We are seeking an enthusiastic, dynamic research fellow for this post based in the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP) (Adolescence and Young Adulthood Working Group) within the Centre for Population Health Sciences. This post offers an exciting opportunity to develop and pilot an intervention for parents with teenage children in Scotland. The post-holder will play a key role in all stages of intervention development, including initial consultations with key stakeholders, design of specific intervention components, through to piloting and refinement. The successful applicant will be expected to produce first draft of papers and reports and also develop protocols for additional grants together with working group members and SCPHRP staff. This position provides a unique opportunity to develop and acquire training and experience of working at the interface of research, policy and practice and further develop their own skills and career opportunities in public health.
The post holder will have a PhD in Public Health or equivalent professional qualification and/or experience, a high level of technical competence in undertaking public health research and a proven ability to communicate complex information clearly, orally and in writing to a range of audiences, both academic and non-academic.
The post is full time (35 hours per week) and is Fixed Term for 12 months. The post is available from January 2015 and can be negotiated depending on successful candidate.
Please include your CV and a supporting statement with details of how you meet the knowledge, skills and experience required for this post.
Informal enquiries for this post can be sent to Dr John McAteer (John.McAteer@ed.ac.uk).
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Job Details
Job title: Research Fellow
School/Support Department: Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences / Centre for Population Health Sciences
Unit (if applicable): Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (Adolescence and Young Adulthood Working Group)
Line manager: Dr John McAteer
Job Purpose
The post-holder will develop and pilot an intervention for parents with teenage children in Scotland. The post-holder will:
• Use local data and work with key stakeholders to identify and decide upon targets for intervention, e.g. parenting skills, adolescent risk-behaviours, etc.
• Use a theoretical framework to develop a parenting intervention for delivery in Scotland
• Pilot the intervention with third sector organisations in two different geographical locations
• Examine to what extent the intervention is delivered as “prescribed”
• Explore acceptability of the intervention among study participants
• Refine the intervention based upon findings of the pilot
• Define the main outcome measures to be used in a future evaluation
The post-holder will have the opportunity to become involved in the wider work of the Adolescence and Young Adulthood Working Group.
Main Responsibilities
1. Develop an intervention for parents with teenage children in Scotland (Approx 30% of time)
2. Pilot the intervention (Approx 30% of time)
3. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records to document the research progress. Provide regular reports and present data at meetings and conferences. (Approx 10% of time)
4. Produce first draft of papers and reports to be fed into the SCPHRP “Adolescence and Young Adulthood” Working Group (WG), composed of public health researchers and decision-makers from across Scotland, as evidence to inform the development of novel interventions (programmes and policies) to reduce the acquisition of such risk factors, by effective primary prevention. (Approx 10% of time)
5. Develop protocols for additional grants, together with WG members and SCPHRP staff. (Approx 10% of time)
6. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records to document the research progress. Provide regular reports and present data at meetings and conferences. (Approx 10% of time)
Planning and Organising
The post-holder will
• plan and manage the development of an intervention, and subsequent pilot study, ensuring that the research is conducted in accordance with the research timetable
• be expected to plan research and related outputs and dissemination strategies, including the preparation of scientific papers for a range of publications targeted at both academic and non-academic audiences.
Problem Solving
The post holder is expected to resolve most problems using accumulated experience, with only the most serious non-standard issues reported to the line manager for assistance. They will use:
• creativity and initiative to develop and pilot an intervention, ensuring that the views of key stakeholders are incorporated
• initiative to analyse and interpret research data, and draw conclusions from it.
• initiative to work with other members of the project advisory group to resolve project problems, as appropriate.
Decision Making
Taken independently: Organise own workload according to priority and adapt as necessary, setting of short-term timelines.
In collaboration with others: Work in collaboration with project steering group and with other staff and Fellows of SCPHRP. The post holder will take decisions related to intervention development and piloting, that incorporate discussions within the project advisory group and with key stakeholders.
Referred to manager: Overall timelines, changes of direction, response to serious and unexpected events, identification of the best way forward and interpretation of complex data (although input to these areas is expected).
Level of direction given:
The line manager (s) will offer mentoring, general orientation and advice, in addition to support in developing and implementation of research strategy. There will be an appropriate degree of independence.
Key Contacts/Relationships
Internal: The Director, Senior Scientific Advisor, Line Manager and other Fellows and staff of SCPHRP.
External: Members of SCPHRP Adolescence and Young Adulthood Working Group. The study advisory group consisting of representatives from University of Edinburgh, Scottish Government, Parenting Across Scotland and Midlothian Council. The post holder will represent the University in a research capacity.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job
Qualifications/Training
Essential
• Appropriate degree, with relevant post-graduate research experience.
• A PhD in Public Health or equivalent professional qualification and/or experience.
