Research Associate - Food Procurement

Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester; A distancia; GBP 30.000 - 38.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Manchester Metropolitan University is seeking a Research Associate to lead the project's qualitative fieldwork on a six-month fixed-term contract. The role involves designing interviews with food businesses, coordinating participants, and delivering analyses within timescales.

You will work under supervision to communicate findings to academia, policymakers and practitioners, contributing to an emerging policy-relevant area of research and enhancing your own research profile.

Formación

• Doctoral qualification or nearing completion.
• Experience in business studies or related field with independent research contributions.
• Proficient in qualitative interviewing and analysis.
• Knowledge of food systems, supply chains or sustainability.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with external organisations.

Responsabilidades

• Design and prepare interviews, recruit participants, and conduct and analyse interviews.
• Consolidate findings and communicate them to academic, policy and practitioner audiences via reports, presentations and journal articles.

Conocimientos

Qualitative interviewing

Qualitative analysis

Research communication

Stakeholder engagement

Sustainability knowledge

Educación

PhD or nearing completion

Descripción del empleo

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Business and Law at Manchester Metropolitan University is home to one of the UK's largest business schools and to the Manchester Law School. The Faculty is committed to research that addresses pressing social, economic and environmental challenges, and works in close partnership with industry, policymakers and communities.

About the Department

The Department of Marketing, International Business & Tourism is an outward-looking academic community within the Business School. Among its research output there is a developing body of work on sustainable food system and public procurement, which examines how public spending can support fairer and more sustainable ways of producing and distributing food.

This is a part-time post (17.5 hours per week, 0.5 FTE). The fieldwork will be carried out online, and flexible working arrangements can be discussed with the line manager.

About the Project

UK public sector institutions such as schools and hospitals serve millions of meals every day, which makes public procurement a significant lever for change in the food system. This project assesses the potential impact of sourcing public sector food from local suppliers, or from producers who can demonstrate high environmental standards. It considers the implications for regional economies, environmental outcomes and supply chain resilience.

The project will draw on the experience of producers, processors and distributors in two geographically bounded UK supply chains to understand current practice in regionally focused food production and distribution. It will also identify the barriers to, and opportunities for, supplying public sector institutions. The findings will contribute to the evidence base on how public sector food procurement could be reshaped.

The project is led by Adrian Morley, Research Fellow in Sustainable Food Systems.

About the Role & Team

We are seeking to appoint a Research Associate on a six-month fixed-term contract to lead the project's qualitative fieldwork.

• The postholder will conduct online interviews with around food businesses, including producers, processors and distributors, exploring their current practices and their experiences of, or potential for, supplying the public sector.
• Working under the supervision of Adrian Morley, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the fieldwork and work independently to deliver it within agreed timescales.
• The role offers a valuable opportunity to contribute to an emerging and policy-relevant area of research, and to develop your own research profile through the project's outputs.

Key Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for designing and preparing the interviews, recruiting participants, and conducting and analysing the interviews.
• You will consolidate the findings and work with colleagues and research partners to communicate them to academic, policy and practitioner audiences through reports, presentations and journal articles.

Key Skills & Experiences

• You will hold, or be working towards, a doctoral qualification.
• You will have research experience in business studies or a related field, including a clear, independent contribution to research projects and the preparation of written reports.
• You will be experienced and confident in qualitative interviewing and analysis, and able to synthesise complex data and communicate findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• You will also bring sound knowledge of food systems, supply chains or sustainability.
• As the role involves engagement with external organisations, excellent communication and relationship-building skills are important.
• Experience of working directly with business representatives would be particularly welcome.

We believe in working together, sharing knowledge and valuing everyone's contributions. Develop your skills, further your knowledge and be part of a team who are transforming lives, every single day!

Further Information

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.

This vacancy is expected to attract a high volume of applications. Therefore, under the Disability Confident Scheme, only disabled people who apply under the scheme and best meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview.

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