Research Associate

We are recruiting a Research Associate for a research project based in the UK and Romania, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, ‘Interpreting the Governance of Human Trafficking: explaining policy practice. The post-holder will be based at The University of Manchester in the Politics Department. This is an excellent opportunity for a specialist in human trafficking and forced labour studies. We encourage applicants with the following skills: 1) practical experience working or volunteering in trafficking organisations, especially with Romania experience; 2) Romanian language fluency; 3) a postgraduate degree in a social science relevant to the project. The position requires participation in a large-scale research project on policy analysis and interpretation in the fields of criminology and public policy. The project is an innovative, interpretive study of public policy and practice regarding human trafficking. It compares public policy and implementation practices across the United Kingdom, Belgium and Romania. The project objectives are to:

• Discover the interplay between governance structures, interpretation and practitioner discretion.
• Explain how policy workers govern the trafficking problem by interpreting and responding to policy, and what this means for people with lived experience of trafficking.
• Uncover the network and political dynamics operating in trafficking governance, between policy workers and their organisations, and people with lived experience of trafficking.

The post holder, hereby referred to as the Research Associate, will be employed by The University of Manchester UK. The post holder will also be responsible to the Manchester research Project Team, Professor Nick Turnbull, Professor Rose Broad and Dr Anna Forringer-Beal. While the work specifically relates to the Romania case studies, it will also inform the wider project goals. The Research Associate will be responsible for conducting fieldwork in Romania for between one and five months of the appointment period, involving: locating, contacting and working with public officials, non-government agencies, and people with lived experience of human trafficking; conducting semi-structured interviews and field observations; transcribing and translating interviews into English; the delivery of a survey questionnaire; data management; and policy document translation and analysis.

There is the potential for the post-holder to contribute to academic conference presentations and publications. This is an excellent career opportunity for a social researcher to gain skills managing and conducting fieldwork, examining policy texts, and codifying research themes in the area of human trafficking policy. The Research Associate would join a team focused on collegial, collaborative practice and the production of high-quality research.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Nick Turnbull

Email: nick.turnbull@manchester.ac.uk

Name: Rose Broad

Email: rosemary.broad@manchester.ac.uk

Type / Role:

Subject Area(s):

Location(s):