Design Technology Technician

We are seeking a suitably qualified individual to join our Design Technology Department as a technician.

The overall purpose of the role is:

• to support the Design & Technology department in the provision of a first class service to pupils and teachers alike
• ensuring that the workshop and classrooms are run smoothly and effectively ensuring materials, equipment and apparatus is operational, available and well maintained, and working at all times with Health and Safety in mind.

Package Description

The school prides itself on its warm and welcoming community, inclusive of all staff. Our teaching staff work alongside the operational teams to ensure the smooth running of the school. We value the contribution of all team members.

Through involvement in the co-curricular programme all those who work with us can bring their passions to work. Developing our talent is important to us. Access to training and professional development is available and encouraged.

Our reward package includes:

• Enrolment into generous DC pension (11% employer contribution)
• Access to onsite gym
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Benefits Programme including discounts to a number of major retailers, holiday, electric car and cycle to work schemes, as well as health and well-being optionFee discount
• A three course lunch is provided during term time

Main Responsibilities

Teaching support responsibilities:

• Coordinate the use of resources and materials and provide assistance and support in practical classes across all year groups.
• Assisting in practical classes and carrying out demonstrations for teaching staff and pupils, including supporting the safe practice of machines and equipment during practical activities.
• Assisting the pupils out with lesson time when progressing with practical activities.
• Coordinate the use of resources and materials, providing support in setting up and packing away activities.
• Contribute to the design and development of pupil projects and resources that assist in the delivering of lessons in the department.

Resources responsibilities:

• Preparing resources and assembling equipment and materials in advance of lessons, including; ordering resources and materials, preparing materials for use and ensuring equipment and machinery is operational and well-maintained.
• Ensure that both routine and non-routine checking, cleaning, maintenance, testing and repairing of equipment are carried out to the required standard.
• Organising, storing and checking the condition of materials and equipment.
• Obtaining materials from suppliers, receiving deliveries, storing materials and liaising with the Accounts department to arrange invoicing and payment.
• Checking stock, ordering, keeping stock records and maintaining resources.

Facilities support:

• Ensuring the maintenance of a healthy and safe working environment through: servicing and maintenance of machines, actively contributing to the assessment, monitoring and review of health and safety procedures including itemised risk assessments; keeping up to date with current procedures and practices through continuing professional development.
• Safe treatment and disposal of used materials and responding to actual or potential hazards; the healthy and safe storage and accessibility of equipment, materials and chemicals.
• Helping maintain general order of workshop areas and equipment.

Supporting colleagues across the school:

Supporting additional requests required by the staff of Design & Technology department and other colleagues across the Junior and Senior Schools on an ad-hoc basis, as required.

Key contacts and working relationships:

• Liaising with colleagues in the department on live tasks and job requests.
• Working with pupils to clarify materials requested (cutting lists) and resource and task requests to support project work.
• Liaising with colleagues out with the department on tasks and job requests.
• Liaising with suppliers of ordered/delivered goods and services, contractors and couriers.
• Liaising as one of the first points of contact with external visitors and contractors that are working within the building.

Planning and organising:

There is a mixture of:

• Reactive support requirements to immediate requests from staff and pupils and these are very difficult to forward plan as they are responded to and dealing immediately with a wide variety of requests for assistance.
• Daily, Weekly, Termly and Yearly tasks which allow forward planning and the tasks to be organised in advance.
• The Design & Technology technician will be required to plan their own daily and weekly workload, taking account of the need to complete scheduled expected tasks, additional tasks requested on an ad-hoc basis and some of the reactive requests which are received on a daily basis.
• The Design & Technology technician will contribute to the overall planning and organisation associated with an effective and busy Design & Technology department supporting a wide variety of activities.

The Ideal Candidate

Knowledge, skills and experience:

Essential:

• A minimum of HND level qualification in a technical subject (ideally subject specific) or recent applied practical experience in a similar role
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skill
• Works well as part of a team, but is also able to work unsupervised and using own initiative
• Good planning and organisation skills, coupled with excellent attention to detail
• Analytical approach to problem solving
• Works well under pressure
• Numeracy
• Computer literate, with experience in using word processors, email, spreadsheets and CAD software
• Experience in using 3D printers and laser cutters and associated software
• Experience with wood working machinery, e.g. wood lathe, morticer, pillar drill, belt sander, bobbin sander, router, band s aw and fret saw, circular saw, planer/thicknesser
• Experience with metal working machinery, e.g. metalwork lathe, spot welder, MIG welder, forge

Desirable:

• Experience of working within an educational environment
• Experience of working with children
• Practical qualifications eg. Safe use of fixed woodwork machinery

About the school/organisation

The Edinburgh Academy is a fully co-educational school. The School consists of a Senior School, Junior School and a Nursery Department. The School is a member of HMC. The Edinburgh Academy moved to full co-education across the whole school in 2008. The Junior and Senior Schools are on separate sites, both of which have spacious grounds and sports facilities including extensive playing fields, an all-weather sports area, and a large Sports Hall and Centre.