HDRC Project Research Officer

Southampton City Council; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension

Flexible working options

Training and development

Health and wellbeing support

Employee volunteering—2 paid days

Discounts on benefits platform

Job summary

Southampton City Council in Southampton is seeking a Research Officer to support a six-month evaluation project within the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC). The role focuses on comparative analysis of AI-assisted and human-in-the-loop coding of evidence in Local Authority papers, contributing to a practical methodology and a self-assessment tool for local government.

The position is hybrid and part-time, with potential for shorter full-time or 0.8 FTE placement for the right

Qualifications

• Experience with quantitative or qualitative research methods.
• Ability to apply coding frameworks consistently to documents or data.
• Strong attention to detail and pattern identification.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day delivery of human-in-the-loop comparative analysis.
• Refine and apply an evaluation coding framework.
• Compare human coding outputs with AI-assisted outputs.
• Analyze coding accuracy using quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Collaborate with digital colleagues to test and refine AI-assisted approaches.
• Document methodological learning and contribute to project outputs.

Skills

Quantitative research

Qualitative research

Data analysis

Coding frameworks

Tools

Coding frameworks

Job description

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading day-to-day delivery of human-in-the-loop comparative analysis.
• Applying and refining an evaluation coding framework.
• Comparing human coding outputs with AI-assisted outputs.
• Contributing to quantitative and qualitative analysis of coding accuracy.
• Working with digital colleagues to support testing and refinement of the AI-assisted approach.
• Documenting methodological learning.
• Contributing to project outputs.
• Liaising with project partners to support effective delivery.
• Helping to ensure research activity is undertaken in line with agreed ethical, information governance and data protection requirements.

The opportunity has arisen for a Research Officer to join the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) on a temporary basis to support an innovative evaluation project. The Research Officer will work as part of a project team consisting of Southampton City Council and University of Kent colleagues to support a six-month applied research and evaluation project. The role will focus particularly on comparative analysis of AI-assisted and human-in-the-loop coding of evidence use in Local Authority papers. The project aims to develop a practical methodology and outputs to contribute to development of a self-assessment tool for local government.

For further information about this role please view the job description. You can read more about the work of the HDRC on the HDRC Southampton website.

With experience of carrying out quantitative or qualitative research methods, you will have knowledge and understanding of data analysis, including structured coding of documents or text-based data. You will have strong attention to detail and ability to apply coding frameworks consistently, identifying patterns, ambiguities and limitations in data and be able to communicate these clearly.

Please note that this hybrid role is offered on a part time basis, with flexibility to fit around other research or training.

A shorter, full time or 0.8 FTE placement would be considered for the right candidate.

What we can offer you:

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Generous holiday 25–34 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)

If you are applying for this opportunity internally on a secondment basis, you must obtain agreement from your current manager before applying. If you are successful, we will contact your manager to confirm the secondment arrangements.

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the HDRC Research Officer role please contact Sarah Simon, HDRC Culture Change Officer on 023 8083 2581 or [e-mail]