Research Associate in Public Involvement

at  University of the West of England

JOB REFERENCE

R07361
We know research is better and more impactful when it is done ‘with’ the public rather than ‘for’ the public. UWE Bristol is seeking a dynamic individual to support and deliver public involvement in research across its College of Health, Science and Society.
About us:
This post will sit within Research, Business and Innovation (RBI), a dynamic, friendly department with a strong team ethos. We support, develop and enhance the ambitions for research, professional development and business engagement. We are agile, bold and collaborative in our approach to delivering our activities. Our people are what makes us successful. Skills and experience can be acquired, so what we look for first in our team members is an ability to collaborate, communicate and think creatively. As a professional service, it is essential that we put our service users at the heart of everything we do.

ABOUT THE VACANCY:

This is full-time, fixed-term post offered at Research Associate level. The postholder will sit within the Impact and Engagement Team of RBI and will be directly line-managed by the Head of Impact and Engagement. However, the post will also be accountable to the Dean of Research and Enterprise in the College of Health, Science and Society.
This unique arrangement will ensure that the postholder can draw on the support structure of other teams within our professional services to deliver activities across the College, while also ensuring they are embedded within the research community.
About you:

We are seeking a skilled research associate in public involvement and/or engagement who ideally also has experience of working with underserved communities. The university has a strong track record in developing innovative and effective public involvement and engagement. Working with public contributors you will support the College’s research and knowledge exchange ambitions by helping to deliver impactful outcomes. Key activities will include:

• Building capacity and expertise in public involvement/engagement in research across the College
• Identifying pre-grant funding to support early engagement activities
• Working collaboratively with public contributors to ensure strong public involvement in research across the College, potentially leading on work packages for specific projects
• Working with and building upon existing networks (internal and external) to foster future collaboration opportunities and improve inclusivity
• Streamlining internal processes and procedures that recognise and value meaningful public involvement where contributors are rewarded for their time commitments where desired.

ABOUT UWE BRISTOL:

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with over 30,000 students, 250,000 alumni and 3,800 staff. We are both globally connected and regionally embedded, with strong employer and partner connections. Our staff and students come from over 160 countries making this a diverse, dynamic and rewarding place to work and study.
We are an ambitious university. Together, our people are working hard to advance knowledge, inspire people and transform futures. We are looking for people with the skills and ambition to help us achieve those aims.
We have a lot to be proud of at UWE, our achievements include an impressive 88 percent overall student satisfaction in the most recent National Student Satisfaction survey, placing us 2nd of all universities in England and 7th in the UK. We are 6th in the UK for postgraduate student satisfaction (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey) and importantly, 96 percent of UWE Bristol graduates are in employment or further study within six months after graduation. We have also achieved TEF Gold status, have been ranked 21st in The Guardian Best UK Universities 2021 and 29th in the latest Times Higher Education ‘Table of Tables’.
Bristol itself is a hub of social and cultural activity and is a big pull for students and employers alike. A city with a creative and fiercely independent mindset, a vibrant music scene, great restaurants and interesting business ventures. Bristol was the first British city to win the European Green Capital award in 2015, The Sunday Times newspaper named Bristol the best city to live in Britain thanks to its culture, nightlife and proximity to beautiful countryside while National Geographic listed Bristol as 11th in the world’s ‘cool list’ destinations, ahead of Paris and Amsterdam, so it’s not surprising Bristol is consistently named as one of the best places to live and work in the UK.
This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed – with £300m having been invested recently on new state-of-the-art learning spaces and accommodation while incredible new facilities continue to be developed to enhance our offer even further.
Frenchay campus has excellent transport links; as well as being located near the motorway network we are within walking distance of two train stations, our bus terminus connects us to the local bus and metrobus network and we also have a range of cycling and changing facilities, making our campus the ideal place to work for those commuting to Bristol.
It is expected that the postholder will also spend significant time at our Glenside Campus which is set within beautiful grounds in Stapleton, just three miles north east of Bristol City Centre. Regular bus services link the campus to the main Frenchay site, the city centre and surrounding areas, and nearby Bristol Parkway train station. Home to UWE’s Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, Glenside Campus offers excellent teaching facilities, these include a selection of inter-professional simulation suites, enabling students to practice and develop professional competencies, and one of the best health care libraries in England.

In addition to progressive pay rates, UWE Bristol offers a wide range of employee benefits including:

• a generous holiday allowance of 27days pro rata
• up to 12.5 bank holiday/closure days per year
• flexible working
• excellent defined benefit pension schemes
• access to employee assistance programme
• ongoing learning and development opportunities
• family friendly policies and wellbeing initiatives
• onsite nursery at our Frenchay Campus.
• savings on purchases via Wider Wallet scheme
• option to participate in the cycle to work scheme

Please refer the Job description for details