Research Assistant

The UN Agenda 2030 promotes safe access to green spaces, and the Ocean Decade aims to enhance humanity’s preparedness for ocean hazards and its relationship with the ocean. The tide is not considered an ocean hazard, yet half of the world’s coastline is susceptible to tides rising more than two meters in a single tidal cycle and globally >300,000 people per annum lose their lives to drowning. This project undertook the first nationally representative survey of public understanding of tide, revealing that over a quarter of the British and Irish public struggled to read a basic tide table. More than one in seven reported having been cut off by the tide, or nearly so, translating to 10 million people having experienced this hazard across the UK overall.

Common misconceptions leading to cut off included the tide coming in much faster and stronger than expected, and often from a different direction. This demonstrates a national failure to understand the variability in tidal movement—one of the most fundamental aspects of the ocean. As the “ocean literacy” agenda advocates for increased access and connection to the ocean, to enable responsible delivery of ocean literacy, it is crucial to understand and increase the public knowledge of tidal variability. This will enable people to enjoy safe access and maintain positive attitudes towards the rapidly changing, and increasingly risky, marine environment of the future. To achieve this, Bangor University academics are working closely with the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) to co-develop improved strategies for communication, educational action, messaging and signage.

Purpose of the Job

The post is part of a collaborative team working to increase tidal literacy across the UK. The project will engage with stakeholders, coastal communities, beach visitors and others to identify concrete actions to reduce tide-related water safety incidents.

The post holder will be responsible for organising workshops, establishing contacts and relationships, holding and analysing focus groups and interviews, and co-developing further actions as collaboratively agreed. They will liaise closely with the RNLI, Bangor University academic supervisors, and community stakeholders to ensure that actions are co-ordinated, purposeful and effective.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Messaging Analysis: Desk-based and field research to establish a qualitative account of how tidal information is commonly communicated.
• Collaborative Co-Design: Work closely with Bangor University supervisors, RNLI, and community stakeholders to capture insights and perceptions and agree on actions.
• Analysis and Action: Systematically record and analyse the contributions from various events held to co-develop tidal literacy enhancing actions. Pursue next steps as collaborative agreed and derived from the insights gained.
• Project Communication and Reporting: Provide regular progress updates to the project team; prepare and deliver presentations to academic and non-academic audiences; maintain thorough documentation of methodologies and datasets; contribute to publications and dissemination activities.
• Project Management: Support monitoring of project progress against project goals; help identify and address operational risks; coordinate tasks between university and partners; support timely delivery of project objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders; translate complex scientific concepts into clear, non-technical language; foster strong relationships to support and establish collaboration and trust beyond the duration of the project.

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in job-relevant developmental activities offered by the University.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves self and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications / Training

• Undergraduate degree in social sciences, linguistics with a focus on communication and discourse, ocean sciences, or a related field.

Desirable

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject area

Essential

Experience / Knowledge

• Basic knowledge of tidal movements
• Experience in workshop organisation
• Experience in stakeholder engagement / outreach

Desirable

• Advanced knowledge of tidal movements
• Experience working with communities to gather perspectives and co-design solutions
• Familiarity with coastal practices e.g., coast guards, RNLI volunteering
• Experience in knowledge transfer between academic and community environments

Essential

Skills / Abilities

• Advanced interviewing skills
• Strong intrinsic motivation and confidence
• Proven ability to work independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to engage with highly diverse audiences

Desirable

• Project management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in stakeholder engagement and collaborative problem-solving
• Ability to adapt to evolving project requirements and work flexibly across academic and non-academic contexts
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload, manage deadlines, and work independently as well as part of a distributed team
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex information into actionable insights

Other

Essential

• Willingness to travel within Wales for stakeholder meetings, workshops, and field visits

Desirable

• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role
• Driving licence

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all