Technical Manager SYNTECS - School of EngineeringGrade 7
Technical Manager SYNTECS - School of EngineeringGrade 7
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£ 36130 - 45413
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Job Description
Position Details
School of Engineering
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36130 to 45413 with potential progression once in post to 48149
Grade: 7
Full Time Fixed Term contract up to November 2025
Closing date: 14th April 2025
This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sectorleading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.With almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a widerange of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate.We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year one paid day a year for volunteering occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on site.On campus we have a stateoftheart sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham
Background
The School of Engineering comprises of the disciplines of Civil Engineering Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Electrical & Systems Engineering we are investing significantly in people and infrastructure. In April 2021 we moved into our new signature building and our UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) Centre of Excellence for Digital Systems our National Buried Infrastructure Facility (NBIF).
Role Summary
To manage the ECfunded Horizon project SustainablY aNd digiTally driven hiErarchical laser texturing for Complex Surfaces (SYNTECS) led by Professor Stefan Dimov. The project is in its final 8 months and the Technical Manager should work closely with companies and research partners to implement the developed laser micro processing technologies in three industrial case studies. The developed technology demonstrators should be validated by implementing the developed procedures for functional testing the use case devices and LCA at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and the necessary reports prepared by the end of the project. The job requires the Technical Manager to present the project results and the developed and validated technology demonstrators at two industrial workshops and the final project review meeting.
SustainablY aNd digiTally driven hiErarchical laser texturing for Complex Surfaces (SYNTECS) SYNTECS brings together a consortium of companies and academic and research organisations that are at the forefront of laserbased processing. SYNTECS will be tackling the multiple challenges experienced with current chemical and mechanical surface treatments. The overall aim of SYNTECS is to develop and demonstrate a digital and green laser texturing approach to generating complex multifunctional surfaces. A machine platform will be developed at TRL6 that enables interchangeable Direct Laser Writing (DLW) Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) and Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structuring (LIPSS) with a multiaxis motion stage for processing complex geometries and an inline monitoring and control system. The combined system should streamline the generation of hierarchical surface textures i.e. textures which combine at least two significantly different sized features. The surface multifunctionality enabled by these hierarchical textures will be demonstrated in three industrial case studies: an injection moulding tool a hip implant system and a complex shaped vapour chamber. Surface textures and texturing processes for these demonstrators will be designed using a Design for Surface Engineering software module which will incorporate LCA guidance combined with predictive performance modelling to enable sustainablebydesign decision making. SYNTECS will demonstrate that hierarchical laser surface texturing provides a highly efficient and flexible route to replacing multiple (typically chemical and mechanical) energy and resources intensive surface treatments steps with a single digitally controlled chemical and wastefree process.
Main Duties
Planning Organisation and Delivery
- Work with project stakeholders to manage the highlevel scheduling of experimental research activity balancing several project deadlines resource availability and cost implications. As facilitator you will capture and refine project requirements and provide specialist expert knowledge and advice to academics and industry partners to achieve project outcomes.
- Work closely with companies and research partners to implement the developed laser micro processing technologies in three industrial case studies.
- Implement the developed procedures for functional testing and LCA of the use case devices and thus to validate them at TRL 6.
- Organise and lead technical workshops and events for industry partners for the project presenting project results and progress at key stakeholder meetings.
- Prepare the necessary deliverables with the inputs of companies and research partners related to the developed demo manufacturing line and its validation.
- Use project management strategies to build staged plans across multiple projects with a variety of requirements with shared resources maximising efficiency of the technical team and equipment.Disseminating planning information for the phased work providing progress reports to stakeholders.
- Implement and manage a system for maintenance and audit of the asset register and for the booking of equipment and resources related to the project.Informing others of potential disruption to their work.
- Work collaboratively with the Technical Services Senior Manager Head of Operations and Technical Management Team to ensure efficiency of services and minimise replication of resource.
Health and Safety
- Oversight of H&S related to the project liaising with Safety Services other H&S coordinators and the School H&S committee.Provide instruction advice and guidance to project staff.
- Working closely with the School Technical Management Team plan manage monitor and coordinate project activities identifying eliminating and controlling risk.
- Responsible for ensuring appropriate Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS) are provided reviewed accepted and collated in the H&S file and that these are followed by academics researchers and external contractors for the Hub.
- Responsible for ensuring the compliance of all equipment related to the Hub and that maintenance service and safety inspections are carried out in accordance with legislation regulation guidance University/School/Local policies taking remedial action taken as needed.
- Manage effective and efficient systems for handling waste (hazardous and otherwise).Ensure compliance with all legislation and University policies covering the management of waste.
- Conduct investigation and report accidents incidents and near misses putting in place control measures and procedures to minimise the risk of accidents being repeated.Take appropriate supportive action if staff are injured within the Hub.
Equipment Procurement and Maintenance
- Working with Academic Leads identify needs in research areas where improvements to the resources would increase efficiency and safety and prepare business cases to support.Assist Principal Investigators (PI) in choosing and procuring new equipment and facilitate the process.
- Responsible for maintaining an inventory/asset register of equipment and consumables.
- Responsible for the maintenance of equipment in accordance with legislation regulation local policy and guidance. Implement systems to ensure the maintenance and compliance of all equipment and resources. Arrange external contracts for inspection service and calibration of equipment.
- Responsible for ensuring appropriate training is provided to technical staff and researchers in the use of hub equipment. Implement a system to manage records to ensure the safety of users and knowledge resilience.
Any other duties
- The post holder will work closely with Technical Managers across the college College H&S Coordinators Estates and Safety Services as needed.
Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience
- First degree in a technical area or have equivalent qualifications or extensive industrial experience.
- Understanding of laser processing e.g. laser ablation modelling of lasermaterial interactions designing laserbased manufacturing solutions the use of different characterization/ measurement technologies for process optimization.
- Experience of working collaboratively across functions taking direction from and advising senior management on approaches to achieve strategic aims. Experience of working in an academic research environment is desirable.
- Conceptual understanding of a diverse range of user requirements with the ability to advise and train others in the application of specialist techniques to achieve research outcomes.
- Demonstrate the skills and experience to understand and engage with internal and external partners across a wide range of sectors with a strong customer service ethos.
- Excellent people management skills with a successful track record of leading managing adapting to changeand motivating teams in order to meet current and future needs.
- Excellent communication skills communicating with and engaging staff at all levels inthe organisation.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety regulations.
- Experience of managing technical facilities staff and operations in a complex environment.
- Ability to devise solutions and develop creative approaches to problem solving.
- Ability to analyse and deal with problems with an appreciation of longerterm implications and takingaccount of all stakeholders.
- Experience of planning and delivering multiple projects with defined targets and deadlines in the context ofa complex organisation with diverse needs.
- Experience of maintaining a network of contacts and liaising and influencing effectively up to senior levelsacross areas relevant to own work.
- Ability to manage a broad ranging workload with challenging and competing deadlines and to deliver toagreed timescales.
- Commitment to own continuous personal development and training.
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt skills and approach for different environments.
- Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
- Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
Desirable
- PhD degree in mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering or material science or equivalent experience plus practical managerial experience in engineering projects demonstrated through increasingly more demanding roles evidencing the experience necessary for this role.
- Knowledge and experience of Mechanical Materials or Manufacturing Engineering.
Informal enquiries to Ali Wright email:
View our staff values and behaviourshere
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.
Required Experience:
Manager
Employment Type
Full-Time