Desirable
• Policy, programme or practice experience in a public sector context relevant to public health.
• A MSc in public health or related field.
Experience
Essential
• Experience of using qualitative and quantitative methods
• High level of technical competence in undertaking public health research, or research in a related discipline, and experience in reporting results to both academic and non-academic stakeholder communities.
• Experience of working collaboratively with a range academic and non-academic partners e.g. public health professionals, policy makers, and third sector organisations.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly, orally and in writing to a range of audiences, both academic and non-academic.
Desirable
• Good understanding of how to develop/design and evaluate complex interventions in a public health context.
• Experience of conducting research with young people and/or parents
• Experience of working with, and/or communicating to, a range of public health professionals, both academic and non-academic.
• Expertise in a range of evaluation approaches, analytical techniques and methods
• Understanding of research related to Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Experience of managing projects, including managing a budget
Dimensions
The post is funded by a grant awarded from the Robertson Trust. The post-holder will manage a budget of £10,000 and ensure it is spent according to the funder’s terms and conditions.
Job Context and any other relevant information
The Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP) is a public health consortium with members drawn from research, policy and practice. It has been tasked with creating strategies to tackle Scotland’s poor health record and steep health inequalities by social class. The Collaboration is dedicated to identifying opportunities to develop and test novel public health interventions that will equitably address major health problems in Scotland.
We encourage close collaboration between researchers and policymakers from the very first stage of the research process. In this way, we hope to foster a sense of joint-ownership of the research. Experience from other countries – Canada, Australia and the US – indicates that this is critical if research findings are to be used to support policy development.
Our work is focused on the four key life stages: Early Life, Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Adult Life and Later Life.
This position provides a unique opportunity for the post-holder to develop and acquire training and experience of working at the interface of research, policy and practice and further develop their own skills and career opportunities in public health.
Salary
The role is grade UE07 and attracts an annual salary of £31,342 to £37,394 for 35 hours each week. Salary is paid monthly by direct transfer to your Bank or Building Society account, normally on the 28th of the month. Salaries for part-time staff are calculated on the full-time scales, pro-rata to the Standard Working Week.
This post is available on a fixed term basis, with a working pattern of 35 hours per week for 12 months.
Pension Scheme
This role is grade UE07 and therefore the post holder is automatically included in membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subject to the USS membership criteria, unless they indicate that they choose not to join the Scheme.
For further information please visit our pensions website http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/finance/pensions/scheme-details/uss
Eligibility to Work
In accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 the University of Edinburgh, as an employer, has a legal responsibility to prevent illegal working and therefore must check that all employees are entitled to work in the United Kingdom (UK).
To do so, the University of Edinburgh requires to see original documents evidencing right to work in the UK before commencement of employment and this is normally carried out at interview. Details will be provided in any letter of invitation to interview.
For further information on eligibility to work please visit our eligibility to work website
If you are not currently eligible to work in the UK, it may be possible for the University of Edinburgh to sponsor you to obtain a Tier 2 (General) visa to enable you to take up the appointment should you be successful at interview.
For applicants interested in sponsorship information is available on our Working in the UK website
However, if you have previously been sponsored by an employer within the UK but your leave has expired or lapsed and you are no longer in the UK, according to Home Office Visa Immigration rules you cannot apply for sponsorship under any category of Tier 2 for a period of 12 months after the date your visa expired and/or you left the UK.
If you are an academic in the field of sciences; humanities; engineering; medicine; digital technology; or the arts and come from outside the EEA, it may be possible for you to apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa.
The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa route offers a greater flexibility in your employment compared to other UK immigration routes, meaning you can, for example, move organisation, location and/or job role. By contrast with, a Tier 2 visa where you are ‘tied to a UK sponsor’. Tier 1 provides greater flexibility in undertaking additional engagements, such as collaborations and is intended as a route to settlement. Allowed absences from the UK are up to 180 days per year without losing the eligibility to qualify for settlement, with no restriction on the reason for absence (unlike Tier 2, where any absences from the UK must be for a purpose consistent with the person’s employment or economic activity, including paid annual leave, or for serious or compelling personal reasons).
You would initially need to apply to be endorsed as an internationally recognised leader or emerging leader in your particular field by a designated competent body (Arts Council England, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Tech City UK).
Tier1 (Exceptional and Exceptional Promise) Endorsement Criteria
Once successfully endorsed, you are able to apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa. More information on this entry route is available at UKVI Website.
Application Procedure
All applicants should apply online by clicking the “apply” button at the foot of this page. The application process is quick and easy to follow, and you will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your application. The online system allows you to submit a CV and other attachments.
Closing date: Friday 21st November at 5pm.
Interview date
We anticipate interviews will be held in the week commencing 8th December 2014. You will be notified by email whether you have been shortlisted for interview or not.
Click here to apply
