Research Associate - Community Engagement and Digital Inclusion

Health Sciences & Wellbeing Research Institutes

About the University of Sunderland 

The University of Sunderland offers life-changing opportunities for 27,500 students across its campuses in Sunderland, London, Hong Kong, and through global partnerships with learning institutions in 15 countries. We're proud to be a top 50 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2024), with top-quality facilities, inclusive culture, and our vibrant, ever-changing city.

The University of Sunderland has undergone significant expansion thanks to a major step-change in the University's ambitions, building on the £75 million already invested on facilities in the last five years. Indeed, the University is expected to invest a further £250 million over the next 10 years to transform facilities for students and staff underscoring a bold and ambitious outlook.

 In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results, University of Sunderland doubled its proportion of world-leading (4 star) or internationally excellent (3 star) rated research since its 2014 submissions. 89% of the published research was rated as 'internationally excellent' in the Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy category demonstrating continued growth and development in research.

The Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute leads on interdisciplinary health and social care research across the four Faculties of the University. The Institute works collaboratively with external partners in NHS, Local Authority, health, and social care, VCSE and commercial settings to tackle health inequalities, empower patients and populations and support the healthcare workforce.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Associate (Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement) to join us on a part time, fixed term contract basis. Within this role you will support the development and delivery of an externally funded evaluation of the UKSPF Digital Inclusion and Community Support project across Sunderland, working collaboratively with Sunderland City Council, the third sector and the public. The post holder will lead on a mixed methods analysis and writing up the findings for publication, impact strategy and dissemination plan across a wide range of audiences.

What you can bring 

The successful candidate will possess a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline, have demonstrable experience and expertise in UK-based community engagement projects, digital inclusion and assessing social return on investment. You will be an experienced mixed methods researcher with a track record of leading on research and evaluation projects and peer-reviewed publications. Experience of developing impact strategies would be an asset.

What we can offer you 

The University of Sunderland is not just a place of academic excellence, but also a community that embraces inclusivity and support. We value our staff and offer a rewarding package that goes beyond just salary. Joining our team comes with a host of benefits designed to enhance your work-life balance and overall well-being.

• Enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement of 36 days, along with an additional 5 closure days over the Christmas break and 8 Bank Holidays. 
• Enrolment into our workplace pension scheme, ensuring your financial security for the future. 
• As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer the My Lifestyle Benefits Platform, where you can enjoy online discounts at hundreds of retailers every day. Plus, take advantage of exclusive schemes that allow you to purchase a new car, bike, or technology at a discounted rate. 
• Your health and well-being are important to us. That's why we provide access to private medical insurance, health cash plans, and guidance on financial well-being.
• For those with young children, our on-site nursery offers exceptional care and education for children from birth to school age, operating throughout the year.
• Maintaining an active lifestyle is made easy with discounted membership for CitySpace Fitness, our state-of-the-art facility for sports and social activities. 

At the University of Sunderland, we prioritise not only your professional growth but also your happiness and well-being. 

Equality, diversity & inclusion 

We strongly believe that an inclusive university, where a diverse range of individuals feel valued and have equal opportunity to get into work and reach their potential, is good for our staff, students, university, and society.

Our work on equality, diversity and inclusivity has never been more important. We believe inclusivity is an essential value at the heart of what we do, and we want all our staff to be part of that journey with us.

Our recent staff survey conducted in 2023 showed that 97% of our staff believed that we were committed to achieving an inclusive university.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 3rd December 2023

For any informal enquiries, please email Professor Yitka Graham, Head of the Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute at yitka.graham@sunderland.ac.uk