Geospatial and Monitoring Team Leader
Newcastle, GB
Salary: £35,608.00 - £46,049.00 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: 04 Janaury 2026
The Role
The role will be responsible under the direction of the School Technical Manager for the planning, organisation and management of the School Laboratories and Facilities in their designated areas of responsibility and expertise. The post holder is the key manager of the relevant equipment and main liaison for the end users within Civil and Geospatial Engineering discipline and elsewhere, ensuring a comprehensive service which meets the School’s objectives. This will include supporting academic and research staff with technical advice to progress research projects and support for teaching and student projects where applicable.
The role will also ensure the safe operation of the main experimental facilities in the School of Engineering and to liaise with users as to their use. To assist users with all necessary steps to enable safe and effective use of the equipment .This would include advice upon design of experiments, safety, operational procedures, and any other issues. To be responsible for the broad operation of the Facilities.
This role will also support the School Technical Manager with management of the wider technical services and some aspects of School Infrastructure, Estates, Health and Safety and HR Management. Line management of technical staff in the area of responsibility as designated by the School Technical Manager.
Key Accountabilities
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- To have knowledge and expertise in the use of the facilities, equipment and techniques to support specific high value teaching and research activity in the subject area of Geosptial Engineering and Environmental Monitoring, especially GNSS, laser scanning, autonomous vechicles, total stations and other related surveying technologies, and associated data processing.
- Use of industry standard computer processing software and specialist software as appropriate to the duties, (Surveying data processing, GIS, CAD, BIM, Remote Sensing).
- Responsible for induction of new staff in the team. General running and application of the Geospatial and Monitoring research, teaching and commercial outreach facilities both within the School estate and off site.
4. Under the supervision of a member of academic or research staff, undertaking fieldwork, tests and experiments as part of ongoing research or commercial outreach- Liaising with the Manufacturing technical team in the manufacture of relevant new equipment and, if appropriately skilled, the assistance in the manufacture of such new equipment. Liaising with the Manufacturing technical team or external contractors in the maintenance and testing of relevant equipment.
- Preparing and contributing to the supervision of student practical classes, field visits and residential field courses. Organisation of equipment packing, shipping and vehicles for field courses and other distant field observing campaigns. Technical support for continuously operating positioning reference stations as supported by the Schools external sponsors.
- To support the School Technical Manager with the planning, organisation and administration of the estate and wider technical services within their teams area of responsibilty. To ensure the effective maintenance, security and facility management of the School in their area of expertise, including third party arrangements. To lead on discrete estates related projects, including university wide initiatives.
- In conjunction with the School Technical Mnaager ensure satisfactory maintenance, repair and calibration of all equipment and instrumentation within their area. To assist in the forward planning to upgrade and replace equipment. In collaboration with the School Operations teams, to assist in the maintainenace of the School’s asset register for planning and insurance purposes.
- Monitor and maintain safe working environment to Health and Safety guidelines in conjunction with the School Technical Manager and School Safety Officer. Attend local safety committees for their areas of responsibility. To be responsible for the implementation of safety policies and guidelines covering the designated areas of responsibility. Conducting induction and safety briefings for all staff, students and visitors using equipment under the control of the post holder.
- Ensure sound financial accounting whilst maintaining best value principles by maintaining records relating to: the recharging of technical time where appropriate; and materials and stock items especially where used for teaching and research. Estimating future requirements of common consumables and standard equipment and initiating orders for the aforementioned.
- To asssist academic and research staff in planning for future technical developments in the discipline, by maintaining awareness of innovation and trends in industry and academia relating to hardware, software and best professional practice.
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- To support the School Technical Manager with the planning, organisation and administration of the estate and wider technical services within their teams area of responsibilty. To ensure the effective maintenance, security and facility management of the School in their area of expertise, including third party arrangements. To lead on discrete estates related projects, including university wide initiatives.
- In conjunction with the School Technical Mnaager ensure satisfactory maintenance, repair and calibration of all equipment and instrumentation within their area. To assist in the forward planning to upgrade and replace equipment. In collaboration with the School Operations teams, to assist in the maintainenace of the School’s asset register for planning and insurance purposes.
- Monitor and maintain safe working environment to Health and Safety guidelines in conjunction with the School Technical Manager and School Safety Officer. Attend local safety committees for their areas of responsibility. To be responsible for the implementation of safety policies and guidelines covering the designated areas of responsibility. Conducting induction and safety briefings for all staff, students and visitors using equipment under the control of the post holder.
- Ensure sound financial accounting whilst maintaining best value principles by maintaining records relating to: the recharging of technical time where appropriate; and materials and stock items especially where used for teaching and research. Estimating future requirements of common consumables and standard equipment and initiating orders for the aforementioned.
- To asssist academic and research staff in planning for future technical developments in the discipline, by maintaining awareness of innovation and trends in industry and academia relating to hardware, software and best professional practice.
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- Work experience in a relevant work environment.
- Ability to demonstrate the use of specialist Geospatial equipment e.g satellite positioning equipment, field survey equipment or similar.
- Good numerical skills and the ability to manipulate, analyse and present information for management use.
- Up to date and detailed knowledge of Health and Safety policy and procedure in an engineering or scientific setting
- Ability to implement and manage change with demonstrable recent experience and skills in client management, and the ability to develop good working realtionships across all stakeholders and teams
- Proven written and verbal communication skills
- Planning, organising and technical problem solving skills, with a proactive and innovative approach to problem solving utilising excellent prioritisation skills, and the ability to delegate tasks
- Evidence of project management and experience of financial budgetary management.
Desirable
- Experience of Managing a team of Technical Staff in an Engineering environment.
- Experience of managing facilities and/or laboratories, equipment and associated budgets and safety.
Attributes and Behaviour
- Displays a flexible attitude to team tasks and priorities, with a willingness to help others and share workloads with clear communications.
- Works collaboratively with others and is a positive role model to their team and will support their development.
- Establishes strong stakeholder relationships and respects the expertise and contribution of others.
- Works in a planned and structured way with good attention to detail.
- Ensures that all activities are completed on time and can prioritise tasks accordingly, optimising resource use, and maintaining high standards or service.
- Strives to deliver high quality results by embracing change and developing and implementing new ideas to improve technical services and systems.
- A proactive and innovative approach to problem solving.
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent level qualification (in a Surveying, Geosptial or Civil Engineering related subject) or significant vocational experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding, relevant roles.
- Driving licence valid in the UK
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: 28908
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