Secondary Science Lab Technician
Responsible for providing assistance to the secondary science teachers in conceiving, preparing, delivering and breaking down laboratory investigations and demonstrations. Maintaining science laboratory equipment and supplies, and following procedures to ensure safety in and around science laboratories. Supervising students completing independent research projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Preparation of resources, preparing apparatus, including testing of setup.
- Obtaining materials during school hours by local purchase.
- Giving technical advice to teachers and pupils.
- Carrying out risk assessments for teaching facilities and activities.
- Assisting in practical classes.
- Ensuring compliance with laboratory health and safety procedures through staff and student support
- Disposal of waste materials.
- Checking fume cupboards, first-aid kits; carrying out electrical and other safety checks.
- Organising, storing and checking the condition of chemicals and equipment.
- Constructing and modifying apparatus.
- Setting up and caring for plant collections.
- Preparing standard solutions, purifying chemicals, treating waste.
- Checking stock.
- Keeping stock records.
- Maintaining resources.
- Collecting, checking and returning equipment to stores.
- General laboratory cleaning of bench surfaces and equipment.
- General cleaning and repair of equipment.;
- Ensuring and promoting the maintenance of a healthy and safe working environment.
- Ensuring the availability of suitable materials and equipment, helping to compile orders, and liaising or negotiating with suppliers and the finance department. This will include sourcing, costing, and suggesting economic alternatives to maintain stock levels.
- Keeping up-to-date records of stock.
- Ensuring that both routine and non-routine checking, cleaning, maintenance, calibration, testing and repairing of equipment are carried out to the required standard.
- Developing familiarity and awareness of all school policies and procedures listed in the Staff Handbook.
- A suitable laboratory technician qualification, or degree in the Sciences (preferred)
- Two years experience in a laboratory environment (preferably a school)
- The ability to work collaboratively with a large and talented team of teachers and technicians
- The ability to use and adapt to new technologies
- Be comfortable dealing with students
- Good communication skills
- Extremely well organized
- The flexibility to learn and adapt to new cultures and situations.
