Stores Technician

Role:Stores Technician

Directorate:The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Grade:Grade

Contract Type:Full Time (1FTE) Open Ended

Rewards and Benefits:In Edinburgh this is 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days per year after 5 years service plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) for all full time staff other campuses vary.

Detailed Description

We are seeking to appoint a full time Stores Technician to work in the schools busy central Store.

The EPS School Store is led by the Store Supervisor 1 Stores Deputy Supervisor and 2 Stores Technicians and is based in two locations within the school.

This is a busy environment servicing the needs of 150 academic staff 80 Professional Services staff and 200 Post Graduate students with all the materials required across the scientific and engineering disciplines for research and teaching. The role covers all activities from receiving purchase requests entering them into the system receiving deliveries dealing with the administration of invoices accounts reports etc. dispensing goods including equipment dry chemicals wet chemicals gas cylinders liquid nitrogen solvents etc and well as dealing with the waste disposal streams of equipment chemicals and other waste out of the School. Manual handling of goods cylinders and equipment is required so the post requires fitness and physical effort working both internally within the building and outside the building environment. A driving licence is required on occasions for the collection and delivery of goods.

The work will be varied and will require the successful candidate to provide a fair friendly and timely service to staff student partners and visitors to meet our commitment to pursuing service excellence. To achieve this commitment all professional services staff need to be adaptable and prepared to support other teams and colleagues in order to meet the needs of academic staff and students.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The post-holder will be required to:

• Purchasing and receipting of goods and services using the University Oracle system or Purchase Credit Card.
• Liaise with suppliers for delivery of goods check deliveries against orders and coordinate queries & returns liaising with end users and suppliers.
• Maintain key levels of stock within the Store reporting of stock turnover reordering stock and recharging for goods used. Assist line manager in yearly stock taking process.
• Issue maintain and dispense Store stock items including gas cylinders liquid nitrogen solvents chemicals and stock items.
• Liaise with internal technicians to ensure safe practices e.g. gas regulators Liquid Nitrogen use and transport.
• Disposal of chemicals including solvents powders etc.
• Ensure a high standard of housekeeping within the Stores areas including recycling waste segregation etc.
• Ensure all duties are carried out in accordance with current Health & Safety guidance and complete Risk Assessments under the supervision of the Store Supervisor.
• Arrange collection of soiled lab coats for cleaning and distribution of clean garments to users.
• Advise and arrange for transport of goods off-site awareness of dangerous goods and liaising with couriers and maintenance of appropriate statutory records.
• Customs clearance of goods including arranging and payments of duties and taxes for import/export.
• Efficient real-time recording of spends.
• Efficient reconciliation of PCard transactions.
• Maintenance and update of stock/purchase system/electronic gas cylinder system update location/move assets/rotate aged assets
• Demonstrate their competence in the use of Microsoft Word Excel Outlook and experience of working with electronic ordering systems.
• Organise their own time effectively and take responsibility for planning tasks assigned to them.
• Communicate effectively at all levels display excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work effectively within a team.
• Work under pressure
• Work flexibility be prepared to learn and willing to provide support in other areas of the School as required
• Commit to ongoing personal development

Education Qualifications and Experience

Essential Criteria

• Educated to SCQF Level 7-8 (HNC/HND) or equivalent in Chemistry/biology/life sciences or extensive experience in a similar role.
• Experience of working within a similar environment as outlined above
• Competent in the use of relevant IT packages (Word Excel Outlook etc)
• Experience of health & safety legislation in a technical environment
• Demonstrable ability to work quickly flexibly and accurately.
• Demonstrable provision of excellent customer service and flexibility in customer care
• Manual handling will be involved requiring fitness and physical effort.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in Higher Education
• Experience of electronic purchase order systems
• Experience of shipping (dangerous) goods and Import/export regulations
• Commitment to on-going personal development

About Our Team

The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has an international research reputation and close connection with the professional and industrial world of science engineering and technology. Our research ranges from fundamental sciences through to engineering applications all of which are supported by strong external funding. We have around 150 full-time academic staff who drive this research activity and are based in 5 research institutes: the Institute of Chemical Sciences the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences the Institute of Mechanical Process & Energy Engineering the Institute of Sensors Signals & Systems and the Institute of Biological Chemistry BioPhysics & BioEngineering.

In addition we deliver teaching across 6 programmes: Chemistry; Physics; Electrical Electronic & Computer Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Brewing & Distilling.
The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has received the Bronze Award from the Athena SWAN Charter recognising excellence in championing employment of women in the fields of science and technology engineering and mathematics.

We continue to welcome applications from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts at Heriot-Watt.

About Heriot Watt University

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge relevant research which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation business and industry.

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh Scottish Borders and Orkney) one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science engineering design business and languages. Heriot-Watt is also Scotlands most international university boasting the largest international student cohort.

How to Apply

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV.

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) onTuesday 6th January 2026.

Candidates will be notified of shortlisting decisions and interview invitations will be sent within five days of the advert closing.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-WattUniversity 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 and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-WattUniversity 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 also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.