Technical Manager (Cleanroom)

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About us

The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES) is a vibrant faculty based in the heart of London with a long tradition of world-leading research and teaching in physics, mathematics, chemistry, informatics and engineering.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to be part of a technical team supporting research at the KCL Strand Campus, as part of the Strand Research facility, primarily supporting the work of the Department of Physics.

About the role

Management and day-to-day running of a small, combined ISO 5 and ISO 7 cleanroom fabrication facility in the King's College Strand Campus that houses atomic layer deposition system, physical vapour deposition systems, and characterisation equipment.

The post holder will be responsible for training users for the cleanroom protocols and fabrication techniques as well as aiding them with process development. They will manage the scheduling of experiments, service engineer contracts, and maintain the process gases, chemicals, and consumables stocks.

The role has a strong technical aspect, with the job holder being responsible for maintaining scientific instruments and the cleanroom plant.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily cleanroom actives and experiments.
• Manage procurement for maintenance contracts, reagents and consumables.
• Oversee resourcing of cleanroom fabrication and analytical equipment, timetabling use of the room and its instruments, including atomic layer deposition, magnetron sputtering & thermal evaporation.
• Organise and work with contractors to maintain the cleanroom and surrounding equipment.
• Build relationships with lab users, academic and technical staff as well as a strong network of service contractors and engineers to help maintain the lab.
• Plan and implement end-to-end lifetime lab asset management, from procurement to replacement.

Technical, health and safety

• Develop and maintain specialist expertise in nanofabrication techniques.
• Manage maintenance of both scientific instruments and surrounding plant equipment.
• Develop state-of-the-art techniques and methodologies, including process development for synthesis of novel materials and their characterisation.
• Maintain the equipment for safe use and manage the inventory, scheduling, risk assessments and SOPs for activities.
• Develop training materials and provide training and supervision for the faculty, researchers, and students.
• Training and supporting PhD students, researchers and external clients to process develop and deliver their fabrication needs.
• Provide, when required, technical cover and support across the department's research laboratories.
• Assume responsibility for the implementation, documenting & monitoring of health and safety arrangements in all assigned areas.
• Working with colleagues in Health and Safety Services, maintain a sound working knowledge of relevant regulations, codes of practice and local guidance/protocols.
• Undertake Evacuation Marshal and First-Aid duties.

Professional

• Maintain accurate and organised electronic records in compliance with GDPR best practice
• Work both independently and cooperatively as appropriate to achieve the service objectives, taking independent decisions as appropriate.
• Build and maintain strong relationships and networks with lab users, colleagues and contractors.
• Commit to ongoing professional development.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Level 6 qualification in a relevant field, e.g., relevant Bachelors degree or equivalent, plus substantial work experience in relevant technical/scientific service posts .

2. Knowledge and experience of thin film and nanofabrication methods, including but not limited to physical vapour deposition, atomic layer deposition, sputter coating.

3. Experience working in a clean room environment, adhering to and enforcing the strict protocols regarding apparel and conduct.

4. A demonstrable record of management of the day to day running of research spaces.

5. A strong record of understanding and demonstrating health and safety, including writing risk assessments and SOPs, inducting new lab users and incident reporting.

6. The ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing to users from a broad range of scientific backgrounds and understandings.

7. Excellent planning & organisational skills as evidenced by successfully managing staff and/or facilities, identifying performance standards and putting in place mechanisms to deliver these.

8. The ability to work effectively part of a team.

Desirable criteria

1. MSc or PhD in materials science, engineering, physics or related disciplines.

2. Knowledge and skills in analysis of thin films, including thickness measurements using Ellipsometry and Hall Effect measurements.

3. Evidence of an active commitment to professional development (such as working towards CSci of FHEA).

4. Formal Health & Safety qualification e.g., NEBOSH/IOSH.

5. Experience and or qualification in managing projects such as new equipment installations.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

At King's, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King's guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ' How we Recruit ' pages. Interviews are due to be held on 20th of April