Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. The facility is used by over 3,000 academic and industrial researchers across a wide range of disciplines including structural biology, energy, engineering, nanoscience and environmental sciences.
Diamond is seeking to recruit a Senior Hall Co-ordinator to join an existing team providing operational/technical support. The team works a continuous shift pattern (based around 3 shifts) which involves day, late, night and weekend shifts on a rota. This role will involve extensive manual handling and a significant amount of walking covering multiple buildings. A full UK driving license is essential for this application.

The main duties will be to provide advanced technical support to scientists, visitors and users throughout the beamlines undertaking fault diagnosis and resolution, and providing comprehensive support for remote access experiments plus safety/ beamline training out of hours.

In additional you will monitor activities within the various Diamond facilities to ensure compliance with company and statutory requirements, undertake the duties of a Radiation Protection Supervisor and act as a Diamond Emergency Controller responding to safety alarms and incidents.

Successful candidates will have proven experience in working within a Science/Technical environment as well as most of the following areas: handling of hazardous chemicals, specialist gases, cryogens (pressurised dewars) and low level radioactive sources.  Previous experience of working within a workshop environment with general electronic/engineering tasks as well as technical experience with laboratory equipment for user support out of hours would be beneficial.

You should be highly motivated and able to work under your own initiative with excellent communication skills.

There is a strong emphasis on H&S so familiarity of risk assessments and COSHH is essential. A good understanding of H&S legislation along with a safety qualification would be desirable but not essential.

Further details can be provided on request.

AIM - To provide a broad range of support and advice, maintaining the operational effectiveness of all beamlines and laboratories, and the Diamond Synchrotron, maintaining the user operation programme and reducing lost shifts.
EHCs have delegated authority with regards to user safety, competence and beamline operations.

• Provide advanced technical support to users, using knowledge and expertise to undertake fault diagnosis and resolution on all beamlines, out of hours. Ensure all faults are logged and reported to relevant parties;
• Provide comprehensive beamline support out of hours for all Remote Access experiments - acting as the main contact for off-site users and all beamline/sample issues;
• Responsible for the provision of out of hours PSS, Beamline and safety training when required. Make decision on User competency to operate the beamline and perform hutch searches, controlling access as necessary;
• Management of shipped sample dewars for the beamlines; ensure dewars are maintained, and monitored daily;
• Undertake the duties of a Radiation Protection Supervisor, monitoring safe working practices within all beamlines and laboratories, ensure the safe storage/use of low level radioactive sources. Undertake regular monitoring and ensure compliance of radiation generating laboratory equipment. Issue PTWs;
• Monitor specialist samples and procedures for users; ensure correct storage and safe use of hazardous samples/materials in beamlines/laboratories;
• Act as Emergency controllers for Diamond in accordance with the SHE guidelines. Contribute and prepare risk assessments, hazard analysis reviews etc. Respond to all laboratory and beamline alarms (in particular: low oxygen, hazardous spillages, First aid) co-ordinating evacuations and responses as required;
• Maintain expertise in a professional field (such as Health & Safety, Gas safety, radiological etc.) and apply to the development of new procedures and policies. Ensuring specialist training required to support the Experimental Hall and beamlines (e.g. Software, Beamline equipment, RPS, First Aid) is updated as required;
• Manage relationships with specialist suppliers to procure and deliver services, equipment or expertise for Diamond, notably oxygen depletion systems, gas regulators, specialist waste and specialist gas/liquid helium;
• Coordinate and supervise installation / maintenance contractors, maintenance and breakdowns on beamlines and within laboratories as necessary;
• Produce reports and documentation, supporting the delivery of services and systems on beamlines and laboratories;

The EHC’s will also be involved in installation and maintenance activities, development of operational procedures and documentation for the Experimental Hall. They may also be allocated to other groups to support their activities, future development and training.

Experimental Hall Co-ordinators work on a regular 24 hour, 7 day, continuous year round shift system.

• Significant relevant work experience within a Science / Technical, multi-disciplinary environment;
• Proven experience in most of the following areas: handling of hazardous chemicals, biological samples, specialist gases, cryogens (pressurised dewars) and low level radioactive sources;
• Good working knowledge of HSE legislation and experience of preparing risk and COSHH assessments;
• Full UK driving license;
• Ability to interact with people at all levels;
• Supervisory skills;
• Ability to work on own initiative;
• Good planning and organising skills;
• Ability to carry out a range of general tasks in chemical and biological laboratories and to operate and maintain standard laboratory equipment;
• Candidates must be able to work flexibly within the required shift patterns;
• A full driving license is essential for this role;
• Good IT skills – standard MS Office software.

• HNC/ HND or equivalent qualification in appropriate subject such as science, mechanical/electrical etc;
• General safety qualification i.e. NEBOSHH, IOSHH etc;
• Experience of working as an emergency controller, dealing with hazardous situation and first aid issues;
• Experience of working within a varied shift pattern covering early, late and overnight shifts;
• Experience of using fork lift trucks / powered trucks;
• Ability to carry out general electronic and engineering workshop tasks;
• Ability to train users of standard laboratory and workshop equipment;
• Ability to monitor and keep stock records.
   

A full UK driving license is essential for this application.