The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
We are looking for a PhD student to work as a senior research assistant alongside Dr Sarah Crozier in the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity. The role will involve research assistance for impact activities for approximately 8 - 16 hours per week over a 25 week period in the academic year 2026/27.
The main purpose of this role is to provide research support for the Good Employment REF impact case study development by assisting, and where necessary taking the lead, with gathering evaluation data, working with stakeholders to track and measure pathways to impact, and the dissemination of findings to appropriate groups related to the project.
Dates: from November 2026 to May 2027
Hours: up to 16 hours per week (potentially 8 hours per week with a job share)
Location: Largely online with some campus and offsite meetings
The work will entail:
- Undertaking a mapping exercise to establish recent UK good employment charter development activity and progress to identify how our work can be used.
- Build on existing relationships and contacts to engage with regional and national employment charters and gain up to date information as to their progress in the development of their own charter initiatives
- Providing charters and some organisations that use them with the charter toolkit and other resources, offering a facilitated session to explore how the resources may help to inform their own initiatives to support good work in place
- Engaging in follow up activities to support this development and implementation
- Seek narrative data to support impact and onward activities
- A stream of the work addresses a toolkit for managers engaged in managing neurodivergent employees and embedding EDI within good employment practices
You should be:
- Interested in the academic and political context surrounding the development of good/decent work and inclusive growth
- A confident and skilled communicator comfortable in engaging with a variety of stakeholders in organisations across sectors, local government and national policy environments
- Able to travel across the UK where required (it is anticipated that this will be minimal but is likely to involve some face to face events outside of Greater Manchester)
- There is the possibility to work in a job share arrangement and split the work broadly into two streams (one the ND/EDI project, and the other the wider charter work) each for 8 hours per week.
- The role is flexible and autonomous but some attendance at external meetings is required
Key Tasks
Research Activities
Plan, prioritise and organise own work or resources in order to achieve agreed objectives.
Write up results of own research and prepare for presentation to research team and relevant stakeholders.
Contribute to the production of research reports and publications.
Use initiative and judgement to develop appropriate techniques in order to facilitate research work and resolve problems affecting the achievement of objectives and deadlines.
Liaison and Networking
Participate in internal and external partnerships and networks in order to aid the dissemination of research findings, to share best practice, and to enhance the reputation of the University.
Present research to the team and in appropriate articles for publication, such as academic/professional journals or conferences.
Service Provision
Proactively and effectively engage with quality assurance procedures to ensure that University standards are upheld.
Collaborate with academic colleagues on research development and future direction.
Team Working
Actively participate as a member of the research team, offering general help and guidance to others and PhD students who may be assisting with the research project.
Attend Faculty, Department and Programme meetings/boards as appropriate to proactively contribute to decision making.
Introduce new starters to the area, giving training on basic skills and activities to assist their induction to the team.
Assist senior staff in the guidance and support of new research assistants or members of staff within the department as appropriate.
Miscellaneous
You have a legal duty, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or anyone else by your acts or omissions. In addition, you must cooperate with the University on health and safety matters and must not interfere or misuse anything provided for health, safety and welfare purposes.
You are responsible for applying the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy in your own area of responsibility and in your general conduct.
You have a responsibility to promote high levels of customer care within your own areas of work.
Such other relevant duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the Manager in agreement with you. Such agreement should not be unreasonably withheld.
You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to Environmental Sustainability in order to reduce its waste, energy consumption and carbon footprint.
You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to delivering value for money services that optimise the use of resources and therefore should consider this when undertaking all duties and aspects of your role.