Stores Technical Specialist

Post Details

Full time

Open ended

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 15 December 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 20 January 2025.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This role will require a Basic Disclosure check. An offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory outcome of this process.

For the purposes of sponsorship, this role may be eligible for sponsorship depending on candidate circumstances, this is a role under SOC code 3119.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

The Post

This is a key post delivering stores services for academic and other colleagues within the faculty and working as part of a team of technical specialists. As a key member of the ITMES team the postholder will collaborate with academic staff, professional services and students to ensure that efficient and compliant procurement procedures are provided across divisions, including Biological & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Aquaculture, Psychology, Computing Science & Maths and Field Stations at the Niall Bromage Freshwater Research Unit and Marine Environmental Research Laboratory.

The Stores Technical Specialist is responsible for managing the lifecycle of procurement activities, from requisition to purchase order, in line with the University’s Procurement Policy. The postholder will also support the stores team by undertaking supply and market analysis to obtain the best value for money using e-procurement tools, HE contracts database and internal knowledge.

Description of Duties

Customer Service & Liaison

• Act as an internal and external consultant, advising on and organising the procurement of specialist and non-specialist items
• Respond to queries, tasks and issues relating to procurement and stores, seeking guidance where necessary
• Advise and assist staff and students in the procurement, storage and shipping of items associated with their research or learning and teaching
• Support student learning and provide user-support through the demonstration of standard equipment and techniques
• Maintain a network of contacts, knowing who to liaise with on key issues
• Communicate and liaise with the wider university body, service users and external contacts, usually through established routine connections (e.g. regular suppliers/contractor) as own section of work requires
• Resolve work problems independently and assist senior colleagues in investigating and finding solutions for more complex issues or customer requirements

Maintenance and Management of Work Environment

• Manage the procurement, storage and shipping of items, including equipment, materials, systems and other items to a specification agreed with others.
• Ensure the security of buildings/plant/machinery
• Comply with Health and Safety procedures affecting self and others
• Advise on future physical resource requirements - general/specific equipment, apparatus, space, etc
• Serve as a trusted technical expert by effectively applying significant skills and experience

Planning and Organising

• Carry out a range of tasks to time and quality requirements, working mainly within established routines or procedures, with minimal direct supervision
• Plan own work schedule, responding to new pressures and to manager’s or work unit requirements, adjusting priorities as needed

Finance/Resource Management

• Monitor and take responsibility for resources following ordering procedures to ensure adequate resources (e.g. equipment, consumables, budget) are available to meet work requirements
• Ensure maintenance of stocks of equipment and consumables within budget

People Management

• Provide standard guidance and advice to junior colleagues/students through on the job training/coaching in the use of equipment and techniques
• Assign standard or routine tasks to others and be responsible for making sure they are completed correctly and to schedule, to ensure service quality standards are maintained
• Either operate as an individual, organising own work activities, to contribute to the achievement of faculty/work unit objectives or supervise staff allocating and prioritising their work and monitoring individual progress and performance in line with this, to contribute to the achievement of faculty/work unit objectives

Continuous Improvement

• Support improvements in policies, procedures, and work practices to enhance efficiency in the work area
• Continue to develop depth or breadth of knowledge in area of technical expertise

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

HNC/HND or equivalent level qualifications

Knowledge & Experience

Have experience of relevant technical/scientific work and have the ability to communicate effectively as part of a team

Additionally: -

• Requirement to understand and interpret the requirements of staff and students
• Understanding of Health & Safety and other relevant regulations and procedures
• Ability to understand and work within a budget
• Experience of purchasing scientific and other items and equipment
• Ability to understand purchasing, storing, handling, shipping, and disposing of potentially dangerous chemicals and substances
• Experience of controlling stock levels to ensure adequate availability of goods to staff and students
• Experience of using IT and web-based systems and Office 365

Skills & Attributes

• Ability to use initiative and judgement to resolve many day-to-day problems independently
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Good numeracy skills
• Familiarity with work priorities and those of colleagues
• Manual handling skills where required
• Competence with equipment, systems and technical tools
• Ability to plan and organise own work activities/tasks
• Be resourceful to ensure effective, accurate task completion
• Ability to communicate well, to ensure effective reporting, handling of non-standard information, and clarification of customer requests

For a full description of duties and essential/desirable criteria please click the apply button, which will take you directly to the University Website.