Assistant Technical Officer
A large and diverse team of technicians support Manchester Metropolitan University's research and innovation activities. Working in specialist laboratories, workshops, studios and IT facilities, our technical professionals play a key role across our university from sciences, art, design and technology, through to sports, ceramics, nursing and physiotherapy.
Role
This is an opportunity for an individual looking for a challenging and exciting, fixed term role (21 months). We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Technical Officer in the Faculty of Science and Engineering to support a specific funded research project in the BioGeomorphology Laboratory. You will join a diverse team of technical staff who look after and support research in Science and Engineering's Core Facilities, and a small group of academic staff working on this specific project.
About You:
Working in the BioGeomorphology Lab, primarily on the NERC-funded ‘Cohesion' project, the role holder will support the fundamental tasks that underpin a set of experiments running in the lab's 10m flume. You will also be required to support occasional fieldwork involving sediment and macroinvertebrate sampling. You should have an interest in working in a research laboratory and in environmental science, ideally with experience in one or more of geomorphology, freshwater ecology, or hydraulics.
Duties include:
- Learning to operate and maintain the experimental flume facility and its instrumentation
- Preparing the flume for experiments (e.g. processing sand-gravel sediment mixtures, cleaning and disinfecting)
- Assisting experiments in the BioGeomorphology lab (e.g. preparing equipment, constructing hardware, collecting, recording and collating data)
- Working in UK streams and rivers, often in challenging terrain, to collect field data and samples of water, sediment and macroinvertebrate fauna.
- Procurement of goods and services
In order to provide the highest level of technical service, you will have a flexible approach to work and an ability to work on your own initiative. You should be a pro-active problem-solver, who can identify, discuss and enact solutions. You will be expected to participate in available training, attend relevant professional development events and to share information with other team members. Strong communication skills and an ability to work as part of a team are crucial for being successful in this post.
Interviews will take place on Friday the 26th June 2026
How to apply:
Please include a CV and cover letter highlighting skills and experience you will bring to the role. In your cover letter, make explicit reference to the requirements detailed in the person specification
For informal queries about the position, please get in touch with Prof. Stephen Rice ([email protected])
If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you.
Manchester Met University is committed to creating an intentionally inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We understand the importance of having a diverse workforce and the benefits it can bring to ensuring diversity of thought and innovation in everything we do. We, therefore, encourage applications from our local and international communities, in particular people from ethnic minority groups, disabled people and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations about this, as well as any reasonable adjustments required throughout the application process.
