Overview
Job reference: HUM-030050
Employment type: Fixed Term
Salary: £37,694 – £46,049 per annum according to relevant experience
Contract Duration: 24 months
The role holder will principally be responsible for carrying out social and built infrastructures research in the North of England.
In line with the Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) Centre’s goal to develop equitable and effective research on low-carbon living, the applicant will investigate the role of social and built infrastructures – particularly community-based networks, spaces and organisations – in enabling sustainability initiatives across the North West of England (West Cumbria, Tyneside, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and West Yorkshire) and beyond. This work will rely on mixed methods to identify and investigate how different forms of social and built infrastructure contribute to the decision-making processes and capacities of just transformation actors, and what lessons these hold for the wider region and the UK.
The role will primarily include qualitative data gathering and analysis methods, including semi-structured interviews, workshops, focus groups and participatory action research, alongside partnering with local actors to explore the evolution of socially embedded transition initiatives. This will potentially involve working with community centres, libraries, schools, faith groups, housing associations, and other place-based organisations, to uncover their role in supporting climate action and social justice.
The work will be carried out as part of the Centre’s GM Social and Built Infrastructures Thematic Working and Innovation Group (TWIG), led by Professor Stefan Bouzarovski and Dr Claire Hoolohan, in close collaboration with the University of Manchester’s JUST leadership team. The applicant is expected to contribute to broader research across the Centre, including providing support to the Methodological Innovation TWIG and associated centre resource and training development, collaborative work across the five study regions – and especially the Greater Manchester Place-Based Action Research Team (PART). It will also involve engaging with one or more of the Centre’s key themes, and participating in Centre-wide activities such as workshops and impact-oriented events.
As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here
