Technical Support Assistant

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• The post holder is required to:
• Undertake fire safety compliance checks within our professional services buildings. Record and report any faults to estates and line manager for escalation.
• Undertake & record health and safety inspections on items within the school. i.e. Ladders, lifting equipment.
• Accompany and assist contractors in order that work can be undertaken.
• Prepare equipment for insurance inspections.
• Attend to small building/laboratory/workshop maintenance odd jobs.
• Provide support with undergraduate student labs.
• Assist Stores/Procurement with orders and deliveries, including handling of gas cylinders.
• Assist technical services teams where required with manual handling requests, cleaning/tidying workshops, prepare offices for occupation and remove items from vacated rooms.
• Use experience and judgment to identify and rectify any problems.
• To always work with due care and diligence according to the requirements of Health and Safety, quality and other standards and directions relevant to the assigned task.
• Respond to routine enquiries via email, telephone or in person.
• To record working time on job sheets and complete any other necessary administrative duties, maintain records of equipment.
• To engage in a process of continuous learning and development, acquiring new skills.
• To participate in the school PDR process and undertake training, as necessary.
• Any other tasks that are commensurate with grading of the post.
• Cover for absent colleagues within the immediate team.
• Essential & Desirable Criteria
• Essential
• City & Guilds qualification or equivalent previous maintenance experience in a similar role.
• Basic knowledge of plumbing, electrical, joinery and general DIY.
• Experience of using a variety of hand tools.
• Knowledgeable about safe work practices and procedures when using hand tools (training for specialist tool/equipment/machinery will be provided).
• Experience of problem solving.
• Good level of physical dexterity and ability to carry out a range of manual handling tasks — this includes; lifting, carrying, bending, crouching, stretching.
• Must have well-developed organisational and time management skills and attention to detail.
• Good written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Good understanding of health & safety regulations and procedures.
• Able to work effectively as an individual and as a member of a team planning, team communication, and organisational skills.
• Desirable
• Experience of working within a similar environment.
• Experience of risk assessment, COSHH, Safe Systems of Work.
• An aptitude for IT.
• Full driving licence.
• How to Apply
• Applications can be submitted up to 11:55pm (UK time) on Sunday 15th November
• Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV.
• We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application promptly.
• We recognise that many candidates use AI tools during the application process and are comfortable with AI being used as a supporting aid. However, we want to hear from you, not AI.
• Your application should be an authentic representation of your skills, experience and achievements. Applications that appear to have been fully generated by AI may not accurately reflect your suitability for the role and are therefore discouraged.
• At interview, candidates will be expected to discuss and provide evidence of the experience, skills and examples included in their application.
• We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.
• Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
• Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.
• Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About the Team

About Heriot-Watt University