Infrastructure Support Technician

Salary: £24,685 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: 31 October 2025

The Role

An excellent opportunity has arisen within the Faculty of Medical Sciences for an enthusiastic individual to join us as an Infrastructure Support Technician. You will be an integral part of the Technical Operations team, a community of professional technicians playing a vital role in supporting the smooth and safe operation of the faculty’s research facilities.

The successful candidate will assist with the distribution of laboratory gas cylinder and liquid nitrogen supplies, process and distribute deliveries and assist in the relocation of equipment across campus. Your role also includes operating faculty equipment such as autoclaves and glasswashers, supporting the safe disposal of clinical and general laboratory waste, assisting with inventory updates and maintaining clean and tidy laboratory and research spaces. On occasion, you will be required to assist with routine maintenance of ULT freezers and other general laboratory equipment.

We are seeking a candidate with strong interpersonal skills and excellent communication abilities.  You should have a methodical approach to work, the ability to meet deadlines under pressure and should be confident working both independently and as part of a team.  Manual handling of equipment and goods is a significant component of the role and you should have the ability to undertake these duties.   You will be flexible and able to work in any of the faculty locations as required.

Applicants should hold GCSE / NVQ2 (or equivalent) in English and Maths or have relevant experience in a similar technical role. Experience in a laboratory or workshop setting is desirable.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to, Annette Lane (Technical Manager and Community Lead) at annette.lane@newcastle.ac.uk

Please note that if you are successful to this role, you will require medical clearance before you can commence in the role.

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure high standards of housekeeping in laboratory and shared research areas, to include assisting with waste disposal and cleaning routines
• Operate basic laboratory equipment in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to include the use of autoclaves, glass washers, and laundry equipment
• Identify and report faults or damage to infrastructure and assist with minor maintenance tasks as required
• Support stock control processes and facilitate the delivery and distribution of goods across the site
• Assist with the safe handling and transportation of laboratory gas cylinders and liquid nitrogen vessels
• Support the relocation and movement of laboratory and office equipment when needed
• Contribute to accurate record keeping, inventory updates, and asset management
• Assist in the preparation of routine materials and reagents under supervision
• Follow safety protocols and documentation and identify and report potential hazards
• With support, carry out routine compliance checks to ensure adherence to relevant standards
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to collaborative discussions
• Proactively suggest improvements to enhance service delivery
• Support the induction and onboarding of new staff members
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the necessary experience and/or training

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Manual handling experience
• General experience of working in a laboratory or workshop based setting 
• Basic knowledge of laboratory equipment or an ability to understand operational instructions on the use of equipment

Attributes and Behaviour

• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills to interface with staff
• Ability to understand and follow instructions
• Ability to make decisions about work activity within clearly defined and safe guidelines, based on University and local policies
• Ability to  prioritise general tasks and work independently on routine tasks
• To exhibit University and Faculty values and principles

Qualifications

• GCSE, NVQ2, O’level or equivalent in relevant subject or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Professional registration with an accredited professional body  or working towards this on appointment 

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: 28699