The University of Winnipeg Class Specification

Classification:  Technician 4                                           Revision Date:  June 2004
Unit:  AESES
Hay Point Range:   401 - 470

CHARACTER OF THIS CLASSIFICATION LEVEL

In positions at this level, incumbents provide highly skilled technical services or assistance which in some positions is combined with administrative support to a department.

Although general direction is provided by an administrator or academic staff member, a high degree of initiative, judgement and resourcefulness is required.

In some positions, the supervision of other employees at the same or lower levels and students is a requirement.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH ARE INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CLASSIFICATION LEVEL AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS A DESCRIPTION OF ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL POSITION WITHIN THIS CLASSIFICATION LEVEL

General Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Operates, maintains, sets up, calibrates, inspects, installs and/or demonstrates highly specialized equipment and techniques and facilities in person or on recordings in accordance with specifications
  2. Diagnoses causes of malfunctioning parts, equipment or systems and repairs or provides recommendations on alternatives
  3. Develops and refines current and new techniques and procedures and recommends application of new equipment and approaches by maintaining current awareness of specialized areas of expertise
  4. Establishes and performs preventive maintenance in accordance with developed schedules
  5. Maintains records of equipment, chemicals, materials, research and budgets as required and prepares reports, projections and estimates
  6. Designs, creates and maintains mechanical, electronic, computer and/or other scientific equipment used in teaching and research
  7. May assist in establishing specialized reference collections for teaching and research purposes
  8. Evaluates new equipment and recommends purchase based on analyses of costs and effectiveness
  9. Maintains an inventory of parts, materials, specimens, supplies, organisms, artifacts, etc. and places follow-up on orders as required
  10. May act as Safety Officer for an area, monitoring safety concerns and following accepted procedures
  11. Recommends on policies, equipment, techniques and regulations as necessary
  12. May make arrangements for field trips
  13. May supervise, assigns work, train, evaluate performance, and maintain records for staff in an area or fill in for others in an area

Project Management Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Designs, draws and constructs production of projects in consultation with academic and administrative staff
  2. Builds, rebuilds, modifies or adapts existing materials and ideas for emerging needs and applications
  3. Demonstrates and educates faculty, staff and students in: designs, concepts, approaches, and stages required to complete projects
  4. May establish project plans, tasks, teams, time lines and budgets
  5. May develop and deliver workshops and demonstrations
  6. Answers inquiries and provides technical advice with regard to the operation, design, specifications, limitations and/or serviceability of equipment, ideas and creations
  7. Maintains current knowledge in an area of expertise and in apparatus, techniques, etc.

Laboratory Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Plans, organizes, arranges and supervises activities and materials preparation in support of teaching and research to laboratories in a large department, ensuring all apparatus are working properly
  2. Develops and carries out policies and procedures, safety procedures and regulations and supervises all staff and students in an area to ensure adherence
  3. Acts as demonstrator and lab instructor, supervising, advising and assisting students in learning skilled techniques safely, and using specialized equipment and adapts these from elsewhere where possible
  4. Actively participates in research projects, recording results of experiments and interpreting data
  5. Expands and maintains collections, attending to conservation, exhibiting, financial and standards concerns
  6. Participates in committee work as required or assigned
  7. Maintains current knowledge in an area of expertise and in apparatus, techniques, etc.
  8. May act as University Radiation Safety Officer including: inspections, report preparation, licence application, record keeping, supervising incidents and being a resource on radioisotopes and regulations
  9. Performs other related duties as required or assigned
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

The minimum qualifications required are:

Level of Formal Education and Experience

  • Undergraduate degree in a related discipline plus three years of directly related experience or Diploma plus four years of directly related experience
  • or
  • An acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience
Skills and Abilities
  • Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, establish schedules and deadlines for work processes
  • Ability to exercise independent judgement
  • Highly developed oral and written communication skills with ability to demonstrate and/or explain detailed technical procedures
  • Ability to communicate effectively with staff, students, and the public
  • Ability to supervise and direct the work of other employees at the same or lower levels in some positions
  • Must be knowledgeable about all safety procedures, computer software, equipment, materials, organisms and chemicals used in an area
  • Must be able to keep accurate and complete records
  • Must have a valid Manitoba driver's licence in some positions
  • Good public speaking skills required in some positions
Physical Requirements
  • Capable of performing the duties as assigned