HEIF
The Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) supports knowledge exchange between higher education providers and the wider world that benefits society and the economy.
Further information is available at: https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/browse-our-areas-of-investment-and-support/higher-education-innovation-fund/ THE PROJECT
We are seeking a dynamic and motivated Research Associate to lead a high-impact research project “Innovating Drug and Alcohol Service provision through community led commissioning” in collaboration with Essex County Council (ECC) Wellbeing and Public Health team and Essex Recovery Foundation. This role will build on a recently completed pilot project which assessed current data collection systems in Essex Recovery Foundation; interviewed staff, volunteers, trustees and commissioners to identify important outcomes; and developed a data collection and evaluation protocol.
In this next phase, the postholder will work with Essex Recovery Foundation, with the support of ECC’s Public Health and Wellbeing team, to refine and implement the proposed evaluation protocol; monitor and provide reports on data quality and implement approaches to improve data quality; collate and analyse data; generate an impact and evaluation report for ECC commissioning team, Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership workforce delivery group and other national stakeholders. The postholder will play a central role in coordinating research activities, engaging stakeholders across the public and voluntary sectors, and driving forward evaluation, innovation and lived experience commissioning in the drug and alcohol treatment system. The role will suit someone with strong applied research skills, excellent communication abilities, and a passion for equity-driven, participatory approaches to evaluation and systems change.
DUTIES OF THE POST
The duties of the post will include:
• Leading the day-to-day coordination of the project, in collaboration with academic supervisors, ECC and Essex Recovery Foundation (ERF) staff• Conducting a review of innovative commissioning models in UK public health including models incorporating lived experience involvement in commissioning • Refining and implementing a co-produced evaluation model for ERF developed and agreed with stakeholders (building on pilot project work) including additional consideration of data management, protection and governance components• Implementing data collection protocol and monitoring of data quality; support and training for ERF staff, balancing ERF and ECC priorities while ensuring delivery of key project milestones• Data collation and provisional reporting of data quality and summaries at 3 monthly intervals• Data analysis, reports, presentations to multiple stakeholders and recommendations for commissioning model as well as any changes to data collection and monitoring; engagement with wider local authorities and national stakeholders• Co-developing a publication and dissemination plan with the academic team, Essex Recovery Foundation and ECC commissioning team, and contributing to academic publications and conference presentations related to the project’s findings, methodology, and theoretical contribution• Contributing to the preparation of policy briefs, practitioner-facing resources, and other applied outputs for wider dissemination• Supporting ethical research governance, including managing ethics applications, risk assessments, and data protection procedures as required
These duties are a guide to the work that the post holder will initially be required to undertake. They may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.KEY REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications:
• A PhD (or equivalent experience) in Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, Health Services Research, or a closely related discipline, with demonstrable experience leading applied research or evaluation projects.
Skills/Experience:
• Experience in designing and conducting applied research using both qualitative and quantitative methods• Strong understanding of evaluation methods, outcomes-based evaluation, psychometric tools and participatory or community-based approaches• Proven ability to design and analyse stakeholder consultations, including interviews, focus groups, and surveys• Experience working with or in partnership with VCSE organisations, local authorities, or community-based public health services• Experience working in mental health and/or drug and alcohol treatment settings either in a practitioner or researcher capacity• Ability to translate research into accessible tools, templates, or guidance materials for use by non-academic partners• Experience of co-producing research or evaluation resources with service users or frontline staff• Ability to manage complex projects, balance multiple stakeholder needs, and deliver to agreed timelines• Familiarity with ethical research practices, safeguarding, and inclusive approaches to working with diverse or potentially vulnerable populations, information governance practices and GDPR • Competency with research and data analysis tools (e.g. NVivo, Excel, SPSS, Stata or equivalents)• Strong communication skills, including writing for academic, policy, and practice audiences• Experience contributing to or co-authoring academic publications, reports, or conference presentations
Attributes:
• A collaborative and adaptable approach, with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to partnership working• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community voice in research and evaluation• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage workload with minimal supervision• Confidence presenting research findings to a variety of stakeholders in engaging and accessible formats• An interest in drug and alcohol treatment provision, public health, mental health, and public health commissioning innovation. • Excellent time keeping, budget management and project management skills• Excellent written and spoken English, with experience authoring or co-authoring articles for publication in academic journals.
BENEFITS
The post will offer the following benefits:
• A personal development budget of £4000 (exclusive of salary). • An interesting and challenging role, with exposure to a variety of stakeholders.• Full access to university resources to complete the project.• Full access to university and ECC skills and career development resources and activities• World-leading Academic and Local Authority project supervision
LOCATION
Hybrid working between University of Essex Colchester Campus, Essex Recovery Foundation spaces in Chelmsford and other locations in Essex as required and some home working. Travel will also be required on occasion to other VCSE settings and ECC offices within Essex.Please see the attached job pack, which contains a full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role plus more information relating to the post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application. Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please contact resourcing@essex.ac.uk. *More information: Working at the University