King's College London

About Us

The Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine (FoLSM) has an exciting opportunity for a technician to join the Centre for Education. The post holder will be part of a team helping to deliver world class practical education and enhancing the student experience.

FoLSM is an ambitious and forward-thinking Faculty, with an outstanding reputation for teaching across a range of disciplines in Life Sciences and Medicine. 

The FoLSM teaching laboratories are split across two campuses, Waterloo and Guy’s, and are run by a team of dedicated technical staff, with extensive experience of delivering high quality technical support for practical teaching. 

This is an excellent opportunity to become part of that team, supporting innovation and sustainability in teaching activities, and having a significant impact on student experience and success.

About The Role

The role will be based in the Biochemistry, Genetics, Forensic Science and Analytical Toxicology team at the Waterloo campus in the first instance but may rotate between Waterloo and Guy’s campuses and will consist of periodic rotations between the faculty’s different teaching departments, to build individual skills, experience, and departmental resilience. The role holder will work with a team of technicians, line managed by a Senior Technician. 

Tasks undertaken will include but not limited to. 

• Support large scale practical teaching in collaboration with the rest of the team. 
• Provide a range of technical support for practical teaching within area. This will include the preparation of equipment and reagents for practical classes, setting up and clearing teaching labs. 
• Maintain service facilities ensuring efficient use of resources, installing, maintaining, and securing technical equipment systems and software and controlling associated stocks/store, equipment, and supplies. 
• Work to an agreed work plan and day-to-day objectives set by the line manager(s)/ supervisor. Prioritise work, deal with activities/ enquiries/ incidents as and when they arise, working independently without reference to a line manager or supervisor, using standard procedures and initiative. 
• Resolve routine and complex problems that arise in the local service using established guidance to put in place mechanisms to minimise future problems. 
• Use accurate record keeping and data analysis skills to interpret and evaluate routine data. 
• Take on projects over the summer months at the discretion of their line manager. These projects will have the goal of enhancing practical education delivery in the department. 
• Support less experienced colleagues in making day-to-day local operational decisions. 
• Implement local environmentally sustainable practices, following the King’s sustainability audit process, where appropriate. Collaborate with colleagues to share good practice and support wider sustainable initiatives and suggest new ideas where you see that improvements could be made. 
• Build working relationships with School staff, students, and key partners, to coordinate activities in a timely and effective manner. Demonstrate and advise staff and students on techniques as appropriate. Communicate information in a clear and precise way, both orally and in writing. 
• Work with colleagues and network as agreed by the line manager(s). Form a network of contacts to provide support and share best practice. 
• Contribute to ideas for improving current working methods and procedures. 
• Understand the regulations and university policies governing the service, using safe working practices, and suggesting improvements to line manager(s) to reduce risks, including negative environmental impacts. Report accidents/ incidents to line manager(s)/ supervisor. 
• Engage in Continuing Professional Development and training initiatives, in line with the Technician Commitment and Research Concordat for a minimum of 10 days pro rata per year. 
• Facilitate an inclusive culture and ethos working with academic, research and other professional services staff and colleagues external to King’s. 
• Participate in cross-School/ Faculty/ university projects and initiatives for up to 10% FTE. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. 

This is a full-time role (35 Hours per week), offered on an indefinite contract (this date would be taken from the recruitment request)

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience: 

Essential criteria

1. Minimum level 3 qualification, e.g. A levels, AS levels, International Baccalaureate diploma or other Level 3 qualification, plus work experience in a relevant technical/scientific post(s) OR Knowledge and skills gained through work experience in relevant technical or scientific posts. 
2. Evidence of an active commitment to skills and knowledge development through vocational training and on-the-job experience. 
3. Knowledge of a range of technical or practical skills and the ability to apply learnt techniques to the work context. 
4. Knowledge of the environmental impact of laboratory activities. 
5. An understanding of Health & Safety regulations governing area of work. 
6. Clear spoken and written communication skills, with competent computer use and strong interpersonal and influencing/behavioural skills 
7. Solutions-focused self-starter, with good prioritisation and organisational skills. 
8. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from various cultural backgrounds, with a deep appreciation for the value of diverse perspectives. 

Desirable criteria

1. Evidence of a commitment to professional development, including professional registration, such as RSciTech, and a willingness to learn new techniques. 
2. Experience supervising junior members of staff. 

Downloading a copy of our Job Description Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process. 

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. 

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. 

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages. 

We are not able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.