Design and Technology Technician

St Helen’s would like to appoint a Design and Technology Technician for this leading independent girls’ day School.

THE POST 

St Helen's is seeking to appoint a Design and Technology Technician for an immediate start. We would consider both term time plus 4 weeks and applicants who can commit to all year round. 

The Design and Technology Technician works in the Design and Technology department of St Helen’s School, supporting the work of the academic staff in ensuring the efficient, effective and safe teaching of the subject to pupils aged 7-18. The duties of the Design & Technology Technician include the provision of practical equipment and other necessary materials for lessons, general support to the academic staff within the department and, under the supervision of the academic staff within the Department, support to individual pupils or groups of pupils during practical activities. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• To maintain the teaching areas, stockroom and preparation areas to ensure a clean, safe and orderly environment 

• To ensure the maintenance of adequate stock levels by recommending stock needed, preparing draft requisitions for signature and keeping stock records. 

• To assist academic staff and pupils with practical work when required 

• To arrange the preparation of wood, metal, plastics and other materials, as required by the staff, using appropriate hand/machine tools 

• To be responsible for the regular servicing and simple maintenance of the drawing equipment, machinery including CAM, benches and other items, including the regular sharpening and adjustment of hand and machine tools

• To liaise with necessary agencies in terms of external repair and maintenance of equipment, including the collection of related items 

• To be responsible for the safe and tidy storage of tools and materials, including the design and making of racking systems

• To design and construct models, teaching aids and apparatus within various mediums

• To prepare rooms and materials for lessons, demonstrations, displays, exhibitions and examinations in the Design & Technology area 

• To maintain the audio-visual equipment used in the Design & Technology area Health & Safety 

• Follow responsibilities as defined in the School’s Health & Safety Policy 

• To keep up to date with the safety legislation, to liaise with the Design & Technology teachers regarding safety matters and to undertake, in consultation with the Head of Department, safety audits in this area 

• To carry out regular safety checks on hand tools and machines and other equipment, reporting to the Head of Department any potential problems with materials or equipment and, when necessary, liaising with external contractors regarding the repair of equipment 

• To exercise vigilance towards the pupils especially in matters of Health and Safety 

• To complete, file and distribute Risk Assessments and CoSHH Assessments, liaising with the School’s Health & Safety Administrator where necessary 

• To alert the Head of Design & Technology to any issues of safety within the Department Child Protection 

• promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people with whom s/he comes into contact and adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Child Protection (Safeguarding) Policy Professional Development 

• To participate in arrangements to identify training needs, and to be available for further training if required as new machinery and software’s are acquired within the department

• To attend meetings with Head of Department as required 

• To assist academic staff in duplicating and photocopying 

• To maintain Departmental records using a computer for record keeping (using Excel) and word processing (using Word) where appropriate 

• To perform any additional duties as may reasonably be assigned to the Technician from time to time by the Head of Design & Technology

THE PERSON

It would be desirable for the successful candidate to have the following qualifications, experience, and personal attributes:

• experience of manufacturing/workshop environment

• a knowledge of tools within multiple material categories

• a good level of skill in use of tools/machinery

• experience of an educational setting

• ability to liaise with other departments

• experience of Excel for spreadsheets etc

• great organisational skills and time management

• fit into a hardworking and busy department

• supportive and friendly

• motivated to learn new skills and keep abreast of changes / developments with software and machinery within the department 

Closing date: 08.00am on Monday 30th May 2022. 

Please submit your application immediately as candidates will be screened as they apply. We therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we find a suitable applicant. Due to the large volume of applications we receive, if you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.