University of Birmingham
Research Associate - Community Engagement and PPI Facilitator - College of Life and Environmental Sciences - 107821 - Grade 6
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Position Details
College of Life and Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906
Grade: 6
Part Time, 0.5 FTE
Fixed Term contract up to December 2027
Closing date: 1st September 2026
There are 2 positions available.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should we receive a high volume of applications.
Background
The post-holder will contribute to ensuring that research is informed by the views and experiences of patients, carers, service users and members of the public through meaningful and inclusive Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activity.
To assist in research (by carrying out PPIE activity and data collection or analyses) to create knowledge through providing research support for projects and research groups.
Role Summary
- Support meaningful Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activities within research projects.
- Contribute to the involvement of patients, carers, service users, community groups and public contributors in the design, delivery, governance and dissemination of research.
- Develop productive relationships with researchers, public contributors and external stakeholders to support high-quality and inclusive research activity
- Work within specified research grants and/or projects
- Operate within area of specialism
- Contribute to publications
Main Duties
- Support the planning, coordination and delivery of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activities across research projects.
- Assist with the organisation and facilitation of workshops, meetings, focus groups and other engagement activities involving patients, carers, service users, community organisations and members of the public.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with public contributors and relevant stakeholder groups to support research objectives.
- Support the recruitment, involvement and ongoing engagement of public contributors within research studies and programmes.
- Contribute to the co-design and co-production of research activities, materials and dissemination outputs with patients and members of the public.
- Support the communication and dissemination of research findings to academic, clinical, community and public audiences.
- Identify barriers to involvement and engagement and contribute to the development of inclusive approaches that promote participation from diverse and underrepresented groups.
- Maintain accurate records and contribute to monitoring, evaluation and reporting of PPIE activities and their impact on research.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external partners to share learning and good practice relating to public involvement, engagement and co-production.
- Ensure that public contributors are supported appropriately and that their views are incorporated into relevant research activities and decision-making processes.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of involvement and engagement plans associated with funded research projects.
- Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews.
- Analyse research data as directed.
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters.
- Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods.
- Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research.
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
- Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research.
- Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff.
- Identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures.
- Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity duties document.
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Person Specification
- Degree or equivalent in relevant subject area.
- Practical experience of applying the relevant skills and techniques.
- Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively.
- Knowledge or experience of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) within research, healthcare, public sector or community settings.
- Experience of engaging with a range of stakeholders, including patients, carers, service users, community organisations and members of the public.
- Understanding of inclusive engagement, co-production and community involvement approaches.
- Experience of supporting the planning, organisation and delivery of meetings, workshops, events or engagement activities.
- Experience of maintaining effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, social and professional backgrounds.
- Ability to communicate complex research concepts in an accessible and engaging manner to non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to contribute to reports, presentations, dissemination activities and engagement materials.
- Ability to work sensitively and appropriately with individuals discussing potentially personal or challenging experiences.
- Demonstrable commitment to widening participation in research.
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications and online communication platforms.
- Ability to access and organise resources successfully.
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties under the Equality Act 2010. Including fostering good relations and advancing the universities Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
- Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity knowledge, skills and experience document.
- Requirement for DBS, Occupational Health Check and awareness of the Data Protection Act (DPA).
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OH & DBS required
The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and/or DBS clearance prior to appointment.
Informal enquiries to
Shahara Choudhry, email: s.h.choudhry@bham.ac.uk
Use of AI in applications:
We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone here.
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