Stores Technician - School of Metallurgy and Materials - 52559 - Grade 4

Position Details

School of Metallurgy and Materials

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,546 to £29,171, with potential progression once in post to £32,595

Grade: 4

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 11^th October 2026

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

In Metallurgy and Materials we explore how materials behave and how they can be used and improved. Working closely with industry, much of our research is focussed on reducing our environmental impact on the world and includes materials and technologies for electrification, recycling of critical materials, and developing green energy solutions.

Our research-intensive teaching gives students a learning experience that generates the most sought-after and transferable skills. Our research interests are reflected in the range of taught and research degrees we offer, from Materials to Aerospace, Space to Fusion.

Role Summary

To provide a Stores Service for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, based in the School of Metallurgy and Materials. This will be a service in the main, but not solely, to the staff and students in Metallurgy and Materials Schools . This involves the day to day running of the Stores including: issuing stock; data entry; re-ordering; monitoring turnover; identifying new or redundant lines. It will involve receiving deliveries for Metallurgy and Materials, the College, including compressed gas cylinders. The post will involve close contact with the Accounts Office in supporting them to resolve outstanding issues.

Main Duties

Safety

To ensure the safe operation of the Stores the post holder must follow the procedures contained in the risk assessments: this will involve the filing and issuing of chemical data sheets for Stores Stock Items as well as working to the COSHH assessments for these items. Any concerns over safety must be brought to the attention of the post holder’s line manager and/or the Safety Coordinator.

Stock Control

• Maintaining the customer stock lists and the web-based stock list. 
• Issuing stores items to members of staff and students in the School and College. Advising staff and students on their requirements from stores and offering alternative solutions if an item is not stocked. 
• Entering records for the issue of duty free alcohol in the appropriate record books for inspection by Customs and Excise. 
• Entering the information from the stores requisition docket onto the computer using Access Stock software or other stores software.

Stock Re-Ordering

• Regularly checking that the physical stock levels match with the computer records. 
• Facilitate the annual stock-taking. 
• Maintaining a high level of security for stock in the main stores and other associated areas.
• Regular monitoring of stock using Access Software.
• Checking prices to ensure best value for money in terms of price, delivery and quality.
• Monitoring Stores item turnover to ensure that stock level meets with demand and best value is obtained by bulk purchasing when appropriate.
• Initiate orders using the New Core.

Receiving Deliveries of Stock Items

• Checking and signing for the delivery of stock items.
• Checking the quantity delivered matches delivery note details.
• Entering delivery details on Stores computer. Modifying computer-held details where required.
• Filing delivery notes.

Receiving deliveries of non-stock items for Metallurgy and Materials

• Checking and signing for the delivery goods.
• Identifying the intended recipient and notifying of the delivery by using the name-board, email or telephone.
• Storing the delivery in a safe manner for collection.
• Obtaining a signature from the recipient on collection; filing delivery note for collection by Accounts Office.

Compressed gas cylinders

• Ordering gas cylinders by telephone from the Purchase Order supplied by the Accounts Office.
• Ensuring the empty cylinders are ready in case of exchange: if not, contact person who raised order requisition.
• Receiving gas cylinder deliveries; ensuring correct cylinders are returned; signing for delivery; filing delivery note for collection by the Accounts Office.

Other

• Developing the Stores service to meet the changing needs of the College. This involves recognising need to stock a new item and introducing it after obtaining the best possible value by negotiation with suppliers. 
• Recognising stock items that are no longer requested and removing from the stores stock list. Updating the computer system to take account of any such changes. 
• Holding and maintaining a Stores up to date library of supplier catalogues for the use of staff and students. Offering advice to staff and students on suppliers and our history of dealings with them such as: price; discounts available; reliability of delivery etc.
• Monitoring the storage and use of gas cylinders in the school and the IRC. Preparing a list of rental charges for gas cylinders against contracts held within the School and IRC for the Accounts Office to charge contracts at the end of each month.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Good general education, probably to ‘A’ level or equivalent professional experience.

Skills and experience

• Demonstrable experience in a stores position involving dealing with people

Safety

• Must be capable of working to safety guidelines and risk assessments
• Knowledge of Manual handling issues.
• Must have some understanding of COSHH and Risk Assessments.

Stores function

• Computer literate
• Knowledge of MS Access Databases
• Knowledge of Excel spreadsheets
• Familiar with emailing
• Good communication skills
• Confident telephone manner
• Able to negotiate with suppliers

OH&DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquiries to Brian Thomas, email: [email protected] 

View our staff values and behaviours here

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

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.