Biology Technician

Package Description

Location: George Watson’s College, Edinburgh

Contract Type: Full time, Fixed term

Salary: £25,850 - £30,614 (based on 36.25 hours per week, 46 weeks per year)

Benefits: Automatic enrolment in the contributory support staff defined contribution pension scheme, reduced school fees at George Watson’s College for children of staff, Membership of the Galleon Club (the school’s fitness club)

The Role

George Watson’s College wishes to appoint a Biology Technician on a fixed term basis from August 2023 until June 2024. To Support the Senior Technician to provide a first class, customer orientated technician service to pupils and teachers alike, ensuring that the labs are run smoothly and effectively, that the equipment and apparatus is operational, available and well maintained, and working at all times with Health and Safety in mind.

Hours of work will be 36.25 hours per week, term time only (36 weeks plus professional learning days and a further two weeks during holiday periods).  The annual leave entitlement is seven weeks per year making a total of 46 weeks.  The salary for this position will be in the Grade 3 range of £29,222 - £34,608 (based 36.25 hours, 52 weeks). This equates to £25,850 - £30,614 per annum.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please click the Apply for this job button. Please include a letter of application of not more than 800 words giving us more information about you and why you would like the role, addressed to Mr Gordon Boyd, Head of Senior School.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 30 May 2023

Interviews are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 13 June 2023

Main Responsibilities

1. In conjunction with the Senior Technician, to coordinate the use of practical resources and facilities and provide assistance and advice in meeting the practical needs of the departmental curriculum and clubs, including liaising with teaching staff. Ensuring the availability of suitable materials and equipment, helping to compile orders and liaising or negotiating with suppliers and finance departments. This will include sourcing, costing and suggesting economic alternatives to maintain stock levels, and keeping up-to-date and accurate stock records. This will involve the ability to plan and work independently

2. To ensure the maintenance of a healthy and safe working environment through:

• actively contributing to the assessment, monitoring and the review of both health and safety procedures and information resources
• keeping up to date with current procedures and practices through continuing professional development
• the provision of technical advice on health and safety issues to teaching and trainee technical staff
• the safe treatment and disposal of used materials including hazardous and responding to actual or potential hazards
• the healthy and safe storage and accessibility of equipment and materials

3. To contribute to the design, development and maintenance of specialist resources and/or long-term projects.

 4. To support the Senior Technician in ensuring the availability of suitable materials and equipment, helping to compile orders and liaising or negotiating with suppliers or finance departments. This will include sourcing, costing and suggesting economic alternatives to maintain stock levels, and keeping up-to-date and accurate stock records.

 5. Under the guidance of the Senior Technician, to ensure that both routine and non-routine checking, cleaning, maintenance, calibration, testing and repairing of equipment are carried out to the required standard.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential:

A minimum of HND level qualification in a scientific subject (ideally subject specific) or recent applied practical experience in a similar role

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a strong customer focus

Works well as part of a team, but is also able to work unsupervised and using own initiative

Good planning and organisation skills, coupled with excellent attention to detail

Analytical approach to problem solving

Works well under pressure

Numeracy

Must be able to work with/cope with biological materials e.g. chemicals and animal dissection

Computer literate, with experience in using word processors, email, spreadsheets and file management software. The GAFE (Google Apps for Education) and Microsoft Office range of software will be used for this.

Ability to use PASCO (Specific supplier of the apparatus we primarily but not exclusively use within the Science departments) compliant and other datalogging software.

Desirable:

Experience of working in an educational environment

Experience of working with children

Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations applicable to a school and science setting, including COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

About the school/organisation

George Watson's College sits in the heart of Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, providing a world-class education for children and young people from Preschool to Senior 6.

We encourage our pupils to develop a love of learning through an inspiring curriculum and an extensive and inclusive enrichment programme, which are underpinned by the four values we live by: aim high, be kind, join in and respect all.

Our school is a place where pupils have the freedom to thrive, succeed, explore, perform, and grow, giving them the opportunity to discover their own limitless potential.

Preschool, junior and senior pupils all learn and play on the same 52-acre campus, where our sports facilities, music school, art department, technology building and drama studios are within walking distance.

We offer our pupils one of the widest extra-curricular programmes you will find anywhere, plus the opportunity to travel internationally during their time with us, and a broad range of learning experiences outside the classroom.

Digital technology supports and enhances learning, with every pupil encouraged to use their device where it adds real value to developing skills and critical thinking.

Our school has an enviable reputation for the breadth of opportunities pupils have to get active, with around 25 different sports available to both girls and boys. Participation, excellence, professionalism and equality are the four cornerstones of our physical education and sport department here at Watson's.

When it comes to music and drama, our pupils are given the opportunity to co-produce stunning shows, delivering memorable performances that live long beyond school days.

Most importantly, the wellbeing of our pupils matters to us more than anything else. There are various ways we support pupils to proactively manage their mental health, while a range of peer-led programmes has created a culture in which we can all play our part.

All this means that when the sun shines we celebrate the happy moments, and when it doesn't we're there to protect and support, just as our motto says: ex corde caritas - love from the heart. www.gwc.org.uk