This could be the perfect role for you...The Public Health and Social Research Unit is a multi-disciplinary team of analysts and researchers.
Public Health, and the wider council, want to increase the capacity of the council to undertake, support and promote research.
To do this we need to build capacity within the council, improve the research infrastructure (such as governance processes, staff skills and confidence) and foster a research culture.This is an exciting time for the Public Health and Social Research unit as they embark on this journey, seeking a Senior Research Officer to join them to undertake research, primarily developing the research capacity and culture within the council.
Sound interesting?
Keep reading to find out more about this fantastic, fixed-term opportunity!
The Opportunity Salary: £38,626 to £41,511 per annumWorking Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per weekContract type: Fixed term or secondment, 20 month contractLocation: County Hall, Chichester and hybrid working from homeInterview date: w/c 03 February 2025As the Senior Research Officer, you will be based in the Public Health and Social Research Unit.
The post is part of a wider network of similar posts, based in local authorities, part funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for 20-months.As the successful post holder, you will: Support research and evidence-informed practice, promoting a culture of research across Public Health and the wider council.Increase research awareness, guiding colleagues interested in research, and providing training and support on finding and applying evidence from research to inform decisions.Undertake research readiness assessments of current capabilities and capacity, identifying barriers and facilitators to research.Work with colleagues to review existing research infrastructure including governance processes to support research proposals and delivery.Develop relationships to build research capacity (e.g.
with Council and with the voluntary and community sector and local communities).Identify and share relevant funding opportunities and support colleagues to write funding applications.Work with others to increase community participation in research, particularly among disadvantaged groups, building long-term relationships and trust.
What are we looking for?
You will need to be flexible, adaptable and comfortable working in partnership with a range of services, partners and experts by experience, and will need good communication skills to develop good relationships with staff across organisations, both within the council and externally, such as the District and Borough councils, universities, health and social care system, and external researchersIn addition, you will need: To be highly organised and able to work to deadlines.The ability to work well under pressure.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to present data and findings to a range of audiences.To be able to work with sensitive and confidential data and promote and maintain high standards of data governance.Excellent analytical and research skills, and the ability to draft reports and briefings.The ability to co-ordinate and analyse data from a variety of sources, including primary collection of qualitative data from interviews and focus groups.
For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.
Working for us As well as adding real value to our service users and our communities, as an employer we recognise our employees are central in being able to achieve this.
To recognise this we want to help support your development and provide an great place to work ensuring you can fulfil your full potential, have access to a range of benefits including: an excellent generous holiday entitlement of 27 days (plus opportunity to buy additional leave)a range of flexible working options, depending on your job rolematernity, paternity, dependency and adoption leavevolunteering opportunitiestraining and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoringa range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform (see our Staff discounts page if you are a business looking to offer a discount)health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Voluntary Health Cash Plans