Postdoctoral Research Associate within the JUST Centre

Unviersity of Liverpool - The Academy; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in the United Kingdom is seeking a candidate for the JUST Centre to embed and deliver thematic sustainability priorities in the Merseyside area. The role involves identifying key actors, fostering collaboration, and ensuring inclusivity in climate actions. Candidates should ideally have a PhD or be close to completion, with a commitment to diversity and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Must have a PhD or be close to completion.
• Experience in networking within community-based initiatives is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify and build networks of key actors in Merseyside.
• Highlight opportunities for collaboration among JUST partners.
• Ensure thematic priorities are delivered within the Merseyside area.

Job description

The JUST Centre is an UKRI funded centre that is a partnership between the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Lancaster and Newcastle as well as impact partners including the Young Foundation. Initially funded for five years, it puts justice at the heart of sustainability transformations: the Centres motivations are to support a just transition to net zero by transforming the processes and structures that leave many people and places out of the Low Carbon Living agenda. The Centre is accelerating research-informed action that engages, enables and empowers marginalised people, to develop methods, tools and strategies for thinking and action on sustainability. By `marginalised we mean those facing socio-economic, infrastructural, geographical and political inequalities that inhibit their participation in climate mitigation and adaptation, while also increasing their vulnerability to climate change impacts. `Joined-up means bridging the gaps between myriad, but presently disconnected, evidence bases, interventions and policies focused on sustainability and net zero transformations. By connecting sustainability with justice, research with action, and constituent knowledge producers and community beneficiaries with one another, JUST will advance the shared evidence base and accelerate the capacity for action towards sustainable futures for all places and communities.

Working with Dr Nurse, you will play a role in ensuring the centre's 6 thematic priorities are embedded and delivered within Merseyside area. You will have responsibility for identifying and building networks of key actors in Merseyside related to those themes, and simultaneously highlighting relevant opportunities to JUST partners, and to work with those networks to identify opportunities for collaboration. You will also work within a network of Place Leads in the other areas of geographical focus, to ensure that the JUST priorities are delivered in a complementary way across the centre.

This post is fixed term from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2026.

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30. Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Liverpool is committed to enhancing workforce diversity. We actively seek to attract, develop, and retain colleagues with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all genders/gender identities, Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, individuals living with a disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.