Laboratory Technician - Laboratory Technician (Open)

Main duties and responsabilities: 

Laboratory equipment maintenance

• Perform basic preventive maintenance and monitor the operational status of laboratory equipment.
• Supervise the functioning of equipment such as balances, microscopes, centrifuges, pH meters, vacuum ovens, muffle furnaces, freeze dryers, lab washers, water purification systems, glove boxes, gas manifolds, water baths, cell incubators and other commonly used devices.
• Handle first-level technical issues and coordinate repairs/maintenance with external suppliers when required.
• Maintain and update equipment usage, maintenance records and logbooks.

Laboratory infrastructure management

• Oversee the installation, maintenance and operability of laboratory infrastructure.
• Monitor water and gas lines, power outlets, fume hoods, laminar flow cabinets, gas detectors, eye wash stations, refrigerators and other auxiliary systems.
• Coordinate the preparation and adaptation of laboratories for new installations, reorganization or commissioning.

Safety and hazard management

• Ensure compliance with safety procedures in chemical and biological laboratories.
• Supervise proper labelling, chemical storage, ventilation conditions, gas detector functionality and general safety measures.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of good laboratory practices.
• Provide initial training to newcomers (students, research and/or technical staff) on laboratory safety rules and lab organization.

Laboratory organization and operational management

• Develop and maintain databases/inventories for chemicals, biological samples (e.g., cell lines) and consumables.
• Manage storage of cell lines in liquid nitrogen phase and refill storage dewars.
• Design, implement and maintain cleaning and disinfection procedures for cell laboratories.
• Monitor gas supply and manage reordering.
• Manage liquid nitrogen supply.
• Control inventories and process orders for laboratory consumables (gloves, towels, pipettes, glassware, solvents, reagents, cell culture media and cell culture plasticware, among others).

Procurement, supply and installation coordination

• Request quotations and compare offers for the acquisition of equipment and supplies.
• Process purchase orders and follow up procurement actions.
• Coordinate with suppliers the delivery, installation and commissioning of equipment.
• Prepare laboratories and technical spaces for use.

Waste management

• Organize and monitor segregation, temporary storage and disposal of laboratory waste (liquid, solid, glass and biological waste), in accordance with internal procedures and applicable regulations.

Training and user support

• Provide onboarding training to newcomers on safety rules, laboratory organization and basic operating procedures in chemical and biological laboratories.
• Provide technical and operational support to laboratory users in matters related to organization, equipment use and procedural compliance.

Required profile / Minimum requirements:

Higher Vocational Training qualification, Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in relevant fields (laboratory sciences, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, experimental sciences, engineering, or related disciplines).

• Previous experience in laboratory technical support, laboratory management or similar roles.
• Practical knowledge of safety standards in chemical and/or biological laboratories.
• Ability to manage inventories, consumables, purchase orders and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational skills, teamwork and service-oriented attitude.

Desirable qualifications / Merit-based criteria:

• Experience in multidisciplinary research laboratories.
• Experience with cell culture work and liquid nitrogen storage.
• Experience in gas supply management, detectors and associated systems.
• Knowledge/experience in cleaning and disinfection procedures in biological laboratories.
• Experience in chemical and biological waste management.
• Experience in technical purchasing, quotation requests and supplier coordination.
• Experience training users / new lab members.
• Knowledge of documentation, inventory or database management tools.
• English and/or Basque language skills, depending on the needs of the position.

Personal competencies: 

• Technical rigor and attention to detail.
• Proactivity and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritize tasks.
• Communication and coordination skills.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality and service.

• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales
• Target start date: 2026/05/01

We provide a highly stimulating research environment, and unique professional career development opportunities.

We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The successful candidate will join the technical support area and contribute to the day-to-day functioning of the laboratories through equipment and infrastructure management, supplies and consumables procurement, safety procedure implementation, waste management and onboarding training for new lab users.

Interested candidates should submit:

• Updated Curriculum Vitae.
• Motivation letter (optional / recommended, depending on institutional criteria).
• Copy of the required academic qualification (or equivalent documentation).
• Any additional supporting documents demonstrating relevant merits for the position.

The reference of the specific opening to which the candidate is applying should be stated in the subject line, and the application must be received before the application deadline.

Although candidates are welcome to contact the project supervisors to know further details about the proposed research activity, please be aware that the application will be evaluated only if it is submitted directly to the email address listed below as application email.

• Reference: Laboratory Technician
• Application deadline: 2026/04/06
• Application email: jobs@dipc.org

Applications received by the deadline will be evaluated by a Committee designed by the DIPC board on the basis of the following criteria:

• Pre-screening of applications based on profile fit and documented merits.
• Personal and/or technical interview.
• Practical or technical assessment, if deemed necessary to evaluate role-related competencies.
• Reference checks (when applicable).

Evaluation results will be communicated to the candidates soon after. Positions will only be filled if qualified candidates are found.

The DIPC may revoke its decision if the candidate fails to join by the appointed time, in which case the position will be awarded to the candidate with the next highest score, provided it is above 50 (out of 100).

However, the selected candidate may keep the position if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, the candidate duly justifies the reasons why he or she cannot join before the specified deadline, and as long as the project allows it.

DIPC is committed to equal opportunities, non-discrimination and diversity in its recruitment processes. Applications will be assessed exclusively on the basis of merit, capability and suitability for the position.