Research Assistant in School and Community Physical Activity

University of Bradford

At the University of Bradford, our focus is on creating the conditions for social, cultural, and economic impact. Our work to expand opportunity and enable students to reach their potential, has led to us topping the Social Mobility Index of English universities for the last two years. 

Research Institute

The successful candidate will join the Applied Health and Wellbeing team in the Research Institute for Health and Social Care. You will work alongside a thriving community of physical activity researchers at the forefront of applied research in whole-school and whole-system physical activity for children and young people. Our research team works alongside other areas of excellence, such as the Mental Health Research Centre for children and young people. Showcasing our standing in the field, we organised the world’s first whole-school physical activity conference in 2024.

What you will be doing:

• To support the development, implementation and evaluation of a district-wide universal offer for children and young people’s physical activity in Bradford.
• You will work with the research team and the JUMP team to co-develop a coherent, district-wide framework for the delivery of children and young people’s physical activity to operationalise the district's physical activity strategy, Every Move Counts.
• You will support the evidence-based development and evaluation of the JUMP schools programme in Bradford. JUMP schools use the Creating Active Schools (CAS) programme to create place-sensitive change for whole-school physical activity within the Sport England-funded place partnership in Bradford (JU:MP).

Qualifications/ experience:

• A first degree (2-1 or higher) in a relevant discipline, e.g.., physical activity, public health, psychology or sociology
• Experience of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection and analysis
• Working with one or all of the following: schools, community-based organisations and families.
• Experience of developing and delivering school and community physical activity interventions. 

In Return we Offer:

• 25 days holiday and 13 statutory and customary days (taken at Easter and Christmas).
• Family-friendly policies
• Great campus facilities including:
• Unique fitness centre
• Eye clinic
• Physiotherapy & sports rehabilitation,
• Counselling & mental health services
• On site nursery
• Food & drink outlets
• Generous employer contribution pension schemes - Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Generous benefit schemes, including car leasing, cycle to work, holiday purchase, home & technology scheme and shopping discounts

Find more information about the many other benefits, including salary sacrifice schemes and campus nursery.

Additional Information:

If you would like to find out more or are interested in applying, please email Professor Andy Daly-Smith (a.daly-smith@bradfordf.ac.uk), we would love to hear from you.

Confronting Inequality : Celebrating Diversity

At the University of Bradford we accept people for who they are regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marital status, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or socio-economic background and whether you’re pregnant or on maternity leave.  

In line with the University’s commitment to equality charters including Athena Swan, Race Equality Charter, Disability Confident and Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme, we welcome applications from people identifying with these characteristics.  The University has a number of staff networks which provide peer support and safe spaces for staff who hold these and other identities.

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