Senior Technician

**Advert reference**: uj_001698
- **Advert status**: Online**Position Summary**

**Industry**:Education & Training

**Job category**:Education and Training

**Campus**:Auckland Park Kingsway Campus

**Contract**:Permanent

**Remuneration**:Market Related

**EE position**:EE

**Level**:Skilled

**Introduction**

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan university, anchored in Africa and driven by a powerful strategy focused on attaining global excellence and stature (GES). With an emphasis on independent thinking, sustainable development, and strategic partnerships, UJ is an international university of choice. The University is guided by the Vice-Chancellor’s vision of “Positioning UJ in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) for societal impact in the context of the changing social, political, and economic fortunes of Africa”.

**Job description**
- The Department of Chemical Sciences is proud to be one of the largest departments at University of Johannesburg and in South Africa. In terms of teaching, the Department offers all the four core disciplines of chemistry, i.e., Analytical, Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry. Our research focusses on several aspects including water treatment and purification,natural products, catalysis, computational chemistry, sensors, devices, nanomaterials, materials science, energy (solar, fuel cells, and supercapacitors), etc. The Department is also a host to SARChI chair in nanotechnology and water. The Senior Technician will be responsible for the effective and efficient management of the undergraduate laboratories which may include the supervision of laboratory staff that are involved with these courses. The Senior Technical Officer reports directly to HoD’s office.

**Responsibilities**:
**Undergraduates’ laboratories**:

- Provide technical/advisory support.
- Planning and supervising the preparation and presentation of undergraduate practical sessions.
- Giving technical advice about practicals and undergraduate analytical instruments to lecturers and students.
- Ensuring that all users have a uniform and constructive exposure to the laboratories.
- Ensuring that all reagents are accurately prepared and standardised when necessary.
- Ensuring that concentrations of unknown reagents are reported to the coordinating lecturer timeously.
- Ensuring that laboratories are kept clean before, during and after practicals.
- Ensuring that technical support staff are informed of and repair efficiently routine maintenance problems including plumbing, electrical, carpentry and locksmith problems.
- Ensures that undergraduate instruments are maintained in optimum condition by monitoring cleaning, logbooks, keeping service records and contacting outside service repairmen when required.
- Liaising with colleagues about new practicals.
- Allocating the pilot study of new practical to laboratory staff.
- Reporting on the success of proposed new laboratory sessions.
- Adjusting existing practicals as required.
- Help to manage a team of qualified technicians and other technical staff who renders a specialised service in the laboratories.
- Conduct effective performance evaluations.
- Monitoring and distributing workloads for laboratory technicians, assistants and cleaners.
- Ensuring assigned workloads are carried out effectively and timeously.
- Inducting and training new laboratory staff.
- Reporting to the HOD’s office about training needs, disciplinary and performance related issues.
- Assist in compiling and controlling a specific budget.
- Planning and administering the annual undergraduate budget.
- Ensuring that laboratory supplies and other supplies are ordered and delivered so that stock levels are maintained.
- Evaluate equipment need and negotiate contacts for the pricing of equipment orders and service contracts.

**Postgraduates' Laboratories**:

- Over and above, the incumbent will be required to monitor general safety practices, infrastructure needs, etc., on the research laboratories in liaison with academics working in those laboratories.

**Minimum requirements**
- Minimum of an NQF 6 (Diploma) or equivalent
- At least 5 years' exposure to managing undergraduate Analytical Chemistry laboratories
- At least 2 years' exposure to leading technical staff manning undergraduate laboratories
- Experience or previous participation in developing, conducting, and overseeing/demonstrating undergraduate practical sessions in Chemistry
- Proven experience of dealing with chemical laboratory waste
- Demonstratable awareness of the requirements of Laboratory safety Act
- Functional knowledge and skills of stock control and procurement within budget important
- Knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety act 85 of 1993 requirements for chemical environments required
- Advanced knowledge of equipment, chemicals, and laboratory practice (ISO 17025:2005) required

**Competencies and Behavioural Attributes**:

- Problem solving and analysis
- Tec