Purpose of the role

As a Specialist Technician Letterpress (Learning & Teaching), you will provide professional expertise, guidance and advice and contribute to the delivery of academic activities within the College.

You will provide support for student learning, informal and formal training and instruction, and the development of proficiency with highly specialist techniques, production methods and technology.

You will also contribute critical input to student concept and expressive/creative intention, including giving feedback to students, and to student formative assessments, with reference to appropriate learning outcomes of the Course or project.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Take responsibility for and oversee the daily running of Letterpress facilities within the College, including the use and booking of specialist facilities (within and without timetabled teaching sessions) and liaising with the Technical Coordinator/Manager to ensure the safe use of equipment and facilities.

• Contribute, as a Course team member, with the planning and development of the programme area, the identification of learning outcomes, including curriculum development, research and commercial activities.

• Contribute and collaborate with Technical Team members as required to ensure the key priorities and levels of service are met successfully, such as compliance with Health and Safety, maintenance and repairs of equipment, liaising with team members, the Technical Coordinator/Manager.

• Provide feedback to Course Leaders, Technical Coordinators and/or Technical Managers regarding service levels and student requirements to ensure appropriate adaptations are made and contribute to the revision of standards of service delivery.

• Work at an agreed level within the terms of the glossary of key terms (describing Teaching & Learning relationships between Technicians and students).

• Contribute to planning, development and delivery of learning activities supporting student learning and research, liaising with Course Leaders and academic staff informally and formally in Course meetings.

• Supervise learning activities, providing expert guidance and advice to students, helping students to identify and supply appropriate techniques, processes, materials, resources and equipment to meet learning outcomes.

• Provide formal or informal sessions to students that may include demonstration, instruction with a process/technique, coaching for the development and proficiency of a particular skill, technique or process, including Setting, Proofing, Locking Up, Printing and Distribution of Type.

• Provide detailed feedback to students and contribute critical input to student concept and expressive/creative intention in relation to agreed Course Learning Outcomes and demonstrate a high level of independent responsibility for the diagnosis and resolution of problems and creative/artistic challenges met with the execution of that work.

• Carry out detailed and extensive research to support the ability to diagnose and resolve problems of a highly technical, complicated nature, which involves testing and re-testing scenarios and processes.

• Undertake frontline maintenance and repairs, liaising with suppliers and contractors to meet professional procedures and guidelines, as agreed with the Technical Coordinator/Manager.

• Liaise internally and externally with professionals and recognised practitioners and artists, attend conferences and exhibitions to share and develop ideas, knowledge and expertise that can be used to support academic learning and research activities.

• Take responsibility for the maintenance of inventories, carrying out risk assessments and appropriate records with regard to equipment, stock lists, ordering of stock, equipment and consumables, reporting servicing and repair of equipment to the Technical Coordinator/Manager.

• Contribute to the project planning and delivery of exhibitions and events within the College and be involved with the design, production and development of appropriate teaching and learning materials to suit own specific areas of specialist activity and service delivery.

Key working relationships

• Students
• Technical Coordinator
• Technical Manager
• Course Leader
• Academic staff
• Technical and related college staff

General duties

These duties below are in addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above:

• Perform duties and tasks consistent within the scope and grade of your role as reasonably may be expected and assigned to you from anywhere within the university.

• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role.

• Work in accordance with the University’s Staff Charter and Dignity at Work Policy, ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in your work to fulfil the University's obligations under the Equality Act.

• Undertake continuous personal and professional development, and to support it for any staff you manage through effective use of the University’s Planning and Review Conversations (PRC) scheme and staff development opportunities.

• Make full use of all information and communication technologies to meet the requirements of the role and to promote organisational effectiveness.

• Conduct all financial matters associated with the role in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures, as laid down in the Financial Regulations.

• Contribute to the University’s Climate Action Plan which sets out our principles, commitments and goals towards climate justice and our socio-environmental purpose.

Experience, knowledge and qualifications

• Strong technical experience or qualification and operational knowledge of Letterpress techniques and Print Publications finishing including typesetting, locking up, proofing, layout and design for typography in Graphic Communication Design (Essential)

• Specialist knowledge and experience of using software for print production and computer aided image production, such as Adobe Creative Cloud

• General understanding of Copyright and Intellectual Property issues related to graphic communication industries (Essential)

• Knowledge of and ability to undertake the daily preparation of facilities and resources to ensure they are supplied and maintained in safe and effective working order in compliance with Health and Safety legislation and risk assessments (Essential)

Communication skills

• Ability to provide routine oral, written information and/or visual media to clearly and concisely explain technical terms, demonstrate equipment and techniques related to graphic print production to a diverse audience in an inclusive and accessible way (Essential)

• Experience of answering common questions or queries and translating information into learning materials for workshop use and online (Essential)

Research, teaching and learning or Professional practice

• Ability to use a range of print methods, tools and equipment to achieve a high standard of work, while working to developing abilities and improve working practices (Essential)

• Experience of effective teaching, learning or professional practice to support inclusive teaching and pedagogy (Essential)

Planning and managing resources

• Ability to plan, prioritise and organise work to achieve objectives or projects on time (Essential)

Teamwork

• Experience working collaboratively in a team, providing support, assistance and cover where needed (Essential)

• Ability to work collaboratively and constructively with colleagues, providing support and cover where needed, while ensuring the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are upheld (Essential)

Student experience or customer service

• Makes a significant contribution to improving user experience

• Ability to maintain up to date knowledge of services available in own and related areas of work, adapting services and systems to meet user needs and identify ways of improving standards.

• Commitment to building and maintaining positive relationships with students to support their development in an inclusive learning environment (Essential)

Creativity, innovation and problem-solving

• Ability to support users across typography, book design, illustration, and emerging digital practices through experimentation and formal development. (Desirable)

• Able to identify and assist in the implementation of innovative and creative solutions to resolve problems, improve standards and nurture the development of responsible, independent, and collaborative practice of students (Desirable)

We are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.