Modern Apprenticeship – Laboratory Technician at Balmoral Comtec Ltd. Balmoral Park, Aberdeen (Two Positions)
Opportunity overview
Balmoral Comtec Ltd has a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic and motivated individual to join the laboratory team for a permanent science/technical-based role within the team and train under the Modern Apprenticeship Programme as a Laboratory Technician within Balmoral’s state-of the art on-site material laboratories.
This opportunity will incorporate both on the job training and academic qualification, you will be fully supported by our onsite team, whilst you work to achieve an SVQ in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (Industrial Science) at SCQF Level 7 and an HNC in Applied Science at Dundee College on day release. The entire training duration is expected to last up to three years however the job role is permanent (Subject to successful completion of the apprenticeship). The position is ideally suited to a recent school-leaver.
With our team of laboratory staff supporting you throughout your journey, you will have the benefit of gaining recognised professional and academic qualifications whilst working full time and gaining on-the job experience at Balmoral’s headquarters in Aberdeen.
Location
You will work in the laboratories at Balmorals Headquarters in Aberdeen and will attend Dundee college one day per week (during the academic year) over a two-year period whilst studying for the HNC. You may have to work at other locations, including customers’ sites nationally and internationally.
Brief Description of the Job’s Function
You will be an integral part of a thriving laboratory-based support team, which provides laboratory testing support for material research and development, production support and ongoing routine quality control to meet the demands of Balmoral’s internal and external customers in an evolving industry.
The role will require making the best use of your ability and you will use state of the art laboratory equipment and techniques. The jobholder should, when required, show the ability to work independently with appropriate supervision/mentorship as well as show initiative and innovation in all areas of their work within a supportive team.
The successful candidate will study and achieve an SVQ in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (Industrial Science) at SCQF Level 7 whilst working on-site and will study for an HNC in Applied Science at Dundee College on day release over a two year period during the three year apprenticeship.
The Main Duties & Responsibilities are:
- Safely and efficiently conducting material testing and process control techniques.
- Safely and efficiently conducting project-based laboratory work.
- Safely maintaining and checking laboratory equipment and registers.
- Safely operating cutting equipment for sample preparation.
- Competently contribute to Coshh and Risk assessments for lab-based work.
- Maintaining effective efficient working relationships for scientific and technical activities
- Preparing samples using a variety of cutting tools and equipment.
- Performing quality control testing, project specific testing and development testing using Balmoral laboratory equipment such as Differential Scanning Calorimeters, Thermal Conductivity Analysers, Gas Pyknometers, Universal Testing Machines to obtain tensile, flexure, compression and creep data, pressure testing and polymer ageing equipment.
- Providing assistance with material and product material testing for projects and material development scopes.
- Providing concise, accurate and timely presentations of results from testing in a variety of formats: Excel, Word, Power-Point, Balmoral specific systems etc.
- Providing technical support to a variety of continuous process operations.
- Contributing to departmental efficiency saving projects.
- Accurately maintaining the laboratory registers containing details of equipment checks and equipment calibration.
- Conducting routine (basic) maintenance and checks of laboratory equipment.
- Maintaining adequate stocks of raw materials, solutions and chemicals to support testing operations.
- Contributing and authoring CoSHH and risk assessments relating to department chemicals and tasks.
Working Relationships
Reports to:
- Senior Laboratory Support Technologist
Personnel Reporting to the Jobholder
Others with Whom there is Regular Working Contact
- Technical Manager
- Materials R&D Manager
- Senior Technologists
- Technologists
- Production Management Supervisors
- Production Operatives