Research Associate - Wales Centre for Public Policy

Cardiff University; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK is seeking a Research Associate to conduct impactful research on knowledge mobilisation and evidence use. This full-time, fixed-term role offers the chance to work on significant projects that influence policy decisions. The successful candidate will collaborate with experienced researchers and contribute to high-quality publications while enjoying a supportive work environment with flexible arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Access to training opportunities

Qualifications

• Established expertise in research on knowledge mobilisation and impact.
• Proven ability to plan and conduct research projects.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on knowledge mobilisation and evidence use.
• Support project teams in assessing project impacts.
• Publish high-quality research in academic journals.

Skills

Communication

Organisational Skills

Knowledge Mobilisation

Evidence Use

Impact Assessment

Education

Postgraduate degree at PhD level

Job description

Advert

This post is currently open to employees of Cardiff University only. Please do not apply if you do not have a current contract of employment with the University.

Internal Applicants Only - Research Associate
Wales Centre for Public Policy

The Wales Centre for Public Policy is a unique £9 million initiative which is co-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Welsh Government, with additional support from Cardiff University. Its mission is to increase the use of research evidence by government and public services in order to improve policy decisions and outcomes for the public.

The Centre is independent of government but works closely with ministers, civil servants, local government, and the health service to generate high quality evidence and analysis that informs and improves national and local strategies, policies, and programmes. It is part of the UK's What Works Network and collaborates with colleagues from across the UK and internationally to mobilise evidence that addresses major economic, environmental and societal challenges. The Centre was a finalist in the prestigious ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize, and is recognised internationally for its pioneering, demand-led approach to evidence use, and knowledge mobilisation.

The Centre is seeking an outstanding researcher to work on projects on knowledge mobilisation, evidence use, and impact. This will involve literature searching, primary data collection, and writing up the results for external audiences, including in peer-reviewed journals.

You must have an interest in and understanding of knowledge mobilisation, evidence use, and impact; a commitment to high quality research; excellent communication and organisational skills; the ability to lead research projects, and work effectively as part of the Centre's wider team of 20 full-time staff. You will work with experienced researchers to scope and undertake new research projects and be mentored by the Centre's senior staff.

The Centre offers a stimulating and supportive working environment within a highly motivated and collegiate team. You will have access to the wealth of training opportunities provided by Cardiff University. We support hybrid working and other flexible working arrangements but expect staff to work from our offices in the purpose-built Social Science Research Park (SPARK) located on Cardiff University's £300 million Innovation Campus at least one day per week.

The post is a full-time, fixed term appointment, 35 hours per week, available from September 2025 until 31 March 2028. We will consider applications to join the Centre on secondment during this period. To enable the post-holder to focus full-time on research, there is no requirement to undertake teaching.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact the Director of Research, Professor James Downe ([e-mail]).

Salary: £40,497 - £45,413 per annum (Grade 6).

Closing date: Monday, 26 May 2025

External applications are currently not being considered for this post. If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply - please check back periodically for details.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Job Description

Main function

This full-time research-only post offers a rare opportunity to develop and undertake leading-edge research on knowledge mobilisation, evidence use, and impact. Your role will be to act as the Centre's embedded impact researcher supporting colleagues in helping to assess the impact of projects for both Welsh Government and public services. You will contribute to research projects examining evidence-informed policy-making, carrying out work that leads to the publishing of high-quality research and development of the Centre's methods of mobilising evidence. The post is available from September 2025 to 31 March 2028.

• To conduct research on knowledge mobilisation, evidence use, and impact.
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within these fields.
• To act as the Centre's embedded impact researcher supporting project teams to assess the impact of projects.
• To plan, organise and undertake new research projects, including administrative tasks such as the preparation of research ethics applications.
• To codify and publish our understanding on how the Centre conducts knowledge mobilisation with both Welsh Government and public services.
• To manage the Centre's work assessing the impact of the Centre through retrospective case studies.
• To contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including publishing in national/international academic journals.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.
• To present research findings at national and international conferences/seminars and via social media.
• To contribute to proposals to attract external research funding, where appropriate.

Other
• To participate in personal and professional development which will enhance performance.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.
• To engage effectively with public sector organisations and other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the Centre and School's profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES
It is the University's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criterion as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (xxxxxBR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.

Cardiff Business School
Cardiff Business School is a leading business and management school in the UK, holding AACSB and AMBA accreditations and ranked 1st for its Research Environment and 2nd on Research Power (REF2021). The School has a Public Value purpose and focuses on the co-creation of high quality, interdisciplinary education and knowledge that delivers economic, social and environmental value. The School's activities are oriented towards five Grand Challenges: Decent work, fair and sustainable economies, future organisations, good governance, and responsible innovation.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject, or equivalent research/professional experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2. Established expertise and knowledge of research on knowledge mobilisation/evidence use/impact..
3. Proven ability to be able to take responsibility for planning and conducting research projects.
4. Experience of suitable research methods to conduct the embedded impact researcher role (e.g. ethnography)
5. Specialist knowledge of models/frameworks of assessing research impact.
6. Proven ability to be a lead author of national/international journal papers.
7. Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies.

Communication and Team Working
8. Proven ability to communicate effectively and persuasively with academic and other audiences.
9. Ability to contribute effectively to research teams.
10. Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.

Other
11. Ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships with external stakeholders including other academics involved in knowledge mobilisation.
12. Experience of book editing.
13. Proven ability to work without close supervision.

Desirable Criteria

1. Relevant professional qualification(s).
2. Experience of working in and/or with government and/or public services