Technical Instructor, Civil Engineering

Our College of Science and Engineering is made up of the School of Science, School of Computing, School of Sport and Exercise Science, and School of Engineering. We are the University’s STEM College, in a city with a strong STEM heritage that hosts some of the world's leading STEM companies, and in a region with STEM at the centre of its economic growth plan.

Technical Services at the University of Derby underpins the key activities of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and innovation. As an applied University we value the importance of practical work and experimental learning.  Our highly skilled Technicians from across all areas of the organisation have a vital part they play in delivering the very best student experience, developing research activity and contributing to innovation. Central to the success of our Technical Service is collaboration, teamwork and knowledge sharing through our TechNet.  

Technical colleagues support a wide range of specialist resources across the Colleges of Arts, Humanities and Education, College of Science and Engineering and the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care. Working independently and in collaboration with academics, our technicians play an important role in advancing the work in many of our academic disciplines. We support specialist areas such as laboratories, resource HUB’s, workshops, controlled environments, clinical suites, media studios and Derby Theatre. We also provide specialist support for Research Centres such as the Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE).

As a signatory of the national Technician Commitment programme, the University has pledged to support the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of Technical colleagues.

Many of our highly skilled technical staff members hold PhDs and Degrees in disciplines associated with the specialisms they deliver. An increasing number of our technicians have been recognised for their contribution to teaching and student support as Fellows and Associate Fellows of Advance HE. A number also hold professional accreditation status through organisations such as the Science Council, which establishes knowledge, understanding and competence.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide specialist support to the built environment discipline, encompassing research, teaching, outreach, and industry activities. While this role supports the entire discipline, including surveying and fluids, your area of expertise will be in geotechnics and highway materials.

You will oversee health and safety in designated areas, maintaining risk management, maintenance logs, and equipment-specific safety systems to ensure compliance with Health and Safety Regulations and policies. This involves collaborating with academic and technical team members to ensure risk assessments and method statements are up to standard and clearly presented.

Our programmes conduct over seven residential field trips annually. Some trips involve just a few students gathering data for independent scholarships, while others are tied to module delivery with 40+. You will be expected to attend most of these trips, providing core technical support, ensuring equipment is used correctly and safely, and being a mentor to the students. You will also have the opportunity to establish your own trips to support research, interests, and development, offering additional experiences to keen students and broadening the department’s offerings.

Technicians in the built environment sector are heavily involved in teaching due to the practical nature of the course. You will benefit from high standards of staff development and benefit from the university’s commitment to the Technician Commitment, which pledges to support the career development of technicians. This includes support for attending technician development courses (such as via HEATED) or becoming a Fellow or Associate Fellow of Advanced Higher Education.

The ideal candidate will have relevant Working with equipment used in civil engineering geotechnical and highway materials, and knowledge of relevant computer modelling software. You should be capable of developing guidance materials for practical classes and possess excellent verbal communication skills, enabling effective interaction with both students and staff.

You must be able to plan and monitor your own workload, working independently as well as part of a team. You should demonstrate a high level of organisational and practical skills. Additionally, you should have a good working knowledge of relevant Health and Safety protocols, including risk assessments and COSHH.

As applicants are shortlisted against a unique candidate pool each time, we do not mandate that applicants cannot reapply. However, we reserve the right to not re-interview applicants who have been unsuccessful at interview within the last 6 months applying for the same role.

1. Assist in managing and organising resources and facilities to ensure effective service delivery.
2. Deliver formal technical skills instruction sessions on equipment usage and relevant health and safety procedures.
3. Create and update instructional materials, such as guides and videos, to support module delivery.
4. Maintain effective communication with technical and academic colleagues to ensure optimal use of technical resources and staff.
5. Oversee health and safety in designated areas, maintaining risk management, maintenance logs, and equipment-specific safety systems to ensure compliance with Health and Safety Regulations and policies.
6. Develop systems to enhance the student experience and establish practical skills aligned with industry standards.
7. Support off-site field trips and surveys, including residential trips.
8. Conduct ongoing informal assessments of student competence.
9. Support independent scholarships and projects across the entire subject area.
10. Manage and plan for discipline developments and deliveries, ensuring efficient use of resources.
11. Assist and support research and knowledge transfer activities by facilitating research and associated schemes.
12. Manage finances within the designated area and collaborate with budget managers to ensure financial efficiency and accountability.
13. Work with the student employment agency to recruit students for short-term contracts to support laboratory facilities and events.
14. Support open days and events as agreed with line management.
15. Attend relevant meetings as agreed with line management.
16. Participate in the university staff development review process and engage in continuous professional development to stay current with relevant technology.
17. Undertake any other duties as required in agreement with line management.