Senior Technician

19579BR

School of Medicine

Technical

Advert

Senior Technician
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
Cardiff University School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences
We are looking for a motivated research technician to join the Multiple Sclerosis Research group and Welsh Neuroscience Research Tissue Bank, within the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine to work on a MS Society Funded project investigating fluid biomarkers in MS.

In This Role, You Will

1. Use Immunoassays (ELISA, SIMOA, ELLA) to quantify the levels of serum biomarkers in a cohort of people with MS.
2. Be involved with human tissue and fluid sample collection, processing and storage from people with inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders, such as MS.
3. Assist in the maintenance of routine records, sample inventories, updating databases and analysing routine data/information as required.
4. Deal with routine enquiries from internal and external customers in a professional manner, following established procedures, referring complex enquiries to relevant staff members, ensuring all relevant facts and information needed is recorded and passed on.

We’d like to hear from you if you have:

1. Significant experience in working in a technical support role.
2. The ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.
3. Knowledge of the Human Tissue Act.

We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression. We are a proud Living Wage supporter. As part of this role, we can explore the possibility of the successful candidate accessing further training and development. The appropriate level and type of training will be discussed with the successful applicant.

This role will be primarily laboratory and office based at the University Hospital Wales, Heath Park Campus.

Please contact Dr Sam Loveless (LovelessS1@cardiff.ac.uk) for an informal, confidential discussion about the role.

This post is part-time (21 hours per week), available from 1st January 2025 and fixed-term for a period of 12 months.

Salary: £27,344 - £30,505 per annum, pro-rata (Grade 4). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 40 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

Role
There are some things that you must have before you can start this role (see ‘Essential Criteria’), but other things can be developed either through training, or just by general on-the-job experience. We want to support and develop you once you have started in the role using a combination of the following to get the best out of you:

1. Regular one-to-ones with your manager.
2. An experienced and supportive team around you.
3. Supporting you through job-relevant training and development that you may require.
4. A mentoring scheme.

Date advert posted: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Closing date: Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Job Description
Job Purpose
To provide comprehensive technical support to the Multiple Sclerosis Research group and Welsh Neuroscience Research Tissue Bank, within the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences across a portfolio of laboratory-based projects.

The successful candidate will be required to work on an MS Society funded project investigating fluid biomarkers in multiple sclerosis using immunoassays; ELISA, SIMOA, and similar technology.

Duties and Responsibilities
Key Duties

1. Following established guidelines train technical staff and students in technical procedures and in the use of equipment.
2. Set up experimental systems and research apparatus, assisting students and staff in the use and construction of equipment and apparatus and with tests and experiments.
3. Operate, maintain, service, adjust, test and repair complex equipment and apparatus.
4. Participate in the development, modification and construction of special equipment and apparatus.
5. Take responsibility for stock levels, security, maintenance and cleanliness of materials, apparatus and equipment within work area.
6. Record and perform detailed analysis on data, including responsibility for maintaining databases.
7. Undertake reviews of technical processes and procedures, in collaboration with line management, and advise on options for improvement.
8. Support the department in the implementation of new procedures and systems.

General Duties

1. Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
2. Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
3. Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

1. NVQ 3/A-Levels or equivalent qualification/work related experience.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

1. Substantial experience of working as a technician, specifically knowledge and experience of maintaining, servicing and using appropriate equipment and apparatus.
2. Ability to set up and review standard technical processes and procedures and recommend improvements to the service provision as appropriate.
3. Previous experience of working with the Human Tissue Act.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

1. Ability to communicate specialist and complex information effectively and professionally to a range of customers with varying levels of understanding.
2. Experience of supervising the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.
3. Ability to train technical staff in laboratory procedures and in the use of equipment and instruments.
4. Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered.

Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving

1. Evidence of ability to solve problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose practical solutions and to resolve problems where there are a range of potential options available.
2. Proven ability to work on own initiative, planning, organising and setting priorities for own work appropriately and to plan and manage small projects.

Desirable Criteria

1. Degree or an equivalent qualification or equivalent work related experience.
2. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment.
3. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is the School of Medicine's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.

Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 19579BR
If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcome the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

Salary Range Min.
27,344

Salary Range Max.
30,505

Job Category
Health, Medical & Dental, Technical

Grade
Grade 4