Education - Grade 9 (Specialist Pathway)

Experiences

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

Health & Safety responsibilities

• By developing local procedures, establish and maintain a safe/compliant working environment within the specialist area
• Hold specific safety responsibilities relevant to the specialism e.g. laser safety advisor
• Ensure all safety paperwork relevant to the specialism is completed/reviewed 
• Oversee completion of all compliance tasks related to the specialist area
• Complete accident reporting and assist with investigations
• Maintain in-depth and up-to-date health and safety knowledge relevant to the specialism
• Maintain relevant up-to-date health and safety knowledge providing expert support/advice

Core responsibilities

• May provide direct line-management support, schedule, prioritise and monitor work and performance in line with demands and deadlines 
• Supervise other staff and students working within the specialism
• Undertake the procurement of equipment for purchases up to £50,000 
• Design and provide specialist training and training materials to research students and staff at all levels.
• Conduct complex research experiments contributing to the experimental design
• Lead on/prepare outputs as appropriate to the role, contributing to the development of the individual’s or UCL’s reputation.
• Specialise in a skillset deemed to be expert in their area and/or including project management of major technical projects
• Hold responsibility for the overall technical project management of research projects, including the design and implementation of systems
• To maintain and run a state-of-the art core facility, which meet the needs of UCL, including a service users
• To work collaboratively with other research groups in UCL in addressing major research questions. This involves work at the cutting edge of the technology, where high level technical expertise in this field is required 
• To lead your own research programme and disseminate research findings both within UCL, and externally in the form of publications, presentations and reports. 
• To bring skill and rigour of our part of the collaboration to match the input from the collaborators on the biological problem under investigation. 
• To supervise the provision of the core facility this largely through management of staff and oversee the quality of the service, its cost effectiveness and the appropriate use of its resources 
• Contribute to research outputs, including research papers, as a co- or lead author.
• Apply for grant funding from appropriate external funding agencies and internal funding programs.
   

Personal and professional development

Development options to consider when working towards this level

Learning on the job

• Undertake strategic planning in specific area of responsibility
• Gain practical experience of line management
• Develop a clear understanding of the main HR processes to support line management of staff

Learning from others  

• Establish good working relationships with academics and faculty senior management
• Join a Community of Practice
• Conference attendance/presentation
• Represent department/faculty/UCL at external network meetings/working groups

Formal learning

• UCL Leadership and/or Management training 
• Apply for training through a mid-career apprenticeship programme
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy – Advance HE via UCL Arena Centre

Transferable skills and competencies

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

Formulating strategies and concepts

• Thinking broadly
• Approaching work strategically
• Setting and developing strategy
• Visioning

Persuading and influencing

• Making an impact
• Shaping conversations
• Appealing to emotions
• Promoting ideas
• Negotiating and gaining agreement
• Dealing with political issues
   

Analysing Developing results and setting customer expectations

• Focusing on customer needs and satisfaction
• Setting high standards for quality
• Monitoring and maintaining quality
• Working systematically
• Managing quality processes
• Maintaining productivity levels
• Driving projects to success
   

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.