Botanical Research Technician

Salary: £27,319.00 - £29,588.00  per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 18 December 2025

The Role

The Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Botanical Research Technician (Field crops).

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of technical staff supporting the research activities in the School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, through the provision of technical support within the University Farm sites at Cockle Park and Nafferton. More information about NU Farms can be found here

The role holder will support the Plant Research Team Leader in the management and maintenance of key specialist equipment and support crop research activities, in field preparation, sowing and harvesting.

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual, with experience in a field research role, with a good understanding of health and safety, and excellent team-working and communication skills.

The position is offered on a part-time (0.6 full time equivalent), 11-month fixed-term basis.

For informal enquiries, please contact David Whitaker by email: david.whitaker@ncl.ac.uk

For more information about the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, please click here

We are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment.

For further details about Newcastle University please visit our information page at: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/about 

Key Accountabilities

• In conjunction with the techncial team leader for the activity, be responsible for,the day-to-day operation of specific facilities or pieces of equipment. To undertake fault diagnosis, testing, repair, calibration and preventative maintenance on instrumentation under the roles responsibility
• To provide support in the preparation and maintenance of field plots, from planting to harvest. Supporting researchers with field crops assessments during growth and post-harvest.
• To be responsible for the disposal of hazardous materials according to standard University procedures. Ensure compliance with relevant safety procedures including relevant risk assessments. In conjunction with the School safety officer monitor compliance with all statutory and local safety arrangements.
• To provide supervision and training for postgraduate and undergraduate project students and, occasionally, for other technical staff using the facilities to ensure safe working practices are followed
• In conjunction with the PIs, RAs, other technical staff and PGT PGR students as appropriate, identify consumable and equipment requirements and initiate their ordering according to the School and University purchasing procedures. Keep financial records of any activities as directed by the technical team leader.
• Where appropriate support multiple technical programmes of work within the University's Farms facilities supporting the requirements of the Farm director and research academic PIs
• As appropriate carry out the preparation and application of fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides to experimental areas and the calibration of equipment for this purpose.
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

Essential

• Demonstrable work experience in a relevant technical/research support role.
• Thorough working knowledge of Health and Safety procedure.
• Excellent team working skills
• Have a good working knowledge of botanical/horticultural science
• Demonstrates technical and problem solving capability
• Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines with a positive and proactive approach to duties and attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task, assessing priorities and adapting flight plans to balance teaching/research needs
• Contribute to design and specification of teaching/research activities
• Ability to adapt to changes in teaching/research priorities

Desirable

• Have professional registration with an appropriate awarding body

Attributes and Behaviour

Team-working

• Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the project where different skills, expertise and opinions are valued.
• Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
• Shares relevant and useful information with others Keeps other team members up to date with progress
• Gets involved with team tasks
• Willing to help others and share workloads

Finding solutions

• Looks at ways of overcoming obstacles rather than coming to a standstill
• Keeps an open mind to alternative ways of doing things

Planning and organising

• Works in a planned and structured way
• Ensures that all activities are completed on time
• Ensures that others know how processes and systems work
• Set own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives.

Delivering services (Self)

• Keeps fellow team members up to date with progress
• Pays attention to detail
• Has a positive attitude for doing things better
• Takes responsibility for achieving own targets
• Co-operates with others to achieve targets
• Strives to deliver high quality results
• Is enthusiastic in getting job done on time

Embracing Change

• Recognises the need for change and is forward looking.
• Promotes the benefits of change to others and regularlycomes up with new ideas.
• Has the willingness to adopt new ways of working and to make improvements.

Qualifications

Essential

• HNC/HND (or equivalent) in relevant subject or equivalent relevant experience
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Holds PA1 & PA 6 Safe Use of Pesticides and Handheld Applicator
• Ability to tow trailers (Lantra qualification or similar)
• Lantra (or similar) qualification in using handheld saws, strimmers, brushcutters etc.
• Fork truck/telehandler ticket

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28926