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The School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Science (BABS) teaches undergraduates, mentors postgraduate research students and conducts research in the disciplines of biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, environmental microbiology, medical microbiology and immunology.

The Technical Officer/Senior Technical Officer will take a lead role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the teaching and research laboratories through the provision of high quality technical support including hands on participation, planning and provisioning laboratory classes. The Technical Officer/Senior Technical Officer will act with a high degree of independence in carrying out the duties of the role.

The role of Technical Officer/Senior Technical Officer reports to the Technical laboratory Manager, and has no direct reports. However, they will act as a team leader and mentor in regards to the Level 5 and Level 4 staff in this team. The Technical Officer/Senior Technical Officer will be physically located within a research wing of BABS, and will actively liaise with the resident academics to provide ongoing laboratory support for both research and teaching activities. They will also take primary responsibility for specific areas which may include any combination of Chemical Safety, Biological Safety, Radiation Safety, Purchasing and Budgets, Training and Inductions, Equipment procurement and maintenance and/or Quarantine Administration within BABS, or any other similar duties as required.

About the role

• LEVEL 6 ($103K - $110K) - LEVEL 7 ($113k – $123k) plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• Continuing
• Full time (35 hours per week)

Specific responsibilities for this role include: 

LEVEL 6: 

• Plan for and oversee the day-to-day operation of teaching and research laboratories. This involves setting priorities and standards of service to meet requirements, and to maintain and coordinate new and existing projects and equipment.
• In consultation with academic staff, contribute to the development of new or improved teaching and/or research methods within the School, and identify requirements for laboratory teaching and/or research, equipment, infrastructure, services, and training.
• Procure research and teaching materials; and provide support and training as required for researchers, course convenors, and research students across the School.
• Provide operational advice in the efficient day-to-day management and scheduling of teaching and/or research activities to facilitate the delivery of laboratory teaching and/or research.
• Liaise directly with the relevant course convenors and School executive to provide a high standard of research and teaching support and delivery.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, evaluate existing equipment, infrastructure, service delivery and training, as well as systems, procedures, and protocols, to identify opportunities for improvement and implement change in consultation with the Technical Laboratory Manager.
• Develop processes to deliver the efficient day-to-day coordination of teaching and/or research activities to facilitate the delivery of laboratory teaching and/or research.
• Provide authoritative technical and logistical advice to staff and students, such as demonstration of techniques and the operation of equipment and respond efficiently and courteously to requests escalating issues as required.
• Provide induction, instrument training and troubleshooting for staff and students and maintain training manuals for OGTR certified PC2 laboratories.
• Ensure efficient and safe use of research equipment and infrastructure, including management of access by staff, relevant training of students and staff, troubleshooting, routine maintenance, and repair.
• Organize procurement, purchasing, asset management, stock control and safe disposal of research and teaching equipment and laboratory consumables.
• Work closely with the BABS HSE Advisor to address WHS issues and corrective actions and monitor WHS practices within the designated area ensuring high standards of laboratory work practices are developed and maintained.
• Provide advice on WHS issues and ensure compliance in the laboratories through appropriate training of users prior to granting access to the laboratories and ongoing supervision and monitoring of staff, students and visitors as required.
• Communicate and work effectively among the wider team including providing guidance and assistance to the Technical Assistants as required.
• Ensure all researchers purchase laboratory items in compliance with UNSW policies.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the psychosocial or physical health and safety of yourself or others.

LEVEL 7:
(in addition to the above)

• Act with a higher degree of independence in the provision of support and advice to the users of the laboratories.
• Work collaboratively and creatively with students, researchers, and course convenors to analyse and identify requirements for infrastructure and equipment, which may be for individual projects, class demonstrations or experiments.
• Use specialised expertise to provide advice in areas such as lasers, radioisotopes, Genetically Modified Organisms, biohazards, cryogenics, computer systems, and other specialised areas as required to provide high level technical support for teaching and research laboratories, and to deliver on WHS objectives, across the School and University.
• Assist the Technical Laboratory Manager in the management of equipment budgets, and maintenance and replacement lifecycles for consumables and equipment.
• Provide high level advice to the Technical Laboratory Manager on day to day operations of the Research and Teaching Technical Support staff.
• Provide support with delegated operational Research & Teaching Tech support staff tasks from the Technical Laboratory Manager as needed.
• Consult with Academic staff members and the Technical team to establish priorities in equipment and infrastructure and develop business cases to inform the allocation of funds from the School budget.

About the successful applicant
(Selection Criteria)

To be successful in this role you will have:

LEVEL 6

• A relevant degree and subsequent experience in a similar role.
• Extensive understanding of the relevant discipline and/or experience working in a teaching and/or research laboratory, including OGTR certified PC2 facilities.
• Proven technical capabilities in areas aligned with laboratory activities, including an ability to apply knowledge and experience to analyse, investigate and solve technical and operational issues.
• Demonstrated experience operating, maintaining, and managing scientific instrumentation and experience with IT based laboratory management systems.
• Effective record keeping skills, including the ability to work accurately, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to identify needs for and contribute to the development of innovative and efficient work practices.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills including the ability to prioritise work effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written) including the ability to liaise with a diverse group of people from varying backgrounds and appropriately handle commercially sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and contribute positively to the effective working of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to apply, interpret, advise on the development of policies, systems, procedures, and guidelines.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health & safety (psychosocial and physical) responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

LEVEL 7:
(in addition to the above)

• Extensive experience managing a complex laboratory environment, with experience in specialist laboratory types (for example: lasers, radioisotopes, Genetically Modified Organisms, biohazards, cryogenics, computer systems, etc) relevant to the needs of BABS.
• Extensive knowledge of Australian Standards and current regulations applicable to PC2 laboratories.
• Demonstrated experience in working with budgets, purchasing and assets, or design/implementation of systems for teaching laboratories or research groups or equivalent.
• High level analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to investigate and make informed decisions regarding complex issues.
• Experience driving a culture of continuous improvement, providing recommendations for new methodologies and solutions to improve laboratory systems and procedures.
• Proven experience developing and implementing safety systems in a laboratory context.

You should systematically address the selection criteria listed within the position description in your application.

Please apply online - applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed.

Contact:
Jason Sercombe
E: jason.sercombe@unsw.edu.au
Applications close: September 25^th, 2025

Find out more about working at UNSW at www.unsw.edu.au

UNSW aspires to be the exemplar Australian university and employer of choice for people from diverse backgrounds. UNSW aims to ensure equality in recruitment, development, retention and promotion of staff and that no-one is disadvantaged on the basis of their gender, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation or identity or Indigenous heritage. We encourage everyone who meets the selection criteria to apply.

UNSW partners with Australia’s leading diversity organisations, networks, and campaigns. Please refer to UNSW’s diversity offerings for further information on our flexible work and leave options, and support for carers (childcare, parent rooms, parental leave).