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Position Details
School of Engineering
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149
Grade: 7
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 25th June 2025
UK travel may be required for this role.
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
Background
The Space Environment and Radio Engineering (SERENE) group at the University of Birmingham is a leading research group in space environment and space weather research. With a multidisciplinary, collaborative and inclusive approach, the group focuses on a wide array of topics such as upper atmosphere modelling - covering empirical, physics-based, and data assimilation techniques - radio propagation, satellite orbit determination, and HF engineering. Additionally, the group explores fundamental physics problems concerning small-scale ionospheric structures and non-linear radiation belt dynamics.
Role Summary
Working collaboratively with the SERENE research group, which consists of academics, professional services staff, researchers and PhD students, the Radar Facility Manager will support the development and deployment of a high frequency (HF) radar facility. Once the facility is operational, they will also be responsible for handling the day-to-day operation, maintaining the equipment, setting up experiments, and supporting the safety of users and visitors.
Holding a combination of specialist technical knowledge in RF Engineering and operational leadership, the Radar Facility Manager has a critical role in the successful delivery of experimental research. The post reports to the Senior Technical Services Manager and works in close collaboration with the Technical Services Management Team to retain full operational oversight of the facility.
Role Description
The position would suit a candidate with experience working in a wide range of RF engineering roles and who is seeking an opportunity to broaden their technical engineering knowledge. The Radar Facility Manager would be responsible for advancing various sub-systems and components to a demonstration-grade implementation.
The ideal applicant will be expected to exhibit the following competencies.
Experience working with Radio Frequency (RF) equipment.
Confident working in a lab and workshop to test and fabricate equipment.
Experience working with technicians and suppliers to fabricate robust hardware.
Experience participating in field test campaigns.
Comfortable leading the design and implementation of RF sub-systems.
The candidate must be willing to travel to and from the facility site and hold a valid driving licence.
Main Duties
With a proactive approach to management, holds responsibility for operational quality, maintaining full oversight of the day-to-day function of the facility.
Maintains the facility to a high standard, ensuring spaces are safe, equipment is fully operational, and information is available to users.
Fosters a collaborative work environment, managing a flexible programme of work across multiple projects with shared resource, allocating work and scheduling the use of equipment to maximise quality and efficiency, whilst a prioritising safety.
Leads in the management of the equipment and materials lifecycle, supporting the procurement process and scheduling works, for new installations, maintenance and modifications and ensuring appropriate waste streams. Manages related contracts.
Advises on the costing of the facilities for projects, seeking to maximise efficiency, and streamline workflows.
Develops local operational processes and manages facility administration in alignment with School procedures, including records of training, access and compliance, an inventory of equipment and associated documents, schedules of maintenance and utilisation data.
In collaboration with the Buildings Coordinator, maintains oversight of all reactive maintenance and improvement works to the building fabric. Liaises with Estates, specifying and initiating work, monitoring progress and outputs of work.
Collaborates with the Technical Services Management Team, managing a communication plan to report upcoming works and progress to key stakeholders.
Provides specialist technical expertise to advise and train users in the operation of specialist equipment and to support the continuous improvement of the facility.
In collaboration with Academics, contributes to planning of experimental research, advising on the use of the facility’s capability to achieve desired outputs.
Operates and maintains specialist equipment, designs and delivers training programmes and technical guidance materials.
Specialist tasks for the facility will include:
Testing and validation of manufactured and procured kit.
Implementation of antenna calibration system.
Implementation of RF directional power monitoring hardware.
Antenna design, modelling and deployment.
Repair and service of equipment.
Preparation of system-level documentation.
As advised by the Head of Research Group and SERENE SLT, monitors the pipeline of research to understand their current and future needs, advising on the best practical evolution of the facility and inform the planning of future resource.
Works in collaboration with the Head of Research Group and SERENE SLT and the Technical Services Management Team to propose and develop improvements to support delivery of strategic priorities.
Supports the Technical Services Management Team, providing inclusive leadership to instil a culture of proactive and collaborative support.
Leads in the recruitment of technical staff, ensuring alignment with operational need.
Where Line Manager duties are applicable, monitors staff performance and development and wellbeing, seeking development opportunities to align individual direction with potential future operational need.
Where Line Manager duties are applicable, manages and tracks staff allocation of work to achieve targets, retaining flexibility to achieve facility priorities.
Acting as a champion for best practice in health and safety, retains full oversight of health and safety in the facility and contributes specialist knowledge to the safe operation of all School facilities.
Collaborates with the Technical Services Management Team, the Health and Safety Committee, Safety Services, Estates, and the Senior Leadership Team on all matters relating to Health and Safety, contributing local and specialist knowledge for discussion, and disseminating information to others.
Contributes to improvement projects and production of the health and safety action plan, monitor outcomes, benefits, and cultural shift.
Liaises with Estates, Safety Services, and representatives from external H&S bodies on regulation, policy and guidance, monitoring compliance of regulated equipment and environments, facilitating and assisting in inspections.
Acts as an advisory service to all users and visitors, both internal and external in the safe use of the facility, ensuring experimental activities prioritise safety in design and management.
Holds responsibility for the production and review of safety documents, contributing to, and conforming with procedural systems ensuring they remain robust.
Monitors the implementation and retention of control measures within the facility and acts on all safety issues arising, elevating as required. Ensures all incidents, accidents and near misses are fully investigated and reported.
In collaboration with the Technical Services Management Team, liaise with Security Services to maintain security of the facilities through access management, with reference to regulation and policy.
Provides information and constructive liaison with Security Services and Emergency Services, and acts as a nominated person for out of hours call out.
In collaboration with the Buildings Coordinator, ensures adequate fire safety and first aid cover measures are in place.
Collaborates with the Senior Technical Services Manager, initiating communications to users to distribute relevant knowledge and updates regarding health and safety.
Actively supports the School, College and University in promoting a positive working environment.
Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
Educated to Degree level in a relevant engineering subject or equivalent technical qualification and considerable relevant experience. Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of more demanding roles will be required demonstrating the conceptual understanding required.
Hold a professional qualification in health and safety e.g. IOSH (The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) or experience of managing health and safety in a high-risk regulated environment, e.g. RF engineering, and willingness to undertake qualification.
RF experience is essential.
A broad technical knowledge of RF hardware is essential. Experience in the operation of radar systems and a willingness to undertake specialist training (e.g. Amateur radio licence).
A demonstrable ability to understand and interpret a wide range of stakeholder requirements and applying a creative approach to problem solving, analysing the issues, and delivering innovative solutions through a package of works. An understanding of research processes and experience of working in a dynamic research-intensive environment is desirable.
Excellent communication skills, adapting approach to engage and relay information to a diverse range of stakeholders. Experience in preparing reports and delivering presentations is desirable.
Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively as part of a wider team to achieve operational or strategic goals. Experience of designing and proposing operational improvements is desirable.
Ability to manage a large inventory of equipment from procurement to disposal, maintaining safety and compliance throughout.
Excellent time management skills to handle a broad team workload, managing schedules to deliver multiple projects with competing targets. Experience of physical and human resource management is desirable.
Excellent leadership skills with the ability to drive a positive culture with an ethos of proactive support.
Ability to negotiate, mediate and deal effectively with sensitive or difficult issues.
Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
Ability to drive and hold a valid driving licence.
Informal enquiries to Ali Wright, email: a.j.wright.1@bham.ac.uk
View our staff values and behaviours here
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.
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