Postdoctoral Impact Research Fellow

Job Description

This exciting role will support the social engagement work of Bath Spa University and the new regional Culture West programme, our ground-breaking microfinance initiative Counting House and a suite of other projects run out of the Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries and The Studio - our Enterprise and Innovation Centre.

The postholder will be responsible for the creation of case studies and other types of data capture for evaluating impact and success of these projects, which we can then apply across the full range of our social engagement work.

Please note this is a full time fixed term contract for 2 years.

About the Role

Within the role you will undertake research and evaluation relating to relevant projects using the appropriate methods and/or techniques. To achieve this, you will scope out existing impact methods and approaches and, where needed, adapt these for implementation on relevant BSU projects. You will use your findings to produce research reports, case studies and/or publications as required by the funding body or for dissemination to the wider cultural sector or academic community.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with research colleagues and support staff internally as appropriate to the research and you will be expected to actively develop appropriate external contacts and networks relevant to the project and future funding opportunities.

Key Skills

• A PhD in any discipline or equivalent research or innovation experience or training. This could include applicants who have already achieved research or innovation independence (for example, by securing funding aimed at this career stage, or by already managing their own significant programme of work within a business) and can demonstrate that their practice is of equivalence to a PhD.
• Research experience in a relevant subject area, such as community arts practice, social enterprise, creative economy, community finance initiatives, creative technology, immersive arts, or audience research
• Experience of evaluating the impact of research, artistic practice, or socially engaged projects
• Applied research experience in own area or specialism, with an interest in interdisciplinary approaches and methods
• A good understanding of research impact environment in HE or of the impact environment in the cultural sector
• Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills
• Proven problem-solving skills
• Excellent ICT skills
• A clear commitment to contributing to the research impact environment and producing high quality research or evaluation outputs
• Proactive independent attitude
• Flexible and adaptive with a positive approach to managing substantial projects and associated resources
• A committed team-player

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