Postdoctoral Impact Associate

This new full-time post for the Governing Sustainable Futures project is anticipated to start on the 1st February 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter) on a fixed term basic to the 30^th September 2028

Summary of the role

The Postdoctoral Impact Associate will be a key player in realising the ambitions of our project in terms of successful partner engagement, along with developing and translating findings from the project. The post holder will play an important role in co-producing outputs that seek to drive positive change towards sustainable transitions. You will be working at the forefront of innovation in developing engagement and participatory mechanisms, collaborating with a diverse network of experts to influence local and national governments, campaign and community groups as the project investigates approaches towards sustainability contestations. The role involves supporting the Project lead and Co-leads in developing and evaluating innovative approaches to environmental governance, applying the lessons learned to both Devon-based and wider contexts, and ensuring lasting impact through partner training and engagement. Key responsibilities include leading on developing and sustaining relationships with partners; planning and coordinating meetings and events with stakeholders; working with the project’s Research Fellow to conduct qualitative research with stakeholders and publics; input to academic publications and other project outputs, outward dissemination of findings and to work alongside community groups, local authorities, public bodies, as well as facilitating the ongoing enhancement of the place-based contestation toolkit to address evolving partner and stakeholder needs. 

Specific tasks and activities of the post include: 

• Network Development and Knowledge Coproduction: Build and maintain effective relationships with project partners, ensuring collaboration across groups of partners. Linked to this will be a focus on effective participatory and knowledge of coproduction processes with existing and new partners.
• Supporting data collection: Working with the Research Fellow to support data collection and analysis for the project.
• Dissemination of Findings: 1) Lead the outward dissemination of project findings through creative and conventional outputs, for example: reports, infographics, videos, social media, policy briefings and web-based resources. 
• 2) Contributing to, and assisting the process of the co-production of, academic project outputs from across the project teams, including journal papers, conferences and briefings.
• Stakeholder Engagement Guidance: Lead on external communication of research findings and promote sustainable practices to industries, governments (devolved, national and local), community groups, and the broader public.
• Co-Creation and Application: Work alongside community groups, local authorities, and public bodies to support real-life applications of the project’s outputs and participatory mechanisms.
• Team Engagement and Leadership: Collaborate closely with the GSF Delivery Team, support the smooth running of work packages, and contribute to ESRC-funded project delivery.

About you 

Applicants will possess a good honours degree and PhD/ higher degree (or equivalent professional experience) in a Human Geography, Political Science or a cognate social science discipline or relevant experience. The successful applicant will have a personal track record in carrying out, effective knowledge exchange and / or participatory activities with evidence of Impact generation.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

The University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is an equal opportunity employer. We are officially recognised as a Disability Confident employer and an Athena Swan accredited institution. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce. 

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