Research - Grade 7

Experiences

Activities and responsibilities likely to be required when working at this level

Health & Safety responsibilities

• Complete a range of maintenance activities and repairs
• Liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to resolve problems and investigate replacement options
• Advise advanced users on advanced equipment capabilities demonstrating how results can be achieved
• Create department policies and contribute to improving and implementing policy/practice to support research enhancements within area of expertise 
• By developing local procedures, establish and maintain a safe/compliant working environment
• Oversee compliance tasks ensuring timely completion and maintenance of appropriate records
• Complete accident reporting and assist with investigations

Core responsibilities

• Provide management, motivation, and support to a technical team of broad remit
• Schedule, prioritise and monitor work and performance in line with demands and deadlines
• Assist with recruitment of technical staff
• Hold delegated responsibility from the academic lead for the planning, operation, and supervision of a facility or laboratory space 
• Work collaboratively with other areas to ensure efficiency and elimination of duplicated effort
• Organise and facilitate progress and management meetings
• Be a key contributor to service development, delivery, and planning
• Oversee local record keeping, inventory and asset management 
• Manage one or more budgets monitoring resource usage.  Depending on the role, and requirements of the area of work, this could involve undertaking the procurement of equipment for purchases up to £50,000
• Source and negotiate with suppliers for a range of items including specialist parts/equipment
• Create, update, and implement procedures to deliver an aligned, efficient and effective service 
• Support taught course projects by delivering skilled technical support
• Design, develop and deliver inductions, demonstrations and training covering a broad range of activities (not limited to techniques and equipment)
• Assist managers with the identification of training and development needs
• Develop a broad knowledge and skills base, sharing with others
• Mentor junior staff
• Conduct research experiments and troubleshoot protocols
• Participate in committees, procedural training, writing standard operating procedures and risk assessments
• Liaise with contractors for on and off site visits
• Contribute to research publications as a co or lead author, or contribute to outputs as appropriate to the role (e.g. research papers, conference presentations, provision of internal/external services) 
• Lead and design record maintenance 
• Lead small estates projects and contribute to large-scale estates projects 

Personal and professional development

Development options to consider when working towards this level

Learning on the job

• Undertake procurement processes
• Contribute to research project funding applications e.g. costings for consumables, equipment purchase and design/construction
• Build management and supervision skills e.g., procurement process, dealing with conflict, presentation skills.
• Build knowledge and experience to become a subject matter expert in areas of responsibility 

Learning from others 

• Join a committee or Community of Practice
• Participate and contribute to appropriate academic/ research meetings
• Seek out opportunities to contribute to a journal club 

Formal learning

• UCL Leadership and/or Management training 
• Apply for training through a mid-career apprenticeship programme
•  Accreditation/certification from a recognised Professional body 

Transferable skills and competencies

UCL uses the Universal Competency Framework (UCF) to discuss transferable skills. Find out more details on the framework.

Writing and Reporting

• Writing correctly
• Writing clearly and fluently
• Writing in an expressive and engaging style
• Targeting communication

Analysing

• Analysing and evaluating information
• Testing assumptions and investigating
• Producing solutions
• Making judgements
• Demonstrating systems thinking

Achieving personal work goals and objectives

• Achieving objectives
• Working energetically and enthusiastically
• Pursuing self-development
• Demonstrating ambition.

UCL Ways of Working

These describe expected behaviours in line with UCL culture and values.  For Ways of Working indicators and steps to development please refer to the Ways of Working website.