Teaching Chemistry Technician - Te Kura Mātai Matū | School of Chemical Sciences

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

This full-time on-site role at the University of Auckland’s School of Chemical Sciences invites you to bring hands-on chemistry lab experience to a Technical Services team, preparing and running undergraduate teaching laboratories, maintaining equipment, managing inventory, and supporting students and academics during practical sessions. Expect varied days focused on new experiments, calibration, or troubleshooting, with primary emphasis on first-year labs and some second and third year teaching. Essential skills include chemistry lab experience, safe handling of equipment, strong organization, and clear communication; a chemistry qualification helps, but relevant technical experience counts. Apply online by 6 August 2026 with a CV and cover letter, and contact Tim Layt for a confidential chat.

Company Description

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

Ko te whare Pūtaiao | The Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland is the largest and most highly ranked science faculty in New Zealand. The Faculty of Science is ranked among the top 90 science faculties worldwide by the QS World University Rankings. The 10 departments and schools that form the Faculty of Science represent the breadth and diversity of science in our modern world.

Our staff and students can connect with our flagship groups including Tuākana, Rainbow, Women of Colour, Māori, Pacific, Muslim, and Disabled Staff network and our Waipapa Marae.

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

Help shape the next generation of scientists.

Do you enjoy working in a laboratory where no two days are the same? Are you passionate about chemistry, solving practical problems, and supporting others to learn?

We're looking for a Teaching Chemistry Technician to join our Technical Services team and play a vital role in delivering exceptional undergraduate teaching laboratories within the School of Chemical Sciences.

This is an opportunity to combine your technical expertise to help create engaging, safe, and well-equipped learning environments for thousands of students each year.

As part of our collaborative Technical Services team, you'll be responsible for ensuring our chemistry teaching laboratories are prepared, equipped, and ready for practical teaching. From preparing experiments and maintaining specialist equipment to supporting academics and students during laboratory sessions, you'll be integral to delivering an outstanding teaching experience.

No two days are quite the same. One day you could be testing a new practical experiment, the next calibrating laboratory equipment, ordering specialist consumables, or helping students confidently use scientific instrumentation.

You'll primarily support our first-year teaching laboratories while also contributing to second and third-year practical teaching.

Ngā Haepapa Matua | Key Responsibilities (not limited too):

In this varied and hands-on role, you will:

• Prepare, set up and pack down undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratories.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, instruments and facilities to ensure they're safe, reliable and ready for teaching.
• Manage laboratory consumables, chemicals and inventory.
• Support practical teaching sessions and demonstrate laboratory equipment and techniques where required.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and contribute to continuous improvements in laboratory operations.
• Work alongside academic staff to develop and test new teaching experiments and activities.
• Ensure laboratories operate in accordance with health, safety and hazardous substances legislation.
• Support outreach activities, exhibitions and public engagement events.

This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week) permanent position

Remuneration: $63,600 - $79,300 per annum, dependent on experience

For more detailed information, please refer to the Position Description

He kōrero mōu | About you

You'll enjoy working in a team environment, take pride in delivering high-quality work, and be someone who naturally notices the details that make everything run smoothly.

Nga Pūkenga Motuhake | Important Skills

• Experience working in a chemistry laboratory environment.
• Practical knowledge of laboratory equipment, instrumentation and safe chemical handling.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence working with students and academic staff.
• A proactive approach to solving problems and improving processes.
• A genuine willingness to learn new technologies and techniques.

A qualification in chemistry or a related discipline would be an advantage, but we're equally interested in hearing from people who have gained relevant technical experience through their work.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory, and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently ranked among the world’s most liveable cities. 

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare, and a number of other discounts on internal and external services. 

For more information, please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications must be submitted online by the closing date of 6th August 2026 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and CV, highlighting how you can meet the skills and experience detailed above.

Please reach out to Tim Layt (Technical Manager) via [email protected] for a confidential conversation. Please note we are happy to answer your questions, but we do not accept applications by email. 

Additional Information

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz