Research Associate, Energy and Climate Governance - Climate Citizens Research Group

Job reference: SAE-031446

Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on experience

Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering

Location: Manchester

Employment type: Fixed Term and Permanent

Division/Team: Department of Civil Engineering and Management

Hours Per Week: Full time (1 FTE)

Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 29/05/2026

Contract Duration: Fixed term for 24 months

School/Directorate: School of Engineering

Join us as a Research Associate, Energy and Climate Governance, supporting policy-relevant research on climate governance and citizen engagement within the Climate Citizens Research Group and the Tyndall Centre. Working closely with Professor Rebecca Willis, you will contribute to research, engagement and project delivery in a collaborative environment.

You will be responsible for:

• Support research delivery, including literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, qualitative social research and secondary data analysis.
• Produce outputs such as journal papers, policy briefings, blogs and presentations.
• Provide research support to Professor Rebecca Willis as a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow.
• Co-ordinate the Climate Citizens Research Group, including meetings and project administration.
• Support communications and engagement with research centres, policymakers and other stakeholders.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

You should be able to demonstrate:

Essential Criteria:

• A PhD in a relevant social science discipline, or equivalent research experience.
• Knowledge of energy and climate governance and citizen engagement.
• Relevant experience in academic, professional or voluntary settings.
• Research skills including qualitative methods, literature reviews and secondary data analysis.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience writing for academic, policy or public audiences.
• Good project and financial management skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and work collaboratively.
• Experience of communications and engagement activity.
• Ability to attend regularly in person at the Tyndall Centre.

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

(Grades 6-9)

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Rebecca Willis

Email Address: rebecca.willis@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries and administrative support

recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.