Applicants are sought to join the vibrant team of technicians supporting research and teaching activities in the Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI), predominantly based at the East Sands in St Andrews.  In this varied and exciting role, you will use your knowledge and skills to contribute to the care and welfare of aquatic animals within your remit, as well as providing laboratory management support throughout the teaching and research areas of the building.   You will support the success of the Institute through your teamwork, flexibility and can-do approach to your responsibilities.  

Key tasks include:

• Functioning as an aquarium Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO).
• Husbandry of aquarium facility aquatic animals and maintaining records.
• Liaising with aquarium users.
• Participating in the weekend rota and the out-of-hours emergency rota.
• Deputising for the Technical Manager and providing lab manager support to the SOI Director.
• Providing support and advice to postgraduate and Honours project students.
• Updating and improving processes, SOPs, risk assessments and supporting safety improvements in the laboratories under your purview;  deputising for the site Health and Safety Officer in their absence.
• Undertaking additional tasks, including in various School of Biology locations potentially including field sites, in coordination with senior SoB staff.  

Key skills and attributes required include:

• HNC or HND in Biology or a related subject.
• Extensive experience of fish husbandry and experience / training in animal ethics.
• Willingness and ability to be trained and obtain NACWO registration.
• Experience within a University/College Higher Education research laboratory environment.
• Effective IT, written, numeracy, record-keeping, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity and expertise with molecular and/or organism handling techniques.
• Ability to balance own work tasks and team work tasks.
• Well-developed analytical, problem-solving and prioritisation capability.  

Employees of the University have access to a wide range of staff benefits including:

• Annual leave of 34 days, plus 5 public holidays
• Membership of the S&LAS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
• A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies
• Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services
• Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel
• Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme
• A range of wellbeing initiatives including membership of Peppy, a health application that connects staff to expert practitioners and personalized support on health matters  

Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Martin Cockcroft, email: mgc22@st-andrews.ac.uk, Tel: 01334 463396.  

Applications are particularly welcome from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in professional posts at the University.    

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the St Andrews experience.  We strive to create a fair and inclusive culture demonstrated through our commitment to diversity awards (Athena Swan, Carer Positive, LGBT Charter and Race Charters). We celebrate diversity by promoting profiles of BAME, LGBTIQ+ staff and supporting networks including the Staff BAME Network; Staff with Disabilities Network; Staff LGBTIQ+ Network; and the Staff Parents & Carers Network.  Full details available online: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/  

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.  Information on other visa options is available at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa or by contacting our HR Immigration Team on hrimmigration@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

Closing Date: 1 July 2024

Interview Date: 7 August 2024

Please quote ref: TG1073HM

Further Particulars: TG1073HM FPs.doc

School of Biology

Salary: £30,487 - £36,024 per annum

Start Date: As soon as possible