Research Associate

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer contribution pension

29 days annual leave plus bank holiday

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary project exploring how lessons from industrial incidents can be more effectively transferred across sectors. You will conduct cross-sectoral reviews, analyse incident learning mechanisms and design an evidence-based framework for intersectoral learning from incidents.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline and bring strong qualitative and

Qualifications

• PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline such as safety science, engineering management, risk management, human factors / applied psychology, organisational studies, systems engineering or related fields.
• Proven experience in qualitative research including interview design and thematic analysis with strong proficiency in qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo or ATLAS.ti.
• Experience in using quantitative methods, survey design and analysis, and software packages such as SPSS, Mplus, or R.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills with the ability to integrate evidence across disciplines and sectors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience producing reports and/or academic publications.

Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive cross-sectoral systematic review of literature, grey literature, regulatory reports, and industry guidance related to learning from incidents and accidents.
• Analyse incident reporting, learning, and feedback mechanisms across multiple sectors to identify transferable practices, gaps, and limitations.
• Design and conduct qualitative research including semi-structured interviews with industry practitioners, regulators, and safety professionals.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative findings into a structured framework for intersectoral learning from incidents.
• Collaborate with project partners including industry forums, regulators, and professional bodies to ensure outputs are relevant and applicable.

Skills

Qualitative research

Quantitative methods

Literature review

Data analysis

Written communication

Education

PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline

Tools

NVivo

ATLAS.ti

SPSS

Mplus

R

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary research project examining how lessons from industrial incidents can be more effectively transferred across sectors. The project spans multiple high-hazard and safety-critical industries (e.g. construction, oil and gas, aviation, healthcare, nuclear) and aims to develop and validate a practical, cross-sectoral framework for learning from incidents.

You will be responsible for:

• Conduct a comprehensive cross-sectoral systematic review of academic literature, grey literature, regulatory reports, and industry guidance related to learning from incidents and accidents.
• Analyse existing incident reporting, learning, and feedback mechanisms across multiple sectors, identifying transferable practices, gaps, and limitations.
• Design and conduct qualitative research, including semi-structured interviews with industry practitioners, regulators, and safety professionals.
• Synthesise qualitative and quantitative findings into a structured, evidence-based framework for intersectoral learning from incidents.
• Work closely with project partners, including industry forums, regulators, and professional bodies, to ensure relevance and applicability of outputs.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline, such as safety science, engineering management, risk management, human factors / applied psychology, organisational studies, systems engineering or related fields.
• Proven experience in qualitative research, including interview design and thematic analysis, with strong proficiency in qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo or ATLAS.ti.
• Experience in using quantitative methods, survey design and analysis, and software packages, such as SPSS, Mplus, or R.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to integrate evidence across disciplines and sectors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing reports and/or academic publications.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience researching and learning from incidents, accident investigation, or safety management systems.
• Familiarity with socio-technical safety frameworks (e.g. STAMP, FRAM, Safety-I/SafetyII).
• Experience working with industry or regulatory bodies in applied research contexts.
• Experience with mixed-methods research.
• Evidence of publications in safety, risk, or management journals.

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries About The Role, Shortlisting And Interviews

Name: Saeed Reza Mohandes

Email Address: [e-mail]

General enquiries and administrative support

[e-mail]

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.

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