Research Associate - WCPP

Research Associate (WCPP)

Co-funded by the Welsh Government, Economic and Social Research Council, and Cardiff University, the Wales Centre for Public Policy bridges the gap between academic research and policymakers/practitioners by generating and mobilising evidence that improves policy decisions and public services. Its staff come from a range of backgrounds including academia, the civil service, health service, local government, think tanks, and the voluntary sector.

The Centre is a member of the UK's What Works Network and the International Public Policy Observatory. It collaborates with leading researchers from across the UK and internationally to generate, synthesise, and mobilise research evidence that can be applied to tackle pressing economic, environmental, and social challenges. Staff enjoy excellent access to senior policymakers and public service leaders, enabling them to achieve research impact at national and local levels.

We are seeking to recruit an outstanding individual to contribute to our work with public services and the Welsh Government. The post offers a unique opportunity to manage and conduct high-quality policy research, working closely with leading researchers and policymakers who are at the heart of current policy developments and debates, particularly in our three priority areas of the Environment and Net Zero, Tackling inequalities, and Community wellbeing.

You must have a good understanding of public policy; the ability to work directly with public service leaders; a commitment to high-quality policy-relevant research; excellent communication and organisational skills; and the ability to work as part of the Centre's wider team.

The post is part-time (0.5 FTE) and available immediately until 31st May 2025 to cover maternity leave. It offers a stimulating and supportive working environment with flexible working arrangements; a generous university pension scheme; a wealth of training opportunities; and a base in the Social Science Research Park (SPARK) located on Cardiff's £300 million Innovation Campus. The Centre supports hybrid working, and the successful candidate will need to be available to work from its offices in Cardiff two days per week.

We encourage potential applicants to contact Professor James Downe (Acting Director of the Wales Centre for Public Policy - email james.downe@wcpp.org.uk) or Dan Bristow (Director of Policy & Practice - email dan.bristow@wcpp.org.uk) for an informal discussion about the role. We will consider applications to join the Centre on a secondment basis.

Applicants are asked to answer the following questions at the start of their supporting statement. Your answers should be as concise as possible and must not exceed 200 words per question.

Question 1: The Wales Centre for Public Policy provides evidence to enable local authorities, health boards, and other public bodies to identify ways to improve policy decisions and public services.
How would you go about identifying the policy issues that we should work on with them over the next six months? What criteria would you use to rank the issues in order of priority?

Question 2: The Centre does most of its work in partnership with experts from other universities and research organisations. Imagine that we've been asked by a Public Service Board to provide evidence on what local services can do to tackle poverty in their area. They need a report in three months' time to inform their Wellbeing Plan.
How would you identify the best experts to work with us on this project? What potential barriers might you encounter in securing their input and how would you overcome these? How would you ensure that public services engage with the project?

Salary: £40,247 - £45,163 per annum (Grade 6) pro-rata.

Date advert posted: Thursday, 5 December 2024
Closing date: Thursday, 2 January 2025

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research

1. To contribute to the identification of the evidence needs of public services and policymakers in Wales.
2. To manage processes to identify and evaluate potential research projects for Public Service Boards and public services.
3. To work with public service leaders in new and innovative ways to review and synthesise research evidence to identify policy-relevant findings and recommendations.
4. To commission, manage, and quality assure research commissioned from policy experts.
5. To contribute to the design and delivery of initiatives to embed evidence use in public services.
6. To disseminate research findings to public service leaders, policymakers, and others through engaging reports, policy briefings, blogs, social media, and podcasts.
7. To design and facilitate workshops, roundtables, and events with a range of stakeholders, including academic experts, experts-by-experience, public service leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
8. To promote awareness of and engagement with the Centre's work among public service leaders, policymakers, and research networks.
9. To contribute to other activities that enhance research impact, such as engaging with local and national media.
10. To participate in networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.

Other

1. To participate in personal and professional development that is appropriate to the role and will enhance performance.
2. Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES

It is the University's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing, and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process, you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below, and we recommend formatting this by using each criterion as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (19390BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.

Cardiff Business School

Cardiff Business School is a leading business and management school in the UK, holding AACSB and AMBA accreditations and ranked 1st for its Research Environment and 2nd on Research Power (REF2021). The School has a Public Value purpose and focuses on the co-creation of high-quality, interdisciplinary education and knowledge that delivers economic, social, and environmental value. The School's activities are oriented towards five Grand Challenges: Decent work, fair and sustainable economies, future organisations, good governance, and responsible innovation.

DORA declaration

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

1. A postgraduate degree in a related subject area, or relevant equivalent professional experience.
2. An established expertise and proven portfolio of policy research and/or research management, effective knowledge mobilisation and research impact.
3. A proven ability to engage with public services and/or government in innovative ways to encourage the use of evidence to improve policy and practice.
4. An understanding of the barriers to evidence use in public services and/or government and of practical approaches to overcoming them.
5. Experience of developing and delivering effective stakeholder engagement and management.
6. Knowledge of current public policy issues in Wales and beyond.

Communication and Team Working

1. Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively - in writing and in person - with a diverse range of stakeholders including public service leaders and policymakers.
2. Ability to work effectively with colleagues in the Centre and researchers in the wider university and beyond as well as experts-by-experience and other stakeholders.

Other

1. Ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships with external stakeholders including public service leaders, politicians, civil servants, and other opinion formers.
2. Ability to work at pace across a range of projects and policy areas.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience of working in or with public services and/or government.
2. Knowledge of policy design, systems thinking, implementation science, or behavioural science.
3. The ability to communicate in Welsh.