Technical Operations Manager

The Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences is seeking to recruit to the role of Laboratory Technical Manager. This key Professional Services role will support the Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, one of 3 research Centres within the Faculty. 

Using your proven ability in successfully managing Technical Staff and technical space, coupled with a strong scientific background, you will assume overall responsibility for the safe operation, maintenance and efficient management of the laboratory environment to support delivery of Centre research objectives. 

In addition to the Technical Staff, you will also need to interact with a large number and range of other staff including Academics, Researchers, Students, Administrators, Estates, Contractors, Suppliers, Compliance & Risk etc. Therefore, effective communication is essential. The role will require someone with a proactive approach and demonstrable experience of problem solving. 

The post holder is a member of the Faculty’s professional services team and is responsible to the Resource Manager with a line of accountability to the Head of Centre. 

We are a multi-faculty university with the biggest dental school in Europe. We have a fantastic research environment, a large group of specialists, and a great diversity of research. 

It is anticipated that interviews will take place shortly after the closing date 

Find out more here: 

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/dentistry/research 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract 

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

• Provide management and effective co-ordination of the Centre’s laboratory-based resources in partnership with the Faculty Resource Manager and the Head of Centre. 
• In partnership with the Faculty Resource Manager and the Head of Centre. oversee effective co-ordination of space and laboratory space provision to accommodate the changing needs of the Centre in line with its strategic objectives.  
• Provide leadership, direction, and effective co-ordination of the Centre’s Health & Safety arrangements in partnership with the Faculty Health and Safety Manager and the local safety officers. 
• Manage the proper assignment of work, performance, and professional development of Centre technical staff, in accordance with the College’s policies and regulations and in line with best employment practice. 
• Collaborate and interact with investigators and other research personnel to define and solve specific operating problems and improve technical activities, advising on equipment where necessary and providing guidance/advice on essential training needs for specialised equipment and developing training polices for areas of assigned areas of responsibility. 
• Plan required changes to the Centre’s facilities to accommodate its changing scientific needs in partnership with the Head of Centre. Project manage all necessary works to completion in liaison with King’s Estates & Facilities and external contractors. 
• Oversee the Centre’s equipment maintenance, renewal and service contract purchases and inform future replacement equipment needs, providing an advisory role in this area to all Centre Principal Investigators. 
• Overseeing the good running and occasional purchase of departmental workstations, both administrative and scientific. 
• Co-ordinate and personally place orders for chemicals and materials from relevant suppliers. 
• Meet with company representatives to obtain quotes and be aware of the latest product releases and offers. 
• Interact with the Centre administrator to ensure budgets are correctly maintained and expenditure deadlines are met. 
• Oversee the Equipment Inventory for the Centre to satisfy audit requirements and support the planning, maintenance, and purchase processes within the Faculty.  
• To ensure the Centre compliance with government regulations and those of other regulatory agencies. 
• To integrate and coordinate all laboratory operations in the Centre, including leadership, direction, and effective coordination the Centre’s technical services of MicroCT and imaging technology and animal work. 
• Working with the Health and Safety Manager, overseeing the Portable Appliance Testing process within the laboratory environment. 
• Assist and support the Centre and Faculty in relation to budget requirements for technical needs. 
• Work in partnership with the Head of Centre to identify additional sources of income for the Centre. 
• The post-holder is required to have an overview of technical resources and assets within the Centre.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience  

Essential criteria

1. Relevant undergraduate degree or postgraduate qualification, or equivalent, plus substantial work experience in a relevant technical/ scientific post or proven track record with extensive work experience in a relevant technical/ scientific post with a management qualification. 
2. Authoritative knowledge of technical/ scientific practices, methods and procedures applying to work area with a full understanding of the technical/scientific theory underpinning this. 
3. Comprehensive knowledge of Health & Safety regulations governing area of work, with the ability to translate regulations into safe working practice.  
4. Excellent organisational skills to coordinate diverse, multi-site teams to support the strategic aims of the Centre/ Faculty/ University. 
5. Coaching/ training skills and experience, tailoring methods to ensure good learning outcomes. 
6. Strong record of managing staff and other resources, as evidenced by setting, delivering, and monitoring performance standards. 
7. Contributing to and leading high-level strategies, defining the aims, objectives and drawing these down into team members’ work plans. 
8. Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, building strong working relationships with internal contacts (e.g. staff, students, and colleagues in the wider university community) and contacts outside the university (e.g. suppliers, colleagues in other HE institutions). 

Desirable criteria

1. Operation of Micro CT scanner 
2. Strong IT and data management skills - managing the main data backup for microCT images and the confocal microscopes 
3. Understanding the data needs of PIs and representing them at the research computing strategy committees of the College 
4. Professional registration through the Science Council (CSci. RSci. or RSciTech.) or willingness to work towards. 

Further information

Interviews are expected to be scheduled in the first weeks of December