Job Title: Senior Technician Concrete and Innovative Building Materials

Job Description

Job title: Senior Technician – Concrete and Innovative Building Materials

Department: ARCHITECTURE & CIVIL ENGINEERING (ACE)

Responsible to: Technical Supervisor

Location: 6 East

Grade: Technical Grade 6

Purpose of the job:

To provide the staff and students of the Department with skilled, technical support for concrete and innovative building materials. To work as part of a team of multi skilled technicians in providing a service to both teaching and research in the Department. Skills provided by the team cover a wide range of disciplines including working with concrete, soils engineering, use of FRP, innovative building materials and fabrication of test rigs and testing of specimens. The team also contribute to the teaching of undergraduates and the supervision of undergraduates and postgraduates in the use of equipment during individual research projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Using a high degree of technical expertise, provide design and manufacturing advice, assistance and recommendations to academic and research staff and students at all levels including:

1. To supervise and maintain the Department’s Concrete Laboratory and associated equipment. To support the Concrete Laboratory in all aspects of sample preparation and casting, including fabrication of reinforcement and formwork.

2. To advise on and support the use of FRP, such as Carbon Fibre, in the construction of concrete and the post strengthening of existing structures.

3. To advise and assist academic staff, research staff and undergraduates in these fields with techniques and methods of testing and sample preparation. .

4. To advise and support work using innovative and sustainable building materials, in particular lime-based products such as lime mortars.

5. To supervise laboratory classes. 6. To liaise with other departments to use their facilities and equipment for testing.

7. Liaise with researchers and academics in other departments as required.

8. To advise students and staff on the design, construction and provision of research and laboratory equipment.

9. To supervise and demonstrate the safe usage of equipment to the students.

10. To assist in the operation and maintenance of workshop machine tools, plant, equipment and machinery involving hydraulic, pneumatic, plumbing and assembly applications.

11. To be responsible for the maintenance of a clean and safe workshop environment and to be the designated custodian for assigned laboratory space.

12. To check, clean and maintain laboratory equipment.

13. To comply with both statutory and university safety protocols.

Supervision

Line Manager:- Technical Manager, ACE

Supervisor: Technical Supervisor, ACE

Supervision received: Minimal

Supervision given: None

Special Conditions

Although based in the main departmental workshops and laboratories, the job may involve working at times in any of the department’s specialist laboratories. Lifting and handling of heavy and/or large objects is a necessity although training will be given and lifting/handling aids are provided when appropriate. Contact with chemicals (mainly solvents & adhesives) oils and fuels is sometimes part of the job and again PPE is provided alongside COSHH sheets for the materials.

Normal university flexitime rules apply with the proviso that scheduled laboratory support must be met. The Department operates a lab custodian system; the post holder will be expected to assume responsibility for some lab space on this basis. Other Related Activities and Functions

To be flexible and to assist with technical duties in other Faculty of Engineering & Design departments, if requested by the Director of Technical Services, in liaison with the Heads of Departments, Technical Managers and Technical Supervisors, due to variations in workload, staff shortages or re- organisation.

Person Specification

Criteria Essential Desirable Assessed by Qualifications A/F I T

Degree in Civil Engineering or related X X discipline.

Experience/Knowledge

Experience of Civil Engineering, X X Geology/ Geotechnics and/or innovative building materials i.e. lime, rammed earth, clay blocks, masonry, etc

Previous experience of working in a X X laboratory/university and an understanding of the issues to be faced in such a work environment. Skills

Manual skills gained through experience X X X of handling different building materials i.e. concrete, lime, soil

Ability to use a range of hand tools. X X X

Ability to work independently with X X X minimal supervision.

Ability to work as part of a team with X X X excellent interpersonal skills.

Ability to work with efficiency and X X X accuracy while prioritising workload to meet deadlines.

Experience of following test procedures X X X to comply with current British and European Standards

Competence in IT skills and Internet X X X usage.

Welding experience (arc, mig, tig and X X X oxyacetylene).

Ability to use woodworking machinery X X X X

Used to working with concrete, X X X X reinforcement and formwork

Previous experience working with X X X students and / or researchers.

Attributes

Ability to work in a team X X

IT literate X X

Good interpersonal skills X X

Good communicator X X