Technical Manager

This 12-month, part-time role will support research activities for the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE) at the Tremough campus in Penryn. The technical team support several disciplines in the faculty including engineering, Earth and environmental science and Ecology and conservation. As Technical manager you will primarily support activities in the department of Ecology and conservation however, you will need to provide support across all areas to cover holidays and sickness of other technical managers in the team. The role will be responsible for supporting the Technical Operations Manager for Research and supervising the day-to-day activity of junior members of the team. You will take a leading role in ensuring core research activities have the appropriate resources and take a lead on health and safety where appropriate.

The post-holder will be required to have experience in managing, setting up, running, and troubleshooting laboratory equipment. In addition, the role-holder will be required to carry out local inductions and training, offer advice on appropriate sample preparation techniques and instrumentation to meet the lab user’s needs. The post-holder will support the implementation of the Universities health and safety and sustainability policies and champion best practice in these areas.

We are looking for an individual with demonstrable experience in relevant areas, who has exceptional communication and time management skills, and who has experience in providing professional technical support in a research laboratory environment. You must be able to work independently, using your initiative to tackle any problems, whilst also being a part of the wider University community.

This new part-time (0.5FTE) post is available from 02/11/2026 on a 12-month fixed term basis

The starting salary will be from £34,630 per annum per rata on Grade E, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

The Research Services Division is a key enabler to the delivery of the University’s Strategy 2030, the Research and Impact Strategy, successful REF performances, and meeting research income targets.

This role is within the Technical Strategy & Operations part of the Division. We are research and teaching technical staff across the entirety of the University of Exeter. We work in specialist areas across the University and beyond, undertaking and supporting research and teaching and promoting compliance and best practice, in the labs, studios, workshops, and field.

The service is comprised of a team of talented individuals who support our teaching and research, and in training the next generation of top scientists. Our technical roles, which include experimental officers, laboratory technicians and research technicians, all focus on different aspects of science and humanities - from mechanical/electrical engineering, medicine and health, life sciences, social sciences, film, drama & communications, physics, geology and geography, and so much more.

We are proud signatories of the Technician Commitment, working to raise the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical careers.

We are proud signatories of the Technician Commitment, working to raise the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical careers. We are also proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people to work in our operationally focused service. This role forms part of our Technical Career Pathway.

This post supports the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

The Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy is a vibrant interdisciplinary community, dedicated to delivering world-class education and research that breaks new boundaries and has a positive impact on the world. We work across fundamental sciences, engineering and business to deliver on the University’s Strategy 2030 to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future.

We are one of the world’s best universities in interdisciplinary environment and sustainability, founded on strong fundamental disciplinary research and education. The faculty is home to ten departments in physical and environmental sciences, engineering and includes the globally recognised, triple accredited University of Exeter Business School.

The Penryn Campus is set in 100 acres of countryside, close to the waterside town of Falmouth, and boasts beautiful views over the Fal estuary. Made up of around 6,000 students, it offers a close-knit friendly community, in an arrangement that is unique as we share the campus with Falmouth University: a leading specialist arts institution.

The technical spaces within the campus support a range of teaching and research activity across disciplines such as mining, geology, geography, ecology, medical and biosciences, and engineering. Many of these spaces are undergoing upgrades under the Penryn2.0 project, meaning high-spec refurbished teaching and research labs, including micro and molecular biology and mass spectrometry, and a new purpose-built field research hub.

Please contact Lucy McTaminey, TS&O Faculty Partner for Cornwall [email protected] 

The Research Division is a key enabler to the delivery of the University's Strategy 2030, the Research and Impact Strategy, successful REF performances, and generating external research income, by:

• supporting the full research project lifecycle from inception to impact
• offering research infrastructure support
• providing leadership for the Exeter Doctoral College
• delivering joint strategic, policy and planning support to the University and Faculties

The division consists of four service groups: Doctoral College; Research Services; Research Software and Analytics; and Technical Strategy and Operations.

Technical Strategy and Operations is a centralised team of research and teaching technical staff across the university delivering our institutional technical strategy working in specialist areas, leading on technical infrastructure, equipment and facilities. In addition, the group undertakes and support research and teaching and promoting compliance and best practice, in the labs, studios, workshops, and field.

We are proud signatories of the Technician Commitment, working to raise the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical careers.

• Flexible working opportunities and leading parental leave initiatives
• Generous annual leave (39-41 days including bank holidays)
• Competitive pension contributions
• A genuine dedication to supporting the health and wellbeing of all colleagues - see initiatives here
• Sustainability and the environment being at the heart of what we do

If you're considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.

The University of Exeter is a proud supporter of the Technician Commitment, a charter focussing on the visibility, recognition and career development of our technical staff. For further information, please see our website.