Sr Research Fellow / Study Manager: BiB Healthy Homes - FTC

Job summary

Closing Date: 20.04.25 (this may change dependent on response)

Shortlisting to take place after closing date: commencing 21.04.25

Interview expected to take place in the week following shortlisting: commencing 28.04.25

Born in Bradford (BiB) is an internationally acclaimed applied research programme which aims to improve health and wellbeing through the development and evaluation of interventions to promote health and the application of research into practice (www.borninbradford.nhs.uk).

Our new BiB Healthy Homes project will evaluate the impact of retrofitting social housing in Bradford on indoor conditions and air quality, resident health, and economic outcomes. Housing accounts for a fifth of all UK carbon emissions and is linked to mental, respiratory, and cardiovascular health. Retrofitting for energy efficiency can improve the warmth and reduce the cost of heating a home, benefitting low-income and vulnerable groups, while reducing carbon emissions. However, there may be trade-offs with reduced ventilation and worsening indoor air quality. We will monitor the indoor environments of over 400 social homes in Bradford for over 18 months use routine health and housing data from the Connected Bradford dataset to explore the impact of these improvements on resident health, carry out building modelling and health economic analyses, and engage in qualitative and participatory research activities.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an organised, motivated, and enthusiastic Senior Research Fellow with strong project management and quantitative research skills to play a key role in the set-up, coordination, and management of our new NIHR funded 'Healthy Homes' project, based within the Population Health Improvement (PHI-UK) Healthy Urban Places consortium.

Working with a major social housing provider, the BiB Healthy Homes project will evaluate the indoor environment, health, carbon emissions, and economic outcomes of retrofitting social housing properties to improve energy efficiency. We will explore trade-offs in indoor conditions and other potential unexpected consequences, along with contextual and system factors which affect implementation and resident experience. Our findings will help understand how to maximise the environment, health, and economic co-benefits of retrofit.

The post will be based within the Born in Bradford team at the Bradford Institute for Health Research. The Senior Research Fellow will work under the supervision of the BiB Healthy Homes co-Principal Investigators (Prof McEachan and Dr Yang) and will be a key member of the BiB team. They will work closely with collaborators at the social housing provider and University of Leeds, University of York, University College London, University of Manchester, and University of Cambridge to ensure the successful delivery of our ambitious research programme.

About us

Our People Charter outlines the behaviours we can expect from one another and what you can expect from Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust:

• We value people
• We are one team
• We care

We're keen to meet people who share these values and are passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.

Date posted: 28 March 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year pro rata

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 54 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 389-25-7088431

Job Responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information about the role.

Person Specification

Experience Essential

• Experience of organising and conducting applied research including fieldwork in a community setting (for example in healthcare, school, housing settings)
• Experience of leading projects including establishing appropriate management systems and processes for regular reporting
• Experience of obtaining ethical and research approvals
• An academic track record of peer-reviewed publications
• Experience of working in collaborative research groups including NHS, local authority, schools, academics, and other stakeholders
• Experience of developing and implementing quantitative research projects, including analysing and writing up findings

Desirable

• Experience of evaluating health or environment related interventions
• Experience of collecting and analysing air quality or other sensor data
• Experience of patient and public involvement in research, particularly of working with diverse ethnic and social communities
• Experience of developing research proposals and funding applications

Skills Essential

• Project management skills
• Excellent written and presentation communication skills
• Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft office (Word, Teams, Powerpoint, Excel)
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
• Proficient in the use of Stata or R in preparing data for analysis and conducting statistical analyses
• Ability to negotiate, acting in a tactful and confident manner, to achieve the desired results
• Ability to translate a strategic overview into operational plans
• Good time management skills and ability to plan and implement objectives effectively
• Be proactive, able to work methodically, and have an eye for details
• Ability to motivate staff and implement best practice
• Able to work flexibly on own initiative, and under pressure

Desirable

• Demonstrated facilitative and negotiating skills

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of quantitative research methodologies
• Knowledge of procedures for ethical approvals and research governance

Desirable

• Knowledge of mixed methods research methodologies
• Knowledge of NHS R&D procedures
• Knowledge of issues related to environmental and health inequalities
• Knowledge of issues related to air quality and health
• Knowledge of Intellectual Property Rights and how it is managed and protected
• Understanding of the Bradford public health context and of the links between natural environments and health and wellbeing

Qualifications Essential

• First degree in psychology, sociology, social science, sustainability and environment, or other relevant area with quantitative training
• Post graduate diploma or Masters degree in health research, social research, public health, sustainability/environment or an allied subject.

Desirable

• PhD in any of the following: epidemiology, applied health research, sustainability/environment, public health, chemistry, health psychology, or a health or environment related subject.

Other Requirements Essential

• Able to travel within Bradford/Leeds/York/London for meetings and within Bradford to conduct fieldwork activities in social housing locations
• Able to work flexibly to meet the requirements of the role

Desirable

• Able to travel to occasional international research meetings

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here.

Employer details

Employer name: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford, BD9 6RJ

Employer's website: https://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk