Main Purpose of the Job

The Critical Services Technician is a pivotal role within the Facilities team at NBIP, responsible for maintaining, repairing, monitoring, and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of critical building infrastructure and essential services. The Critical Services Technician will specialise in the maintenance, servicing and repair of laboratory Assets and infrastructure, Life Safety systems, Horticulture Controlled Environment Rooms (CERs), Data Centres, Energy Centre equipment, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units, Medium Temperature Hot Water systems, and Building Management Systems (BMS).

The post-holder will have expertise in technical fault diagnosis, preventive maintenance, and reactive repairs, ensuring all critical equipment and systems perform at optimal levels. They will also play a key role in supporting compliance with statutory regulations, safety standards, and operational best practices.

Working closely with the wider Facilities Maintenance Operations Team, the Critical Services Technicians will ensure the availability and reliability of critical systems that support scientific research and operational needs at NBIP. This role requires a proactive and solution-focused approach, contributing to continuous improvement and operational resilience. The Critical Services Technician will be expected to deputise for the Critical Services Supervisor.

Key Relationships

Reports to: Critical Services Supervisor 
Internal: Maintenance Operations Manager, Maintenance Operations team, BMS Technician, Maintenance Services Works Coordinator, Helpdesk and Business Systems Supervisor, PPM Works Coordinator, Energy and Environment Manager, and Operational and Laboratory Managers, Compliance Manager 
External: Contractors and Service Providers 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Critical Systems Maintenance & Operation
 • Perform planned preventive maintenance, monitoring through the BMS and reactive repairs on a range of critical systems, including: 
a) Specialist laboratory equipment including Autoclaves and Fume cupboards 
b) Horticulture Controlled Environment Rooms (CER) 
c) Data Centres and Energy Centre equipment including, UPS, Static Switches, Auto Change over d) Switches and Generators 
e) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units and associated controls 
f) Medium Temperature Hot Water systems 
g) Building Management Systems (BMS) 
h) Life Safety Systems, including fire detection, and emergency lighting 
i)  First-line response for CCTV and Access Control System issues 
• Conduct regular statutory inspections and performance checks, proactively identifying and addressing potential issues
• Monitor and adjust BMS settings to optimise energy efficiency and system performance.
• Respond promptly to system alarms, faults, and emergency situations to minimise operational disruptions.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, including service logs, fault reports, and compliance documentation

70

Technical Support & Troubleshooting
• Provide specialist technical support for diagnosing and resolving faults in critical systems and equipment.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external contractors to resolve complex technical issues efficiently.
• Utilise diagnostic tools, technical manuals, and BMS data to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.
• Support the commissioning, integration, and operational handover of new equipment and systems.

30

Compliance & Safety Management
• Ensure that all critical systems and equipment are maintained in compliance with relevant health, safety, and statutory regulations.
• Adhere to safety procedures, risk assessments, and permit-to-work systems.
• Support compliance audits and insurance inspections, ensuring adherence to health and safety standards.
• Assist in incident investigations, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, industry standards, and best practices.

Operational Efficiency & Continuous Improvement
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements, energy efficiency enhancements, and cost savings.
• Collaborate with the Facilities team to develop and implement best practices for critical systems maintenance and operation.
• Support the development and optimisation of maintenance schedules to maximise equipment uptime and reliability.
• Participate in training and development programs to enhance technical skills and knowledge.

Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration
• Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, including operational and laboratory managers, EI’s business support team, research teams, and facilities colleagues, to coordinate maintenance activities and minimise disruptions.
• Engage with external contractors, service providers, and suppliers to ensure high-quality service delivery and compliance with contractual requirements.
• Provide clear and accurate technical reports, including system status updates, fault reports, and maintenance records.
• Attend team meetings, safety briefings, and stakeholder engagement sessions as required.

