Senior Technician

18296BR

Cardiff School of Engineering

Technical

Advert

Senior Technician (Part time) – Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Facility
Cardiff School of Engineering

This is an exciting opportunity to provide valuable, comprehensive technical support to the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research team in the School of Engineering, Cardiff University.  The job will focus on supporting all aspects of the teaching and research into biomechanics of human movement. It will contribute to the excellent international reputation of the research into arthritis that is well established at Cardiff School of Engineering.

This post will also provide support for studies of human movement including marker-based and marker-less motion capture, and using dynamic X-ray imaging techniques. It will involve equipment set up and maintenance, support development of protocols, supporting data acquisition and liaising with external companies regarding maintenance. 

Appropriate specialist training will be provided for the post. The person appointed will work alongside the research team to support day to day research.

The post will be managed in the School of Engineering with technical supervision from Prof Holt. To ensure important clinical translation, there may be close collaboration with clinicians working on related projects and clinical engineers who work in the facility to provide Clinical Gait Analysis Services. 

This post is part time (50%) 17.5 hours per week, open ended and is available immediately. 

Salary: £26,444 – £29,605 per annum, pro-rata for hours worked (Grade 4). It is anticipated that a appoint will not be made above point 18 – £26,444 per annum, pro-rata.

Post ref: 18296BR

For informal enquiries relating to this role and its responsibilities, please contact Professor Cathy Holt via email on [email protected]

For informal enquiries, please contact Gareth Hunt, Technical Manager via email on [email protected] or on telephone 02920875786.

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Closing date: Friday, 22 March 2024

The School of Engineering holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in science. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. For this vacancy we actively encourage women to apply. We will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities.

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

Key Duties

•    Providing valuable support, advice and training of staff and students in technical procedures and in the appropriate use of equipment within the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Facility in the School of Engineering, where the laboratory uses specialist equipment and technology that measures musculoskeletal biomechanics and motion analysis, including hardware and software that includes motion capture cameras and sensors, force and pressure plates, muscle activity sensors, ultrasound, and all associated software.

•    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.

•    Operate, maintain, service, adjust, test and repair complex equipment and apparatus during laboratory calibration, data collection and quality checking in the musculoskeletal biomechanics laboratories in the School of Engineering.

•    Participate in the development, modification and construction of special equipment and apparatus, contributing to Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Facility projects.

•    Take responsibility for stock levels, security, maintenance and cleanliness of materials, apparatus and equipment within work area.

•    Record and perform detailed analysis on data, including responsibility for maintaining databases. 

•    Undertake reviews of technical processes and procedures, in collaboration with line management, and advise on options for improvement.

•    Support the department in the implementation of new procedures and systems 

General Duties

•    Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties, in particular when working with students, staff and members of the public and patients who are volunteering their time for research.

•    Abide by University policies on Data Management, Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.

•    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

2.    Substantial experience of working in a technical support role in a clinical, teaching or research environment and an ability to set up and review standard technical processes and procedures and recommend improvements to the service provision as appropriate.

3.    Specialist knowledge and experience of maintaining, servicing and using appropriate high spec experimental equipment and apparatus with willingness and enthusiasm to undertake on the job training.

4.    Ability to set up and review standard technical processes and procedures and recommend improvements to the service provision as appropriate.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

5.    Ability to communicate specialist and complex information effectively and professionally to a range of researchers, staff, students and member of the public, with varying levels of understating, including a willingness and aptitude for dealing with members of the public who may be volunteering their time by contributing as a health or patient volunteer to research studies.

6.    Experience of supervising the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals as well as working well as an effective team member, providing advice and guidance to other team members where necessary and working to collect and process data during sessions involving volunteers.

7.    Ability to train technical staff others in laboratory procedures and in the use of equipment and instruments, and evidence of ability to explore lab user and research subject needs and adapt accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered, including dealing promptly, effectively and courteously with requests for information or service from colleagues or members of the public when they are attending a session to collect data from them.

8.    Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a    quality service is delivered.

Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving

9.    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.

10.    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 Clinical, teaching or Higher Education environment.
3.    Experience of working in a motion analysis laboratory; collecting, processing motion capture data.
4.    Experience of working with members of the public through to academic research team.
5.    Interest in gaining higher qualifications through training and development.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria
Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria. 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, 18296BR