Design and Technology Technician

Design and Technology Technician

Required for Jan 2025

Salary: £27,455 to £28,659 per annum (NJC Spine Point 7-10)

Hours:  From 08.30 to 16.30 with one hour for lunch, term time of 40 weeks per year.

The successful candidate will:

·        be flexible and able to respond positively to requests from staff in order to meet short deadlines - coping with this pressure in a calm and reassuring manner;

·        be patient and enjoy the company of young people, helping them to achieve high standards in their practical work

·        have an affinity for machinery and be able to learn how to get the best out of them using both modern and traditional methods

·        have a sense of responsibility in maintaining a consistently safe working environment for students and staff

·        be willing to work occasional extra hours, if needed, and up to 3 Saturdays per year

·        work as part of a team providing high quality support to the DT Department. 

Specific Duties

·        Take delivery, store and prepare wood, metal and plastics as requested.

·        Follow a regular maintenance schedule of the fixed and portable equipment e.g. changing band saw blades.

·        To research, design and prepare practical activities under the direction of the HOD for the department.

·        Prepare computer aided design files to laser cut or 3D print.

·        Maintain all hand-tools.

·        Maintain and create safe and tidy storage areas, tools racks, storage systems etc.

·        Prepare teaching rooms and resources as and when requested.

·        Make teaching aids/models, as and when requested.

·        Organise displays at both school sites.

·        Assist with the delivery of practical classes.

·        Assist with after school KS 5 classes and revision workshops (until 17:30 at certain times of the year) by negotiation with the HoD.

·        Demonstrate practical making techniques to groups of students and teachers (sand casting, wood turning, brazing etc) and be willing to learn new techniques and deliver as necessary.

·        Maintain a well organised materials preparation room.

ICT and administration

·        Awareness of the latest Health & Safety regulations.

·        Work with the HoD in organising Departmental Safety Audits.

·        Liaise with suppliers in the repair and maintenance of all machines and equipment.

·        Use of Word and Excel to record data and keep financial records.

·        Use of CAD/CAM technologies (2D design and Photo Shop).

·        Assist students with the preparation of electronic files ready for output.

·        Work with the HoD in maintaining and ordering departmental stock, and following school finance systems regarding payment.

·        To undertake the assessment, monitoring and review of health and safety procedures under the direction of the Head of Department.

·        To conduct and record regular machine checks, keep Health and safety logs (training will be given) and to follow health and safety policies under direction from the HOD

·        Supervising specialist design and making workshops for A level and GCSE D&T and Textiles students.

·        Demonstrating manufacturing skills and process to selected small groups of students as extension or support activities, such as sand casting, metal and wood turning, silver soldering, architectural modelling etc.

·        When operationally convenient, offering specialist teaching cover within the department.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training – Essential requirement

Educated to Level 3 or equivalent or have at least three years specific experience in a relevant discipline. 

Essential qualities/skills

·        Being fully compliant with the latest Health & Safety regulations, especially with regard to heavy machinery (table saw; brazing hearth, metalwork and wood turning lathes etc.)

·        Knowledge of health and safety requirements in a workshop or similar environment to ensure a consistently safe working environment in all areas of the DT department.     

·        Awareness from training of manual handling best practice.

·        The ability to use ICT packages including Excel, Word and PowerPoint to an advanced level.

·        The appropriate level of ICT skills to enable the updating and maintaining of the D&T area and pages on the school website. 

·        An understanding of CAD/CAM technologies.

·        The ability to maintain all hand tools.

·        Familiarity of dealing with suppliers in terms of organising quotations, ordering stock and arranging maintenance visits.

·        The ability to remain calm under the inevitable pressure of a school environment.

·        Work willingly within the schools’ procedures, processes & to meet the required standard of the role.

·        Value and respect the views & needs of children and young people.

·        Respect and value the different experiences, ideas and backgrounds of the members of the whole school community.

·        Be willing to train as a ‘First Aider at Work’ & undertake Health and Safety training.

Desirable

·        First aid qualified.

·        A flair for design.

Closing date for applications Monday 9th December 2024.

Interview dates tba.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people

and expects all members of staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all posts.