Public Engagement Involvement and Co-production Associate

Dunhillmedical; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a part-time Public Engagement Involvement and Co-production Associate to shape and develop applied adult social care research across the SSCR and Centre for Care. You will support and enhance public involvement and co-production, with applications welcome from people with lived experience of care.

The role involves coordinating activities, building relationships with partners, and supporting ethical approvals, data handling, and knowledge translation.

Qualifications

• Experience of informal care and/or social care, either as a researcher, practitioner, provider or recipient of care.
• Experience of working with people with experience seeking or using care services, with informal carers, with practitioners or allied organisations.
• Motivation to develop a career to support applied research for social care.
• Commitment to stakeholder involvement, engagement and co-production in research.
• Ability to work as part of a team while taking responsibility for delivering a role.
• Ability to present information to diverse audiences in written or verbal formats.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate public engagement, involvement and co-production activities across the SSCR with lived experience partners and social care practitioners.
• Be the main contact for partners with lived experience and maintain excellent relationships.
• Promote public engagement, involvement and co-production across the SSCR and Centre for Care.
• Develop accessible information and research methods in collaboration with partners.
• Support academic colleagues to work with people with lived experience and practitioners on co-designed research and impact activities.
• Organise and facilitate workshops and focus groups with partners.
• Support data collection and GDPR-compliant data storage.
• Collaborate on knowledge translation of findings and recommendations.
• Assist with ethical approvals and project analysis methods.

Job description

Job Title: Public Engagement Involvement and Co-production Associate

Posting Start Date: 12/11/2026

Job Id: 3198

School/Department: Education

Work Arrangement: Part Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Closing Date: 02/12/2026

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Job Description

Public Engagement Involvement and Co-production Associate

Overview

We seek a Public Engagement and Involvement (PEI) and Co-Production Associate for the School for Social Care Research (SSCR) and the ESRC Centre for Care at the University of Sheffield. You will shape and develop applied adult social care research and will work across the SSCR and Centre for Care, to support and enhance public involvement and co-production. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of giving or receiving care, or as a care worker, with experience of co-production with people who seek or use services and/or social care practitioners.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Coordinate the public engagement and involvement, and co-production activities across the SSCR by working with people with lived experience, social care practitioners, the SSCR leadership team, professional services colleagues and people working in social care and other partner organisations
• Be the main point of contact for our partners with lived experience and be responsible for maintaining excellent working relationships
• Promote public engagement and involvement, co-production and impact throughout the work of the SSCR by developing strong relationships with partners
• Support the development of public engagement and involvement co-production methods (such as the development of accessible information and research methods, working in collaboration with partners, seeking their advice and acting on it and establishing and maintaining good relationships with partners ) in the work of the SSCR by working closely with members of the public, social care practitioners and academics.
• Support academic colleagues to work with people who have lived experience, social care practitioners (and vice-versa) to deliver co-designed research and impact activity, such as co-producing research design, delivery and analysis
• Organise and facilitate workshops and focus groups with partners
• Support data collection and the secure storage of data on a day-to-day basis, where appropriate, ensuring GDPR compliance.
• Collaborate with people with lived experience, social care practitioners, and with the SSCR leadership team, professional services colleagues and partner organisation, on knowledge translation of key findings and recommendations.
• Assist with, and submit, applications for ethical approval.
• Develop methods and approaches to analysis within research projects, in co-production with participants, social care practitioners and members of the public, that are accessible to these groups
• Support SSCR colleagues to embed the principles of public engagement and involvement, co-production and impact in grant applications
• Liaise closely, regularly, and in a timely manner with people with lived experience, practice partners and the SSCR project research teams, and relevant professional staff throughout the SSCR.
• Undertake training and development appropriate to prior experience and qualifications, and personal career aspirations.
• Undertake mandatory online training required for members of the Social Research Institutes and specialist forms of training as the role requires.
• Uphold the highest standards of research ethics and research integrity, for example, by ensuring that University, NIHR and, where appropriate, external organisations’ ethical procedures, are adhered to.
• Assist in the delivery of impact, knowledge exchange and engagement activities.
• Support academic colleagues with embedding the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion into the work of the research centres (for example by completing equality impact assessments for events and activities)
• Make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Support the Impact Lead for the SSCR, representing Sheffield at the national level to share good practice and ideas around impact and help to review the national NIHR Impact Strategy and planned mechanisms for monitoring impact across the programme/project
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Please note that when we refer to lived experience in the text above, we mean

People who seek social care support

People caring for a person with social care requirements as an unpaid/informal/family carer

People working in social care

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Stage(s) assessed at

Application

Experience of aspects of informal care and/or social care, either as a researcher, practitioner, provider or recipient of care (broadly interpreted) or a combination of those experiences

Application

Experience of working with people with experience seeking or using care services, with informal carers, with practitioners and/or with their allied organisations

Application

A clear and strong motivation to develop a career to support applied research for social care

Application

Commitment to and understanding of stakeholder involvement and engagement and co-production in research

Application/Interview

Demonstrable ability to work as part of a team, while taking responsibility for delivering a specific role

Application/Interview

Demonstrable ability to present information in a range of written and/or verbal formats to meet the needs of different target audiences (e.g. reports, blogs, policy briefs, guidance documents, vlogs, presentations)

Application/Interview

An understanding of equality, diversity & inclusion principles and practices in the contextofpublic engagement, involvement, and co-production activities.

Application/Interview

Ability to use or willingness to learn to use a range of different software packages to support research (e.g., Google sites; Excel; video editing software; project management software)

Application/ Task/Interview

Further Information

Grade

Grade 6

Work arrangement

Part-Time (FTE 0.6)

Duration

Fixed Term until April 2029

Line manager

Direct reports

none

Right to work in the UK

This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship under the UK Visa & Immigration points-based system. Information on alternative visa options is available on www.gov.uk.

It is anticipated that the selection process will comprise two stages. If applicants meet the essential criteria adequately, they will be invited to take part in a written task (to be submitted by email). Following the review of the tasks, we will produce a shortlist from which we will invite candidates to interview. The written task will help us more effectively assess candidates against the essential criteria outlined in the job description, particularly in areas that are critical to success in the role. It will also give applicants an opportunity to demonstrate their suitability in a more practical context.

Interviews will take place in January and candidates will receive questions in advance. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage in January. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail]. The panel will consist of Professor Peter Bath, Professor Katherine Runswick-Cole, Dr PJ Annand, Dr Gemma Stephens and an individual external to the University with lived experience of adult social care . If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail] if you require any reasonable adjustments.

A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills Framework

A range of generous family-friendly policies

paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

access to menopause support in the workplace

paid time off and support for fertility treatment

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.

The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
[phone]