Chemical Technical Team Leader

Salary: £36,636 to £38,784 with progression to £46,049 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: 6 September 2026

The Role 

The School of Engineering at Newcastle University is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to the role of Chemical Technical Team Leader. 

We are seeking a skilled individual to lead and manage a team of Technicians, who support our teaching and research activities and manage the associated equipment and facilities within the discipline of Chemical Engineering. 

Chemical Engineering forms part of an integrated School of Engineering where we work alongside other engineering disciplines and their technical teams. Our highly skilled and professional technical colleagues are essential to supporting the delivering of successful teaching and research to an international standard.  We have approximately 75 technicians employed within the School of Engineering working on both our campus and off-site facilities across the Northeast of England.

As Chemical Technical Team Leader you will be responsible for managing a team of technicians responsible for supporting the chemical engineering laboratories. You will provide operational leadership ensuring the safe, efficient and effective delivery of technical services that underpin undergraduate teaching, post graduate research, commercial testing and externally funded research projects.

Working closely with academic colleagues, researchers and professional services, you will be responsible for planning workloads, managing technical resources, supporting strategic developments and ensuring laboratories, equipment and facilities remain operational, compliant and fit for purpose. The role also provides opportunities to contribute to future developments within the school, including new teaching programmes, specialist laboratory facilities and research infrastructure.

You will support the Technical Operations Manager in the leadership and development of chemical engineering technical services, taking responsibility for areas including health and safety, lab operations, staff management, infrastructure, asset management and continuous service improvement.

You will need to demonstrate:

1. Proven experience of leading or supervising technical staff within a chemical laboratory environment
2. Strong technical expertise in chemical engineering, including laboratory techniques and the management, operation and maintenance of analytical equipment
3. A thorough understanding of laboratory health and safety, statutory compliance and risk management
4. Excellent leadership, communication and people management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing technical team
5. A proactive and strategic approach to planning, resource management and technical service delivery

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced technical professional looking to take the next step in their career, leading a highly skilled team and contributing to the continued success and growth of Engineering Technical Services at Newcastle University.

The position is full-time and offered on an open-ended basis.

We are extremely keen to hear from any candidates who are interested in a rewarding and progressive career in higher education and lab management; in particular anyone with a chemical engineering, analytical chemistry or chemistry background acquired through experience or vocational training.

For informal enquiries please contact Kevin Brown, Technical Operations Manager by e-mail at Kevin.Brown2@newcastle.ac.uk

At Newcastle University 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

• Lead, manage and develop a team of technical staff, ensuring effective performance through recruitment, induction, workload planning, objective setting, performance management, staff development, wellbeing support and the efficient allocation of resources
• Support the Technical Operations Manager in the management of Engineering laboratories, technical facilities, infrastructure and estates within your area of responsibility, ensuring facilities remain safe, secure, compliant and operational. Lead infrastructure and estates projects where required
• Manage the delivery of technical services supporting teaching, research, fieldwork, commercial testing and external engagement activities. Work collaboratively with academic colleagues to ensure technical resources, facilities and staffing are effectively planned and aligned with teaching timetables, research programmes and operational priorities
• Lead the management of health and safety within your area, ensuring compliance with University policies and statutory legislation. Develop and review risk assessments, standard operating procedures and local safety arrangements, whilst leading laboratory inspections, audits, emergency planning and promoting a positive safety culture
• Manage the maintenance, servicing, calibration, replacement planning and procurement of laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Maintain the School's equipment asset register and contribute to equipment lifecycle planning to support operational, financial and insurance requirements
• Provide technical leadership, advice and training to staff, students and external collaborators, promoting high standards of technical practice, good laboratory practice and safe working across all teaching and research activities
• Manage operational readiness of laboratories, facilities and specialist equipment, ensuring the effective support of teaching, research and commercial activities. Maintain accurate technical records and support the collection, management and analysis of technical or experimental data where appropriate
• Manage allocated budgets, procurement and financial records, ensuring value for money and supporting commercial activities through client liaison, costing, financial monitoring and resource planning
• Work collaboratively with academic colleagues to support the strategic development of laboratory facilities, technical capability and new teaching and research initiatives, including the specification, design and implementation of new laboratory infrastructure and equipment
• Lead and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance technical services, laboratory operations, customer service and ways of working
• Manage the safe storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials, including chemical and biological waste and gas cylinders, ensuring compliance with statutory legislation, University procedures and environmental best practice
• Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of managing or supporting a team of technical staff in a chemical laboratory environment
• Significant experience of managing or supporting multiple chemical laboratories or facilities and their associated infrastructure, equipment, instrumentation and technical resources
• Up to date and detailed knowledge of health and safety policy and procedures in a laboratory setting. Including extensive experience of writing risk assessments and standard operating procedures. Leading on safety inspections and managing H&S systems
• Evidence of lab systems project management and contribution to improving processes, engaging with relevant stakeholders to continually enhance the service delivered
• Experience of managing an array of analytical instrumentation and equipment for research and teaching activities
• Experience of project management, procurement and budget management within a technical or lab environment
• Demonstrable experience of implementing change, managing operational priorities and motivating and developing technical staff
• Excellent planning, organisational and technical problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads, delegate effectively and deliver high-quality technical services
• Proven written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships
• Good numerical skills with the ability to analyse, interpret and present technical and management information

Attributes and Behaviour

• Demonstrates strong leadership by motivating, supporting and developing others to achieve high performance and deliver an excellent technical service
• Works collaboratively with colleagues, building positive relationships and valuing the expertise and contributions of others to achieve shared objectives
• Establishes effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing a professional, responsive and customer-focused service
• Plans and organises work effectively, prioritising competing demands, making efficient use of resources and ensuring activities are completed to a high standard
• Demonstrates a proactive, flexible and solution-focused approach, adapting to changing priorities while maintaining service delivery
• Embraces change and continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance technical services, laboratory operations and ways of working
• Communicates clearly and effectively, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and a positive team culture

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent level qualification (in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry) plus experience in a similar role or significant technical experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding, relevant roles

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: 29666