Control Instructor (Three-year contract appointment) - Department of Materials Science and Metallur

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING

CONTROL INSTRUCTOR (THREE-YEAR CONTRACT APPOINTMENT)

PEROMNES POST LEVEL 8

In pursuit of the ideals of excellence and diversity, the University of Pretoria wishes to invite applications for the following vacancy.

The University of Pretoria's commitment to quality makes us one of the top research Universities in the country and gives us a competitive advantage in international science and technology development.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent will be responsible for:

• Research support:
  • Providing research support to staff and research students (fourth year project students and postgraduate students working in the pyrometallurgy laboratories as well as other metallurgical laboratories);
  • Teaching conventional pyrometallurgical laboratory procedures to students;
  • Addressing requests for the construction of novel and innovative pyrometallurgical and other metallurgical experimental setups from personnel and study leaders, and providing guidance to students in the construction of these experimental setups;
  • Ascertaining the safety requirements for the construction of said new experimental setups as well as the execution of experimental work.
• The management and control of laboratories:
  • Ensuring that all the extractive metallurgical laboratories are clean and that equipment is all in a working condition;
  • Managing and coordinating all repairs of said laboratory equipment (fault-finding, repair and testing);
  • Ensuring that sufficient laboratory stock of frequently used crucibles, furnace tubes, heating elements and materials for the preparation of polished sections are available;
  • Conducting regular inspections (at least once a week) of all said laboratories, with regular feedback to staff from the Centre for Pyrometallurgy;
  • Training personnel and students in the use of said laboratory equipment;
  • Processing purchasing requests from staff and research students (fourth year project students and postgraduate students), subject to the approval of the relevant study leaders, and obtaining quotations, placing orders, and following up;
  • Maintaining a database of suppliers of frequently used equipment, consumables and materials;
  • Maintaining a database of service providers for maintenance and calibration of equipment;
  • Ensuring that safe practices are followed in the laboratories at all times, in accordance with legal safely requirements;
  • Controlling the issuing of poisonous or hazardous chemicals, ensuring that all students using poisonous or hazardous chemicals are aware of the potential dangers and requirements for safe handling, and maintaining a departmental Safety Book and a register of “Materials Safety Data Sheets” for issue to students and researchers;
  • Ensuring that medical emergencies can be handled efficiently and without delay;
  • Co-ordinating the safe en environmentally friendly disposal of used chemicals and solutions, in accordance to applicable legal requirements;
  • Providing safety training to personnel and students, or arranging for such training to be provided;
  • Liaising with the University’s safety officials, including the safety representative of the Mineral Sciences building.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A BSc(Hons) in Metallurgy;
• At least ten years’ experience in research support and management in the field of extractive metallurgy;
• Experience in the use and maintenance of mechanical, electrical and chemical instrumentation;
• Experience in the management and maintenance of extractive metallurgy laboratories;
• Experience in laboratory safety;
• A valid driver’s license (Code B or EB).

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Excellent language and communications skills;
• Good interpersonal skills;
• Good computer skills (Windows, MS Office, Internet and PowerPoint);
• Technically competent to:
  • Execute laboratory scale experiments in pyrometallurgy and extractive metallurgy;
  • Perform sample preparation for analysis (chemical analysis, XRD, SEM-EDS, TG-DTA);
  • Interpret chemical analysis, XRD, SEM-EDS, TG-DTA data. 
• Knowledge of the following:
  • Which conventional pyrometallurgical laboratory techniques are used for which types of pyrometallurgical investigations;
  • Pyrometallurgical experimentation and fundamentals;
  • Experimentation in extractive metallurgy.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• A BSc(Hons) in Metallurgy, with specialisation in Extractive Metallurgy;
• First aid qualification.

The all-inclusive remuneration package for this contract position will be commensurate with the incumbent’s level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines.

CLOSING DATE:

22 March 2018

No application will be considered after the closing date, or if it does not comply with at least the minimum requirements.

ENQUIRIES:

Prof Andrie Garbers-Craig, Tel: (012) 420 3189

Should you not hear from the University of Pretoria by 31 May 2018, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

The University of Pretoria is committed to equality, employment equity and diversity.

In accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited to candidates from under-represented designated groups.

All candidates who comply with the requirements for appointment are invited to apply.

The University of Pretoria reserves the right to not fill the advertised positions.