Research Associate – Community Engagement and Digital Inclusion

Opening Date:
4 Dec 2023
Closing Date:
17 Dec 2023
Salary Range:
Region:

Health Sciences & Wellbeing Research Institutes
Location: Sunderland Campus
Salary: £37,100 to £44,263
Hours per Week: 15
Closing Date: Sunday 17 December 2023
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference: 0677-23-R
Further details: Job Description
About the University of Sunderland

The University of Sunderland offers life-changing opportunities for 27,500 students across its campuses in Sunderland, London, Hong Kong, and through global partnerships with learning institutions in 15 countries. We’re proud to be a top 50 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2024), with top-quality facilities, inclusive culture, and our vibrant, ever-changing city.

The University of Sunderland has undergone significant expansion thanks to a major step-change in the University’s ambitions, building on the £75 million already invested on facilities in the last five years. Indeed, the University is expected to invest a further £250 million over the next 10 years to transform facilities for students and staff underscoring a bold and ambitious outlook.

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results, University of Sunderland doubled its proportion of world-leading (4 star) or internationally excellent (3 star) rated research since its 2014 submissions. 89% of the published research was rated as ‘internationally excellent’ in the Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy category demonstrating continued growth and development in research.

The Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute leads on interdisciplinary health and social care research across the four Faculties of the University. The Institute works collaboratively with external partners in NHS, Local Authority, health, and social care, VCSE and commercial settings to tackle health inequalities, empower patients and populations and support the healthcare workforce.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Associate (Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement) to join us on a part time, fixed term contract basis. Within this role you will support the development and delivery of an externally funded evaluation of the UKSPF Digital Inclusion and Community Support project across Sunderland, working collaboratively with Sunderland City Council, the third sector and the public. The post holder will lead on a mixed methods analysis, including assessing social return on investment, and writing up the findings for publication, impact strategy and dissemination plan across a wide range of audiences.

What you can bring

The successful candidate will possess a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline, have demonstrable experience and expertise in UK-based community engagement projects, digital inclusion and assessing social return on investment. You will be an experienced mixed methods researcher with a track record of leading on research and evaluation projects focused on community engagement, supported by your peer-reviewed publications in this area. Experience of developing impact strategies would be an asset.

What we can offer you

The University of Sunderland is not just a place of academic excellence, but also a community that embraces inclusivity and support. We value our staff and offer a rewarding package that goes beyond just salary. Joining our team comes with a host of benefits designed to enhance your work-life balance and overall well-being.

Enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement of 36 days