Job Description

Job details

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Responsible to


Professor of Molecular Ecology


Location


Kedleston Road, Derby Campus


Closing date


Wednesday 23 July 2025


Salary


27,280 to 29,634 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to 34,090 per annum)


Job grade


ATOS 5


Reference


0095-25


Contract type


Fixed term contract 12 months


Post type


Full-time


Adaptive working type


Onsite

This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.



About the University
We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.



The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.



We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.



Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.


About the College/Department
Here at University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths: the STEM skills that are essential to the UK's Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too.



The Aquatic Research Facility specialises in dedicated research into animal behaviour, welfare and understanding/treating disease. We currently house systems with tropical stony corals and seagrass (both tropical and temperate species). In this facility we offer a unique opportunity to participate in internationally relevant/recognised research and work with world leaders in the field of aquarium research and coral/seagrass biology.


About the role
We are seeking a Technician to support academic, research, and outreach activities - particularly in relation to our Indonesian Project - within the Aquatic Research Facility. This varied role involves close collaboration with academic staff and the Technical team to ensure smooth delivery of teaching, research, and enterprise initiatives.



Key responsibilities include supporting the care, breeding, and welfare of aquatic animals, maintaining and operating equipment, and providing hands-on research assistance for undergraduate and postgraduate student projects. You will also contribute to the supervision and training of student employees and volunteers, help with the construction and installation of new apparatus, and manage stock levels and resources.



The role requires a strong commitment to health and safety, including drafting risk assessments and ensuring regulatory compliance. A willingness to undertake relevant training and development is essential, as is the ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a dynamic technical team.


About You
We are looking for a knowledgeable and experienced individual with a strong background in marine biology to support practical activities. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in a scientific discipline, or have equivalent experience.



Key experience includes supporting practical and fieldwork, working directly with animals, and having knowledge of seagrass and coral biology. You will be a team player with the ability to manage and lead a dynamic, multicultural team of early-career researchers.



This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful research in marine ecosystems while supporting the development of young scientists in an engaging and collaborative environment.


Principal accountabilities
Liaise with academic staff and the Technical team to ensure support for teaching, course development, academic enterprise, outreach and research in particular with our Indonesian Project planning.

Identify and acquire as well as develop the necessary skills/training related to this post in consultation with team leaders.

Assist in the upkeep, maintenance, breeding and welfare of the animals within the Aquatic Research Facility.

Provide relevant research assistance for student projects (undergraduate and postgraduate).

Assist with supervision and training of student employees and volunteers.

Help or construct and/or install new apparatus and equipment. Operate and maintain existing apparatus and equipment as appropriate.

Help to maintain material stocks, spares etc. and report deficiencies to the Technical team.

Demonstrate in relevant practicals as required (if technician workload permits).

Undertake appropriate staff development programs and training.

Ensure local compliance with all relevant Health and Safety regulations and policies and write risk assessments where appropriate.

Undertake any additional duties as required in agreement with the line manager and Technical Team Leader.

Person specification###

Essential Criteria

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Qualifications

Degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent experience in a related scientific subject
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Experience

Experience of supporting practical work in a relevant scientific discipline Experience of working with animals, specifically in the field of marine biology
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Skills, knowledge & abilities

Excellent and proven verbal communication skills and able to communicate effectively to students and staff Practical and fieldwork skills in a related scientific discipline Ability to plan and monitor own workload operating both alone and as part of a team Demonstrable high level of organisational skills Team worker Able to work with minimal supervision
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Business requirements

Willingness to work in a resource that hosts various marine organisms Ability to attend field/residential trips or otherwise as agreed with line management, including overseas
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Desirable Criteria

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Qualifications

First aid training
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Experience

Experience of technical or academic support in Zoology and specifically animal upkeep and welfare
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Skills, knowledge and abilities

General practical abilities Appropriate IT skills Benefits
Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata) Local Government Pension Scheme Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers Discounted onsite gym Cycle to Work scheme A flexible working environment A commitment to personal and professional development

Find out more about rewards and benefitsFind out more about rewards and benefits


Key contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Mike Sweet, Professor of Molecular Ecology via m.sweet@derby.ac.uk


For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.


Important information####

Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.



Please visit Applying from Overseas for more information.




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Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.



We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.



Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.



When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.



The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant's name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.



However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.



For more information on equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby, please visit our website.





A university that celebrates you

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Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.





Environment and sustainability


Don't miss your chance - join the team and make a difference today!