Research Fellow - Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology - Grade 7 - 96983

Position Details

School of Social Policy

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £31,406 to £40,927, with potential progression once in post to £43,434. As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £37,467.

Grade 7

Full time

Fixed term contract for up to 22.5 months

Closing date: 2nd February 2022

Role Summary

We are recruiting one postdoctoral researcher to play significant roles within the Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award ‘Border Crossings: Charity and voluntarism in Britain’s mixed economy of healthcare since 1948’. This award involves collaboration between four universities and the postholders will work under the direction of Professor John Mohan (Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham) on studies of the place of charity, and voluntary and charitable organisations, in the NHS since 1948. The role would suit a social scientist or contemporary historian with an interest in working in a friendly, multidisciplinary team.

Job Purpose

Work packages 2 and 4 of the programme focus on moves of health care organisations into and out of voluntary (primarily charitable) control since the NHS was established since 1948;  the development of those charitable institutions which were not taken into NHS control; and the growth, distribution and impact of charitable fundraising in the contemporary NHS. The work will involve a combination of archival and documentary analyses, as well as interviews. The postholder will be tasked with developing case studies to illustrate these themes; analysing and interpreting findings and results, placing them in the wider context of changes in the NHS; and contributing to the published outcomes of the work. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

•    Responsibility for specific aspects of data collection (as discussed with the PI) including: scoping research (on background NHS policy issues); archival research; research deploying contemporary documentary sources (e.g. company / charity annual reports; relevant NHS and regulatory documentation and data); qualitative interviews with relevant stakeholders. These duties will involve travel within the UK to multiple archives and will involve overnight stays.
•    Responsibility for analyses and interpretation of data, and relating the analyses to contextual debates.
•    Contribute to the dissemination of research findings for publication, primarily through team-authored publications but with some scope for sole-authored outputs; dissemination activities such as conference and seminar papers, including attendance at conferences in the UK and abroad; and dissemination aimed at non-academic audiences.
•    Working with the wider project team on project activities and outputs.
•    Undertake management/administration arising from the research, to include keeping accurate records of progress and management of data, and contributing to coordination of aspects of the wider research programme.
•    Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
•    Continue to develop own career and skills, e.g. through accessing appropriate training opportunities, and / or contributing in a limited way to teaching (as appropriate and in keeping with postholder’s own expertise).
•    Deliver work to deadlines, consistent with the research timetable of the Border Crossings programme of work.

Person Specification

Essential 
•    First degree in a relevant subject (e.g. social policy, sociology, public health, organisation studies, history, politics)
•    Completed PhD (or a PhD very near to completion) in a field closely relevant to research area 
•    Experience of conducting qualitative research using archival and / or contemporary sources
•    Ability to work independently under appropriate supervision
•    Ability to communicate complex information clearly, orally and in writing 
•    Excellent project management and organisational skills
•    Experience of working collaboratively with others to deliver project outcomes

Desirable
•    Understanding of research and debates in the field of voluntary sector studies in the UK

•    Experience of web-based research methods

For informal enquiries please contact John Mohan ([email protected]).

Note: While the post is advertised at full-time, part-time options will be given consideration. The postholder will be based in Birmingham with UK travel required for fieldwork (the work will involve travel to numerous archives) and meetings, though remote/home-working is possible when such travel is not required. Once travel restrictions are lifted, regular face to face meetings with Professor Mohan will be required. 

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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