Senior Research Associate

Applications are invited for a Senior Research Associate to join the School of Medicine within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in delivering and developing a programme of mixed methods research as part of the Partnership for Workforce Sustainability in Underserved Areas, Workforce Voices.

Workforce Voices is a major NIHR funded collaboration established to address workforce sustainability challenges in underserved areas of health and care. Bringing together researchers from five universities, the Partnership works closely with policymakers, health and care professionals, system leaders and members of the public to develop evidence-based and actionable solutions to workforce challenges in primary care and maternity services across six projects.

The successful candidate will play a leading role in delivering mixed methods research across the Partnership. They will contribute to the design and conduct of studies, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, publish research outputs, support funding applications and work with partners across health, care and policy settings. As a senior member of the research team, they will provide guidance and support to early career researchers, contribute to the development of new research opportunities and help shape the future direction of research within the programme. This role will work across the entire partnership but with a focus on co-leading the SIGNAL project with Professor Anthony Montgomery.

Key Accountabilities:
- Lead the design, delivery and coordination of mixed methods research activities across the Partnership, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives, milestones and timelines.
- Contribute intellectual and methodological leadership to studies addressing workforce sustainability in underserved primary care and maternity settings.
- Develop research questions, study protocols and analytical approaches that address Partnership priorities and emerging workforce challenges.
- Lead the collection, management, analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data, ensuring robust and credible findings.
- Apply and promote high standards of research governance, ethics, integrity and data management throughout Partnership activities.
- Develop and maintain productive relationships with researchers, policymakers, health and care organisations, professional groups and public contributors to support the delivery and impact of the Partnership's research programme.
- Lead stakeholder engagement and co-production activities that inform the development, delivery, dissemination and application of Partnership research.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across partner universities and external organisations to support the effective delivery of Partnership objectives.
- Lead the preparation of publications, reports, policy briefings, presentations and other outputs arising from Partnership research.
- Disseminate research findings to academic, policy, professional and public audiences, promoting the uptake and application of evidence to improve workforce sustainability.
- Support the strategic development of the Partnership's programme of research by identifying opportunities for future research, collaboration, impact and funding.
- Contribute to the development of research proposals and funding applications that build upon the Partnership's programme of work.
- Provide supervision, mentoring and support to early career researchers, contributing to research capacity building within the Partnership.
- Contribute to project reporting, governance and management activities, ensuring compliance with university, funder and regulatory requirements.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Experience of designing, conducting and leading high-quality mixed methods research within applied health research settings.
- Knowledge and experience of applied health research and an understanding of the organisation and delivery of healthcare services, including NHS structures and workforce issues.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information and research findings to a range of audiences.
- Experience of collecting, managing, analysing and interpreting complex research data using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative methods.
- Experience of developing research protocols, ethics applications and other research governance documentation, with a sound understanding of research integrity and good research practice.
- Experience of planning, organising and managing research activities, working collaboratively with stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams to deliver research objectives, milestones, dissemination and impact.
- Evidence of contribution to high-quality research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and other dissemination activities.
- Experience of contributing to research funding applications, bids, proposal development or related research development activities.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team, including contributing to the development of junior researchers, students or colleagues where appropriate.

Attributes and Behaviour:
- Ability to work collaboratively and build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams and partner organisations.
- Ability to work effectively with academic colleagues, healthcare professionals, policymakers, public contributors and other stakeholders.
- Ability to exercise initiative, independent judgement and problem-solving skills in the delivery of research activities.
- Ability to prioritise competing demands and manage multiple activities to meet deadlines.
- Ability to work independently whilst contributing positively to a collaborative research environment.

Qualifications:
- A PhD awarded in a relevant subject (e.g. public health, sociology, psychology or clinical education).

Benefits include a generous holiday package with the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives. Newcastle University holds a Gold Athena Swan award, a Race Equality Charter Bronze award, and is a Disability Confident employer.