Principal Research Fellow

Sheffield Hallam University; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 61,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheffield Hallam University’s Sheffield Institute of Education invites applications for a Principal Research Fellow with expertise in statistics and quantitative methods for social research. The role leads a team of quantitative researchers, guides large-scale research, evaluation and knowledge exchange projects, and supports external funding bids.

The successful candidate will ensure quality assurance on quantitative work, advance statistical methods for funders, and communicate findings to

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant discipline or extensive RIKE experience with advanced statistics.
• Strong experience in designing and delivering randomised controlled trials.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary RIKE teams and securing external funding.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee significant RIKE activity and large-scale projects.
• Contribute to competitive bids and secure external funding.
• Provide statistical oversight and methodological guidance to junior researchers.
• Mentor and develop RIKE staff and research capabilities.

Skills

Statistics

Quantitative methods

Stata

R package

Education

PhD in a relevant discipline

RIKE experience (qualifications/experience)

Tools

GIS mapping

Job description

Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange Team (SIRKE)

Permanent

Full time – 37 hours per week

£61,165 to £70,878 per annum, depending on experience

Job number 119927

**This role may close earlier than advertised due to volumes of applications however it will not close before 11/11/26 therefore please apply before that date if possible.

The role

Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange Team (SIRKE) sits within the Sheffield Institute of Education (SIoE) and is home to all funded research and knowledge exchange activity in the Institute. Our staff have been designing, developing and delivering educational innovations and evaluations locally, nationally and internationally for over 25 years. We bring together expertise in statistics and social research across a wide range of issues related to education and schools, including educational progress and attainment across subject areas and school phases, the lives and experiences of children and young people, and teacher education and professional development.

Our team is academically focused with a strong evidential base, client orientated with a deep understanding of reality outside academia, cooperative and collaborative so that we can respond flexibly and creatively to client needs, and efficient and cost effective with a commitment to delivering the highest quality outputs.

We are currently looking for a new Principal Research Fellow, with specialist expertise in statistics and quantitative methods in social research. The successful applicant will support and provide leadership to a team of quantitative researchers and be expected to demonstrate experience in successful bidding for external funding and confidence in designing and delivering large scale research, evaluation and knowledge exchange projects in the fields of education, sociology and/or psychology. Candidates should be confident in their ability to provide quality assurance on quantitative work, lead on any new statistical analysis methods required by funders and to disseminate learning and skills to other colleagues. In addition, candidates should be able to demonstrate critical approaches to the design of research and evaluation projects and be able to explain their thinking and research results to expert and non expert audiences, both in writing and verbally. Expertise in one or more of the following is likely: Stata, R package.

SIRKE has designed, undertaken and reported on over 15 large scale randomised control trial (RCT) centred impact evaluations involving children and young people in the last 10 years. Additionally, SIRKE has undertaken methodological and review projects that have helped in the development of RCTs involving children and young people in England. We are keen to consolidate and build on this experience and are particularly interested in applicants with experience in the design and delivery of research and evaluation projects that deploy experimental (e.g. RCTs) and/or quasi experimental (propensity matching, regression discontinuity, synthetic controls) designs. Experience in the critical use of psychological outcome measures would also be viewed positively.

Much of our work involves close collaboration between quantitative and qualitative specialists. Therefore, it is desirable that the successful candidate has experience in leading complex projects with a diversity in methodological approaches and recognises the benefits and traditions of these.

We are also interested in applicants with experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. Demonstrating a depth of experience in line management and the development of staff is also desirable.

The Institute

Sheffield Institute of Education (SioE) is a sector-leading, ambitious and inclusive institute, demonstrating the transformative power of education. It offers specialist undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in education, including expertise in childhood and autism. Our courses combine applied learning, strong theoretical foundations and real-world experiences, delivered by expert academics with diverse specialist backgrounds.

Alongside and core to this, our SIoE Research and Knowledge Exchange colleagues bring together experts in research, knowledge exchange and professional development and have a proven track record of delivering educational innovations and evaluations locally, nationally and internationally.

Principal Research Fellow

Company: Sheffield Hallam University Salary: £61,165 to £70,878 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Sheffield, S1 1WB Working pattern: Hybrid - 1 day remote Job type: Permanent Posting date: 30 Oct 2026 Closing date: 18 Nov 2026

Summary

College of Social Sciences and Arts

Sheffield Institute of Education

Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange Team (SIRKE)

Permanent

Full time – 37 hours per week

£61,165 to £70,878 per annum, depending on experience

Job number 119927

Closing date Wednesday 18/11/26 at 23:30

**This role may close earlier than advertised due to volumes of applications however it will not close before 11/11/26 therefore please apply before that date if possible.

The role

Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange Team (SIRKE) sits within the Sheffield Institute of Education (SIoE) and is home to all funded research and knowledge exchange activity in the Institute. Our staff have been designing, developing and delivering educational innovations and evaluations locally, nationally and internationally for over 25 years. We bring together expertise in statistics and social research across a wide range of issues related to education and schools, including educational progress and attainment across subject areas and school phases, the lives and experiences of children and young people, and teacher education and professional development.

