Postdoctoral Research Associate

About The Role

Postdoctoral Impact Associate This ESRC/UKRI funded full-time post in the Governing Sustainable Futures Project available from September 2026 on a fixed term basic to the 30 September 2028.

The starting salary will be from £34,610 on Grade E, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

TheRole

The Postdoctoral Impact Associate will be a key player in realising the ambitions of our project in terms of successful partner engagement, along with developing and translating findings from the project. The post holder will play an important role in co-producing outputs that seek to drive positive change towards sustainable transitions. You will be working at the forefront of innovation in developing engagement and participatory mechanisms, collaborating with a diverse network of experts to influence local and national governments, campaign and community groups as the project investigates approaches towards sustainability contestations. The role involves supporting the Project lead and Co-leads in developing and evaluating innovative approaches to environmental governance, applying the lessons learned to both Devon-based and wider contexts, and ensuring lasting impact through partner training and engagement. Key responsibilities include leading on developing and sustaining relationships with partners; planning and coordinating meetings and events with stakeholders; working with the project’s Research Fellow to conduct qualitative research with stakeholders and publics; input to academic publications and other project outputs, outward dissemination of findings and to work alongside community groups, local authorities, public bodies, as well as facilitating the ongoing enhancement of the place-based contestation toolkit to address evolving partner and stakeholder needs.

Specific tasks and activities of the post include:

• Network Development and Knowledge Coproduction: Build and maintain effective relationships with project partners, ensuring collaboration across groups of partners. Linked to this will be a focus on effective participatory and knowledge of coproduction processes with existing and new partners.
• Supporting data collection: Working with the Research Fellow to support data collection and analysis for the project.
• Dissemination of Findings: 1) Lead the outward dissemination of project findings through creative and conventional outputs, for example: reports, infographics, videos, social media, policy briefings and web-based resources. 2) Contributing to, and assisting the process of the co-production of, academic project outputs from across the project teams, including journal papers, conferences and briefings.
• Stakeholder Engagement Guidance: Lead on external communication of research findings and promote sustainable practices to industries, governments (devolved, national and local), community groups, and the broader public.
• Co-Creation and Application: Work alongside community groups, local authorities, and public bodies to support real-life applications of the project’s outputs and participatory mechanisms.
• Team Engagement and Leadership: Collaborate closely with the GSF Delivery Team, support the smooth running of work packages, and contribute to ESRC-funded project delivery.

The post holder will work closely with the project team, project partners and delivery partners and members of the University’s Professional Services teams (especially: Exeter Innovation and Green Futures). The post holder will operate as a core member of the GSF Delivery Team and actively contribute to all aspects of ESRC funded project delivery.

About You

Applicants will possess a good honours degree and PhD/ higher degree (or nearing completion) in a Human Geography, Political Science or a cognate social science discipline or relevant experience or possess an equivalent professional experience/ qualification in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes.

The successful applicant will have a personal track record in carrying out, effective knowledge exchange and / or participatory activities with evidence of Impact generation.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Further information

Please contact the project PI Dr. Rebecca Sandover, [email protected]

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russel Group university (QS \& THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

What we can offer you: * Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines; * Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly; * An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development; * Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career; * A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy; * A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon/Cornwall.

How we can help

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.