Leading Technician

The role

The Pharmacology Teaching Laboratories is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and proactive Level 2 Leading Technician to lead the dedicated Pharmacology teaching technical team.  

The post will be part of the wider Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Teaching and Development team, who also support the practical laboratory-based teaching within the schools of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, Psychology and Neuroscience and Bristol Medical School, as well as supporting units delivered to students from Bristol Dental and Veterinary schools.   

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering high-quality practical teaching to undergraduate students across a broad range of biomedical disciplines. The post offers responsibility for team leadership within a large, dynamic laboratory environment and provides the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the student experience.  

We are founding signatories of the Technician Commitment, which is a commitment to support the recognition, visibility, sustainability and career development of our technical staff. 

What will you be doing?

Based in the Biomedical Sciences Teaching Laboratories, you will lead the day-to-day operations of the Pharmacology Teaching Laboratory and team of 3 teaching technicians providing outstanding support to students and academic colleagues undertaking laboratory-based teaching and learning within the lab. Whilst also providing hands-on technical support for preparation of practicals, you will manage and support a team of technicians, planning workloads, assigning tasks and fostering a collaborative, responsive working environment. Acting as the key link between academic staff and the technical team, you will coordinate resources, contribute to the development of new and existing practical classes, and support teaching delivery through specialist technical expertise. 

You will oversee laboratory operations, including equipment, consumables, and compliance with Health & Safety regulations, maintaining and developing local procedures and risk assessments. You will also play a central role in training staff and students, troubleshooting technical issues, and supporting continuous improvement, while contributing to planning, budgeting, and timetabling processes. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Coordinate and deliver hands-on skilled technical support for pharmacology laboratory-based teaching  
• Lead, line manage and develop a technical team, including workload planning, training and performance support 
• Apply and develop specialist laboratory skills, including handling biological tissues and relevant experimental techniques 
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation, maintaining risk assessments, SOPs and safe systems of work in area of responsibility 
• Collaborate with academic and professional services colleagues to support teaching delivery, innovation and operational planning.

This is a full time (35h per week), on-site role, critical to delivery of laboratory-based Pharmacology teaching activity all year round.  

You should apply if

• You like being hands-on in the lab while also leading a team 
• You have strong practical experience in Pharmacology or a related biomedical science 
• You are a proactive, collaborative individual who thrives in busy environments 
• You are proactive, organised and enjoy solving problems as they arise 
• You demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills 
• You take a positive, solution-based approach 
• You have experience in teaching or research laboratories and understand their pace and demands 
• You are interested in developing or applying skills such as tissue dissection and specialist pharmacology techniques 
• You take pride in creating a safe, well-run environments that supports student excellent student experience  

Additional information

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time 17/05/2026

For informal queries please contact: Caroline Jarrett: caroline.jarrett@bristol.ac.uk 

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