lab manager London, England
Job description
About us
UCL Department of Chemical Engineering is one of the top research and teaching departments in the UK and has world-class standing. The department offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and has an extensive research portfolio across a wealth of areas, and from molecular scale to complex systems.
The Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) is a world-leading centre of research excellence. One of the largest and most dynamic groups in the world specializing in electrochemical science and technology; the EIL is a fun, fast-paced and exciting place to work. This role is pivotal in the safe, efficient and productive operation of the EIL.
About the role
The post holder will provide technical support and managerial responsibilities to maintain a high level of service to the EIL, a group in excess of 80 researchers. This post holder will manage a wide-range of research facilities (including specialist fuel cell and battery equipment, electrochemical test equipment, safety equipment, high power systems, high-temperature equipment, gas characterization, equipment thermal imaging equipment). This includes managing systems for accessing equipment and funding maintenance contracts. The role holder will provide technical support to research students, postdoctoral research fellows and academic staff. The role involves responsibility in the areas of management and supervision, technical support, health and safety, and research, all of which are expanded upon in the job description and person specification accessible at the bottom of the page.
Further key duties include:
- Overseeing the smooth running of the research facilities in the EIL laboratories in Bloomsbury (10 labs in total).
- Managing all lab-based operational aspects of a group, including senior researchers, PDRAs, PhD and MSc Students. This includes the safety, operating procedures, teaching and training of the use of equipment and helping with recruitment and dealing with staffing issues such as safe working, performance, staff training, etc.
- Maintain and operate analytical facilities (e.g. scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical test stations, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy) and interpret and report on data collected.
- Oversee and help writing of risk assessments and COSHH for equipment and experiments, and ensure these are in place for the laboratories
- To keep up-to-date with research activities in areas relevant to the analytical research services, including changes in new technologies relevant to research. This will be done by trialing new equipment, beta testing and attending trade shows and product supplier workshops.
About you
The successful post holder will be educated to degree level or have equivalent qualifications relevant to the role, with a PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or relevant analytical discipline desirable but not essential. You will have experience of working in a research environment, providing technical expertise and research support and will be confident in maintenance, management and technical experience of using / setting-up / training others in the use of laboratory equipment. You will be able to collect and analytically process experimental results, including the writing of technical reports, and implement safety and laboratory management systems. As part of the role you will be required to draw up specification sheets for large equipment purchases and manage the procurement process. We are looking for a candidate who is self-motivated with good communication and problem-solving skills, and committed to high-quality laboratory practice and management.
What we offer
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
On-Site nursery
On-site gym
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
Discounted medical insurance
A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the HR team at [email protected].
The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work – please visit www.ucl.ac.uk/ways-of-working to find out more.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.