As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

HNC/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification in Electrical, Mechanical, Building Services, or a related engineering discipline

Essential

IOSH qualification in health, safety, and statutory regulations

Essential

City & Guilds 18th Edition Wiring Regulations or equivalent electrical qualification

Desirable

Qualification in Building Management or controls

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Knowledge of Building Management Systems (BMS) and their role in energy efficiency and operational control

Essential

Understanding of CHP units, Medium Temperature Hot Water systems, and associated mechanical and electrical components

Essential

Strong fault-finding, diagnostic, and problem-solving skills

Essential

Knowledge of Energy Management and Sustainability practices related to critical systems

Essential

Familiarity with Business System systems for maintenance scheduling and reporting

Essential

Strong technical aptitude with the ability to interpret technical drawings, manuals, and schematics

Essential

Knowledge of Siemens Desigo BMS systems, Salto Access Control, and CCTV systems

Desirable

Able to multi-skill in relation to Mechanical and Electrical systems

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Proven experience in maintaining and repairing critical building infrastructure, laboratory assets and infrastructure, or similar systems

Essential

Experience with Horticulture Controlled Environment Rooms (CER), Data Centres, or other critical environments

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team

Essential

Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to respond quickly to critical situations

Essential

Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams

Essential

High attention to detail and a proactive approach to maintenance and operational tasks

Essential

Ability to manage multiple priorities and work efficiently under pressure

Essential

Able to multi-skill in relation to Mechanical and Electrical systems

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Willingness to participate in an on-call rota and respond to out-of-hours emergencies as required

Essential

Full UK driving licence (or ability to travel across NBIP sites as required)

Essential

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Partnership, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Partnership

Essential

Commitment to professional development and staying up to date with industry advancements

Essential

Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate

Essential

NBI Partnership

The NBI Partnership provides non-scientific services to the John Innes Centre (JIC), Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Earlham Institute (EI) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). All of these organisations carry out scientific research funded by the UK Government, European Union, Charitable and Industrial Sponsors. The Partnership employs around 140 staff to cater for the needs of approximately 1100 Research Staff, Students and Visiting Scientists who are all located in close proximity on the Norwich Research Park.

The John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience, the Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory are registered charities (No’s 223852, 1058499, 1136213 and 106550) and are Equal Opportunity Employers.

For more information about working at NBI Partnership, please click here.

Department

Facilities

Living in Norfolk

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• Childcare in Norfolk

Critical Services Technician

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes Partnership (NBIP) has an exciting opportunity for a Critical Services Technician to join their busy Facilities Department.

Background:

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes are a cluster of internationally renowned research organisations, working to tackle major challenges of the 21st Century – the sustainability of our environment, our food supplies and healthy ageing. 

The NBI Partnership provides high quality, non-scientific support services for the diverse community of staff, students and visiting workers at the Institutes (the Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory and Quadram Institute Bioscience) and for the NBI Partnership.

Based on the Norwich Research Park amongst 230 hectares of parkland, you will be joining a committed, professional and welcoming team.  In addition, you will enjoy a competitive salary and annual leave, our defined contribution pension scheme, excellent recreational facilities and a range of other employee benefits.

The role:

The NBI Partnership (NBIP) delivers facilities management services to leading bioscience institutes at the Norwich Research Park, including the John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory.

We are seeking a highly skilled and proactive Critical Services Technician to join our Facilities – Critical Services team. This pivotal role ensures the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of essential infrastructure that underpins cutting-edge scientific research in food security, health, and environmental sustainability.

You will:
• Deliver planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive repairs across critical infrastructure
• Maintain specialist laboratory equipment including autoclaves and fume cupboards
• Support Horticulture Controlled Environment Rooms (CERs), Data Centres, and Energy Centre systems (UPS, generators, CHP units, hot water systems)
• Monitor and optimise Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Respond rapidly to alarms, faults, and emergency situations
• Support fire detection, emergency lighting, CCTV, and access control systems
• Ensure accurate maintenance records and compliance documentation
• Assist with audits, inspections, and incident investigations
• Contribute to continuous improvement and energy efficiency initiatives
• Deputise for the Critical Services Supervisor when required

This is a hands-on, technically demanding role requiring strong fault-finding skills, attention to detail, and a calm, solution-focused approach.

About You:
You will be technically competent, safety-conscious, and confident working in critical environments.

The ideal candidate:

We’re looking for someone with:
• Experience maintaining critical building systems or complex technical infrastructure
• Strong fault diagnosis and troubleshooting skills
• Experience working with BMS and life safety systems
• Knowledge of statutory compliance and health & safety procedures
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent record-keeping and technical reporting skills
• A proactive, resilient approach with strong problem-solving ability

If you are a technically skilled professional who thrives in a critical services environment and takes pride in maintaining infrastructure that enables world-leading research, we would love to hear from you.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £36,540 to £45,350. per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time permanent role.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

Interviews are planned to be held week commencing 13th April 2026.

The NBI Partnership is an equal opportunities and disability confident employer. We are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and welcome all applications.

The closing date for applications will be 7th April 2026.