Data Collection Project Support

Job Purpose

The postholder will join a research data collection team supporting researchers based at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Unit’s Population Health Research Facility (PHRF). This team specialises in supporting the delivery of population and community-based research projects.

The key area of responsibility will be supporting data collection activities in community-based health related studies using varied data collection tools. Tasks include taking informed consent, distributing, and verifying self-complete questionnaires; collecting other personal data, taking, and recording physical measures (e.g. weight and height), tissue/fluid samples and study associated administration. Data collection will be completed in a variety of community locations (e.g. participant homes, schools, prisons, sports stadia).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Data Collection: Work independently or as part of a team collecting data from project participants: follow defined quality standards, data protection laws and internal data management policies to collate the data via face-to-face interviews or through remote applications by administering the questionnaires or requesting participants to self-complete surveys using paper, electronic or online questionnaire ensuring that all information is entered accurately into the project database.

Responsible for obtaining various physical measures and variety of biological samples ensuring collection, recording and storage is completed in accordance with project protocols and relevant regulations. Ensuring equipment is calibrated correctly before use, according to the protocols. Ensure correct use and safe transportation of provided equipment from yourself and fieldwork team. Provide clinical expertise and advise to incorporate into training protocols and data collection practice.

2. Communication: Responsible for delivering the participant recruitment and data collection element of the study protocol. The post holder will be required to communicate effectively and professionally with the project team by telephone, email, and in person, regularly about progress in relation to all elements of their duties. Input to regular briefings to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement to the study team.

Act as a point of contact with project participants: provide clear advice on the project processes to ensure that all participants understand what is required of them. Using experience, initiative, and judgement to seek resolution to detected issues, and when required escalating to supervisors.

3. Health & Safety: Evaluate situations during fieldwork: using initiative, judgement, and experience to assess any risks to yourself, colleagues or participants and follow Unit protocols in handling these. During data collection the post holder should assess participants ability to complete project related assessments and adapt as necessary (e.g. taking breaks, stopping data collection). Ensure own personal/team safety and ensure that any incidents are recorded in line with project protocols. Adhere to the University health and safety risk assessment training and ensure full use of the Lone Worker Safety system where appropriate.

4. Project Planning: Prioritise, plan and schedule delegated activities from the Operations/Project Managers to ensure delivery of the project within required standards and across project timelines – which may include evening and weekend working, as required per project. Ensure that all study protocols and research governance guidelines are always adhered to, including safeguarding and adverse event protocols.

Responsible for determining project-related priorities, planning and scheduling of delegated activities from Operations or Project Manager to ensure delivery of the project within required standards.

5. Supervision: Supervise and monitor members of data collection team to ensure protocols are followed and any concerns corrected. Ensure quality standards maintained by identifying and mitigating potential protocol or ethical risks when collecting data.

6. Administration: Complete project data collection and monitoring reports, identifying patterns and trends across data collection sites and/or participant’s activities and presenting conclusions to support existing standard processes and maximise project continuity. Deliver range of administrative tasks including risk assessments, voucher management, online expense forms and timesheets to support existing processes and audit compliance.

7. Development: Attend regular briefings, training and feedback sessions for each project to ensure up-to-date knowledge of any changes to research processes and procedures. When required, take the lead in training peers to ensure operational consistency across project sites.

8. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the PHRF Management Team.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 7 (Advanced Higher/Scottish Vocational Qualification level 3, Higher National Certificate);

OR

A2. Equivalent qualification in nursing, psychology, social sciences or public health and ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

C1. Experience of data collection, taking physical measures and biological samples and assisting participants complete often complex (online/paper) questionnaires, correctly reflecting the data provided by project participants with accuracy and attention to detail.

C2. Experience in dealing with enquiries from the public (project participants) and make sound decisions on when to respond directly and when to escalate.

C3. Experience of conducting in depth interviews or focus groups.

C4. Interest in social science or public health research and knowledge of good research practice and methodology and the ethical issues surrounding research including current Data Protection Regulations and Research Governance.

C5. Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to engage with others and explain medical or social research and/or complex concepts in easily understandable manner.

C6. Experience of planning, organising and prioritising own and delegating team workloads.

C7. Experience of working independently and flexibly on a range of complex concurrent tasks within a multidisciplinary team, delegating tasks, leading and supervising staff, ensuring working to required research and health and safety protocols.

C8. Well-developed analytical and problem-solving capability, using initiative and judgement to resolve problems independently with accuracy and attention to detail.

C9. Detailed knowledge of relevant systems, equipment (Mobile, Tablet, Laptop), processes and procedures including software packages (Zoom, Microsoft Outlook, Teams etc) to undertake data collection effectively.

C10. Experience in dealing with the public (in this case project participants) and make sound decisions on when to respond directly and when to escalate to supervisors.

C11. Flexible approach to work including hours worked, start and finish times, project locations and working and travelling independently or with colleagues to a wide variety of locations safely.

Desirable:

D1. Full, clean UK driving licence and regular access to a car. Study sites are often outside Glasgow, and the candidate must have the ability to travel to the sites, which may not be easily accessible by public transport, within the time and funding framework of the study.

D2. Familiar with Qualtrics software language.

Additional Information:

The appointed person must be eligible for, or already have a Disclosure Scotland ‘Protecting Vulnerable Groups’ certificate (this must be in place before the appointed individual can start work).

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 5, £25,138 - £29,605 per annum.

This post is full time, and has funding up to 31.3.25.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme

The post for which you are applying is considered “registered work” in terms of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act. It requires the successful applicant to become a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme member prior to appointment. This check is necessary to ensure that the University of Glasgow fulfils its legal duties under the Act.
If you are successful in your application, the offer of employment will be subject to PVG Scheme membership.  Further information is available at: https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme/

Please note that under Section 34(1) of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 it is a criminal offence to apply to carry out or to carry out regulated work from which that individual is barred.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.