Job Description

Role
- Supporting learning, teaching and research activities across the Faculty, the post holder will support a range of engineering provision as well as the day to day running of engineering laboratories and workshops predominantly relating to mechanical engineering and thermo fluids. Additionally, the post holder will also provide demonstration in all mechanical engineering and thermo fluids processes and techniques to both individuals and groups of students or users across the Faculty. Updating and developing the provision to reflect up to date industry standard engineering practice will be an important ongoing requirement of the role.

- The post holder will consistently apply a practical working knowledge and a high-level skill set associated with mechanical engineering. The post holder will also support engineering research activities within the subject area providing support for researchers and a research laboratory. It is also a requirement that the post holder engages with the University\'s virtual learning environment to enhance student experience.

- The post holder will be responsible for the efficient and safe operation of all the engineering equipment in workshops and laboratories, providing guidance through documentation and inductions and through the supervision of students/users. Technician duties will include ordering, storing and safely disposing of specialist consumables and managing the schedule of maintenance/servicing of all equipment/machinery.

- The running of workshops and masterclasses, demonstration of processes and participation in external events such as University Open Days are all aspects of this role and as such, some degree of
flexibility in terms of working hours is required.

Duties and responsibilities
- Maintain engineering laboratory and workshop facilities - particularly those for mechanical engineering and thermo fluids. It is desirable that support can also be provided for electrical/electronic laboratories.

- Demonstrate practical experimental and engineering workshop practices as well as
the supervision of students in the event of both the attendance and absence of
timetabled staff.

- Produce online learning resources for students utilising NILE.

- Respond directly to student requests for help/support in respect of their independent learning.

- Monitor the resource timetables with responsibility for student access to facilities, including timetabled and non-timetabled access.

- Maintain a general overview of health and safety and ensure the use of safe working practice, including conducting risk assessments and safety audits in accordance with Health and Safety policies.

- Liaise with all academic staff requiring use of facilities for teaching purposes to ensure that their requirements and appropriate access are addressed.

- Liaise with IT and ensure the maintenance of any IT provision applicable to the Engineering subject area.

- Attend relevant Faculty committees and forums as required.

- Support the delivery of research activities requiring practical support on-site and off-site, working in liaison with project research leaders and researchers.

- Work closely with students and staff to translate theoretical ideas into practical and/ or creative solutions.

- Ensure the commissioning of new equipment, logging and reporting of faults and monitoring of outcomes and complete purchase orders accordingly.

- Carry out daily and routine maintenance of all equipment, including safety and security of resources ensuring that engineering laboratories and workshops are in a clean, tidy and serviceable order at the beginning and end of each day.

- Monitor and manage engineering laboratories and workshops to maintain high standards.

- Maintain up to date knowledge of developments within mechanical engineering and source replacement items that are appropriate and competitive.

- Work with confidence with large or small groups within specialist environments.

- Liaise with other technicians in the Faculty and wider University environment.

- Mentor and assist other technicians as required.

- Maintain inventories of equipment, including their security, in the mechanical engineering area and the servicing schedule of equipment as appropriate.

- Participate in appropriate staff development and updating and mandatory training.

- Any other duties commensurate with the post which may be required from time to time by the Faculty Dean.

Skills and experience
- HND/Degree (in relevant subject) and/or higher degree or industry
experience.

- Experience of maintaining engineering laboratory resources - specifically for mechanical engineering and mechanical fundamentals experiments. Maintenance of laboratory and workshop resources
(including manual tools and machines) or a willingness to learn how to support thermo-fluid experimental equipment.

- Ability to upgrade and foresee maintenance requirements.

- First aid trained or willing to undertake training.

- Evidence of high-level skills in a broad range of experimental equipment
and resources.

- Recent experience of demonstrating or teaching up to Level 6, to students both individually and groups.

- Experience of maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.

- Ability to support learning, teaching and research in the Faculty through a demonstrable knowledge of current engineering practice.

Location
Waterside Campus or any of The University of Northampton premises as required.

Additional information
This role is for 37 hours a week for 3 months.

University of Northampton