Chemistry Technician

Epsom College is a co-educational day and boarding school with approximately 1100 pupils aged 11-18. Founded in 1855 as the Royal Medical Benevolent Foundation, a strong science tradition is maintained, with a significant and growing proportion of leavers going on to study medicine or related disciplines.

There is a strong and ambitious commitment to the 3 separate sciences and the highly successful Chemistry department has a number of pupils who opt to study the subject at GCSE and A Level. Each of the three science disciplines, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, runs independently of each other in separate buildings with their own technical staff. There is however a reasonable level of interdepartmental collaboration between teaching and technical staff. The Chemistry Department has 6 laboratories, together with stores, prep. room and staff areas, and there are 8 teachers supported by 3 Technicians, whose specific roles and responsibilities may differ slightly year-to-year.

The technical support staff are responsible for: the preparation of class practicals, practicals for examinations, maintenance of equipment, consumables, administration of systems including the electronic requisitioning system, the general servicing of laboratories, and supporting teaching and learning in the department by discussing new practical work with relevant teaching staff.

The Technician is immediately responsible to the Senior Technician and Head of Department and ultimately to the Bursar, and they will be expected to work in co-operation with all members of the Chemistry Department.

• Servicing Laboratories: ensuring that all stock bottles are adequately filled, all bench reagents and deionised water are in good supply; carry out simple maintenance; report problems to the Head of Chemistry; at the end of practicals clear surplus chemicals and used apparatus, and in particular ensure that the laboratories are safe and available to be cleaned by non-specialist cleaning staff.
• Assist with the safe running of the preparation rooms, ensuring that they are properly stocked
• Assist with the care of the various chemical stores; that the environments are correct, quantities correct; maintain inventory of equipment and advise on stock levels; simple maintenance of electrical equipment
• Preparation and Issue of Materials for Experiments: preparation of special reagents, and commonly used chemicals, issue of chemicals and equipment not readily available in laboratories; issue and collate pupil breakage forms
• Any cleaning and care of equipment as requested by the Senior Chemistry Technician or teaching staff
• General assistance around the Chemistry Department and anything reasonably requested by a member of that Department or the Head of Science
• Assisting pupils during practical sessions within the classroom environment.• Be responsible for the shutting down and securing of the lab classrooms at the end of the day’s lessons.
• Assist with administrative tasks
• General assistance around the Chemistry Department and anything reasonably requested by a member of that Department or other science departments.
• Able to work on own initiative as well as being a proactive team player with a flexible approach
• Strong organisational skills and methodical methods of working.

No job description can fully cover all aspects of the role and consequently the responsibilities are likely to evolve and change over time to reflect departmental and pupil needs. This description gives an overall view of the position.

All employees must be aware of the responsibility placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe working environment.

Epsom College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment including regular training attendance. 

Essential Qualifications/Skills/Experience
• Science or chemistry qualification
• Demonstrable ability to set up and use the scientific equipment and chemicals with skill and accuracy
• Good organisational skills and the ability to multi-task in fulfilling requests from several staff, often to tight deadlines
• Able to work on own initiative as well as taking direction from the Senior Technician and able to work within a team.
• An appreciation and commitments to safeguarding procedures
• Ability to follow strict health and safety regulations
• Experience working within a laboratory or school prep room environment
• Familiarity with CLEAPSS and other safety organisations
• Good numerical and ICT skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills

Essential Personal Attributes

• Reliable and flexible, with a can-do approach to all duties and responsibilities
• Team player
• Professional, helpful and trustworthy
• Self-motivated with drive and enthusiasm
• Resilient and able to cope with the rigors of a busy prep room and department
• Be able to stay calm and careful under pressure;
• Be committed to the College’s values and ethos.

Desirable

• BSc or equivalent in chemistry or a related discipline

The selection panel reserves the right to enhance any or all of the desirable criteria to attain a manageable field.

Hours

Working an average 24 hours per week during term time (34 weeks) including INSET days (starting at 8.40am). There is some flexibility on days and hours of working, however working alternate Saturdays mornings would be required, and ideally some hours would fall on Thursdays and Fridays each week.

Salary

£13,995 per annum based on the above working hours (24 hours per week/34 weeks per year) which includes holiday pay entitlement.

Holidays

Statutory holiday entitlement provided and to be taken during College’s holiday published dates. The above salary includes an allowance for holiday.

Pension

The College operates the Epsom College Automatic Enrolment Scheme. The Scheme is administered by the Pensions Trust. Eligibility is based on statutory criteria. If eligible, the Employee will be required to contribute a minimum of 5% of Basic Salary and the College will contribute 4% in compliance with current legislation.

Life Assurance Cover

Members who are automatically enrolled or who choose to opt into the College Pension Scheme will be provided with life assurance cover at two x contractual annual basic salary at no cost to the employee.

Health Care Plan

Offered to staff subject to qualifying condition.

School Fee discount

Subject to qualifying conditions, a generous school fee discount offered to staff.

Dining Facilities and Refreshments

Whilst at work a free meal and refreshments are available when the dining room is open.

Health Fitness and Wellbeing

Free use of Fitness suite and swimming pool are available to staff at certain times.

Cycle to Work/Parking

Subject to qualifying conditions, the College offers a cycle to work loan scheme. Free car parking for staff is available on campus.

Computer Loan

Subject to qualifying conditions, the College offers a computer loan scheme.

In compliance with statutory safer recruitment regulations, the post will be offered subject to receipt of satisfactory written references, pre-placement medical assessment, proof of appropriate qualifications, a check of online search engines and websites of publicly available information that does not identify the candidate as potentially unsuitable to work within a school setting, a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if appropriate, as well as confirmation that the successful candidate is able to work in the UK. Prior to interview an online search of internet search engines, websites and other publicly available platforms to ascertain applicant’s suitability to work within a school environment will be undertaken on applicants that have been shortlisted. Please note whilst the Enhanced DBS check will be paid by the College if an overseas police check is required it will be at the cost of the successful applicant.

Applicants are required to complete the Application for Employment Form available from our website www.epsomcollege.org.uk. To comply with safeguarding procedures when working in a school, CVs cannot be accepted. Applicants should refer to the Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure and the safeguarding policies on the College website.

Applications will be assessed in order of receipt and interviews and subsequent offer of employment may occur at any stage after applications are received. We invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

For further details and informal chat applicants can contact Dr Alan Wadsworth-Reay, Head of Chemistry, a.wadsworth-reay@epsomcollege.org.uk.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and as part of the selection process an enhanced Disclosure and barring check will be required. Epsom College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.