Our team is academically focused with a strong evidential base, client orientated with a deep understanding of reality outside academia, cooperative and collaborative so that we can respond flexibly and creatively to client needs, and efficient and cost effective with a commitment to delivering the highest quality outputs.

We are currently looking for a new Principal Research Fellow, with specialist expertise in statistics and quantitative methods in social research. The successful applicant will support and provide leadership to a team of quantitative researchers and be expected to demonstrate experience in successful bidding for external funding and confidence in designing and delivering large scale research, evaluation and knowledge exchange projects in the fields of education, sociology and/or psychology. Candidates should be confident in their ability to provide quality assurance on quantitative work, lead on any new statistical analysis methods required by funders and to disseminate learning and skills to other colleagues. In addition, candidates should be able to demonstrate critical approaches to the design of research and evaluation projects and be able to explain their thinking and research results to expert and non expert audiences, both in writing and verbally. Expertise in one or more of the following is likely: Stata, R package.

SIRKE has designed, undertaken and reported on over 15 large scale randomised control trial (RCT) centred impact evaluations involving children and young people in the last 10 years. Additionally, SIRKE has undertaken methodological and review projects that have helped in the development of RCTs involving children and young people in England. We are keen to consolidate and build on this experience and are particularly interested in applicants with experience in the design and delivery of research and evaluation projects that deploy experimental (e.g. RCTs) and/or quasi experimental (propensity matching, regression discontinuity, synthetic controls) designs. Experience in the critical use of psychological outcome measures would also be viewed positively.

Much of our work involves close collaboration between quantitative and qualitative specialists. Therefore, it is desirable that the successful candidate has experience in leading complex projects with a diversity in methodological approaches and recognises the benefits and traditions of these.

We are also interested in applicants with experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. Demonstrating a depth of experience in line management and the development of staff is also desirable.

The Institute

Sheffield Institute of Education (SioE) is a sector-leading, ambitious and inclusive institute, demonstrating the transformative power of education. It offers specialist undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in education, including expertise in childhood and autism. Our courses combine applied learning, strong theoretical foundations and real-world experiences, delivered by expert academics with diverse specialist backgrounds.

Alongside and core to this, our SIoE Research and Knowledge Exchange colleagues bring together experts in research, knowledge exchange and professional development and have a proven track record of delivering educational innovations and evaluations locally, nationally and internationally.

Essential requirements

Good honours degree (i.e. UK 2.1 or 1st Class), or equivalent professionalqualification or experience in a relevant disciplinePostgraduate qualification and/or substantial equivalent professional experience including advanced statistics, quantitative research methodsPhD in a relevant discipline (or equivalent qualification as confirmed by ECCTIS/QLS), or extensive Research Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) experience in a relevant discipline involving the application of advanced statistical or quantitative methods, with evidence of sustained contribution to the field.Extensive knowledge and specialist expertise in a relevant RIKE or applied practice area, specifically the statistical design and analysis of education or education-related research, including research and evaluation involving children and young people.Excellent knowledge of research methods and techniques appropriate to the discipline or technical area, including statistical research methods, including designing and delivering randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, quality assurance for more junior staff, meta-analysis and the analysis of large-scale or secondary datasets with the ability to guide and oversee their application to complex or strategic RIKE challenges.Extensive experience of leading, shaping and delivering significant programmes of RIKE activity, including strategic planning, coordination of multidisciplinary teams and management of complex or concurrent programmes, with accountability for delivery, quality and impact including the methodological and statistical quality of quantitative research.Experience of securing, leading and managing major externally funded RIKE activity, including contributing high-level statistical and methodological expertise to the development of competitive bids and the delivery of commissioned or contract research, delivering significant academic, professional, societal or economic impact.Experience of representing the discipline through leadership or influential roles within academic, professional or applied communities, contributing to the advancement of the field.Experience of leading and developing research teams, groups or clusters, including mentoring, building research capacity and supporting the development of others and providing statistical oversight, quality assurance and technical guidance to quantitative researchers.Experience of developing and leading strategic partnerships and networks with national and international stakeholders to deliver significant RIKE outcomes and impact e.g. methodological or policy.Experience of influencing policy, strategy or academic standards, contributing to the development of a high-performing, collaborative and inclusive RIKE and wider academic environment including the development and application of robust standards for quantitative research.Evidence of an internationally recognised external RIKE profile, demonstrated through a sustained portfolio of excellent outputs and influence within academic, professional or applied communities.Excellent leadership, planning and organisational skills, with the ability to lead and deliver complex programmes of RIKE activity, manage resources and teams, and contribute to direction setting and decision-making, ensuring high-quality outcomes and impact e.g. methodological.Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to define, shape and lead approaches to highly complex or strategic RIKE challenges, influencing direction and delivering significant outcomes and impact.Ability to develop and lead RIKE and income generation strategies, including securing and managing major funding opportunities, partnerships and stakeholder relationships.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences, including influencing stakeholders at senior levels

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