Research Associate - UEFA Programmes and Project Evaluation

Full-time, Fixed-term until 31^st March 2030 (subject to funding)

This research project will provide a process and outcome evaluation of UEFA’s Playmakers (PM) and Football in Schools (FIS) Programmes and the Equaliser Project (EP). The former are flagship interventions from UEFA, seeking to provide inclusive opportunities for boys and girls to participate in football, to develop their deeper connections to, and future engagement with, football, as well as to enhance their confidence, life skills, health, and well-being. The Equaliser project is to be launched shortly and will address the access and infrastructure challenges in girls' grassroots football clubs, seeking to make clubs more inclusive and diverse.

This collective evaluation aims to identify the impacts of the PM and FIS programmes and EQ project on participants, as well as highlighting what works well in terms of programme delivery across UEFA’s National Associations to further enhance their impact. 

We are seeking a mixed-methods Research Associate to support the collection and collation, analysis and presentation of both large-scale survey data, as well as extensive qualitative data. The successful candidate will work closely with the lead researchers and UEFA. The role requires strong organisational skills; familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods; the ability to curate and analyse relevant data; and an interest in either sport, youth sport, women's and girl’s sport, coaching and/or education. Familiarity with working with sport organisations will be advantageous.  

Informal enquiries should be directed by email to Professor Paul Downward P.Downward@lboro.ac.uk or Dr Rachel Sandford R.A.Sandford@lboro.ac.uk

For more information on the role please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.

Closing date: 12 April 2026

Our Benefits 

At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include: 

Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme 

Where you work – access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 

Financial wellbeing – competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities 

Support for you and those close to you - through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options. 

Health and wellbeing – discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support 

Travel and sustainability - access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting 

Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University. 

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