanent, available immediately
Line manager: Senior Technician: Technical Operations
Direct reports: None
Our website: School of Biosciences
Informal enquiries: Matt Wyles, Technical Manager, m.wyles@sheffield.ac.uk
Benefits
- Minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- Wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- Variety of staff networks providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards for staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- Commitment to development with access to learning and mentoring schemes; Technical Career Route.
- Family‑friendly policies: paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies, support for menopause, paid time off and support for fertility treatment, and more.
We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Closing Date: 10/6/2026
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