Place-Based Research Associate (0.5 FTE)

About the team or project: 

The Research Associate role will be located in the School of Education based in the Brooks Building on our Manchester campus within the Faculty of Health and Education.  The Faculty of Health and Education is a vibrant place to work with teaching and research activity in Education, Health, Psychology and Social Work / Social Care disciplines. 

The School includes staff with major responsibilities on Initial Teacher Education for Primary and Secondary age phases, Early Years and Childhood and Education degrees as well as other Post Graduate programmes. In addition to the taught programmes the School of Education at Manchester Met. has a strong national and international reputation in relation to its research.  In REF 2021 we were ranked 9th for research power and the top 150 in the QS world rankings. Staff members have published widely and enjoy considerable reputations in their field. Many also are engaged in deep partnerships with local and regional communities as part of community-led and place-based research initiatives.  

About the role: 

This is a 0.5, 6-month fixed term research associate post and is intended to support the work of Professor Karen Salt as a member of the Pipeworks team that participates in the Youth and Communities research group within the School of Education. This represents an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the development of novel and innovative place-based research by preparing, conducting and recording the outcomes of research and related fieldwork and collaborating with research partners. The role will involve carrying out analysis of research and related fieldwork and collaborate in the dissemination of the findings to appropriate groups, including the preparation of research outputs. The role will focus on building sustainable connections across the work of this project, and other place-based research and community partnerships in preparation for grant applications and the development of impact for a future REF impact case study.

About the candidate: 

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive researcher who has expert knowledge of working with communities and who is confident in building and supporting internal and external networks that support the needs of the research. The successful candidate will be able to collect and collate data and other research outcomes, analyse and evaluate findings and disseminate these to the relevant groups and research communities.  

We are seeking a research associate with the ability to develop an interdisciplinary approach to evaluating research outcomes and someone who is able to manage complex work, planning and prioritising activity to effectively meet agreed research objectives.  

The successful candidate will be confident in organising and managing the day-to-day progress of research projects concerning place-based research and collective governance. They will be proactive in identifying future research and income generating activity in the field and will be confident in leading bid writing that meets the needs of funders.  

To apply:  

If you would like to apply, please take the time to consider the essential criteria in the job description and provide us with a CV that demonstrates your suitability for the role.  

For an informal discussion regarding the requirements of the role please contact Professor Karen N Salt at k.salt@mmu.ac.uk to arrange a TEAMs call. 

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support. 

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.  

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.