The Post
* X5 Positions Available *
The Partnership Project
Each post is part of FORTH20: a UK Research and Innovation Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) project, focused on the Forth Water Basin, and offering services to support innovation through collaboration. The Partnership is between multiple Universities/Research Institutes and stakeholders including Scottish Government, Scottish Water and SEPA. Forth20 seeks to make a positive difference to the health and wealth of businesses, communities, and natural ecosystems. Year 1 fostered the collaborative generation of new ideas and priorities. Year 2 used those ideas to inform the commissioning of stakeholder-academic projects. Year 3 focuses on project delivery: ensuring that our priorities and projects translate into a coherent set of positive outcomes. See: https://forth2o.ac.uk/
The Roles
We are seeking five experienced and highly motivated Research Fellows to join the Forth20 team for the delivery phase of the project. Each Research Fellow will support the delivery plan produced by one work package but also work as part of a team of Fellows to support cross-package priorities. Fellows will be essential to key aspects of this work including: to answer work package research questions, foster stakeholder/partner engagement, and co-produce research outputs in a variety of formats for different audiences. Overarching questions regard how to:
- Encourage policy change. Understand policymaking ‘bottlenecks’ and anticipate new windows of opportunity for policy change. Ensure that water remains high on policy and planning agendas, and that citizens and communities play a meaningful role
- Rethink how we conceptualise and measure value. Support the development of a multidimensional value framework and decision-making tool to capture the economic, environmental, social, emotional, and functional value of water for communities
- Encourage cross-industry innovation. Understand best practice in innovation in water-based areas including community energy, tourism initiatives, industry skills need, and business model optimisation. Assist with developing and analysing the ‘water business survey’
- Encourage place-based approaches. Identify new opportunities for place-based engagement with nature, such as to focus on the health and wellbeing value of proximity to water (‘blue spaces’) or to encourage oral histories of place that centre water
- Support storytelling and stories. Collect and interpret underrepresented stories of the cultural and natural heritage of water in the Forth, using creative and participatory methods to inform shared understandings and shape more inclusive, future-oriented water narratives
Broader cross-cutting priorities focus on how to relate water to the pursuit of new opportunities to combine sustainable economic growth and natural resources management, which requires routine and meaningful collaboration from policymakers and planners, land and business owners, communities, and those responsible for protecting our natural capital. We also engage with initiatives to prevent social, economic, and natural harms associated with flooding, water scarcity, and pollution. As such, while the overarching questions would benefit from research experience in the study of public policy, economics, management, communication, and heritage, we would also value wider postdoctoral research backgrounds that would be valuable to collaboration, boundary spanning, and knowledge brokerage.
Description of Duties
Grade 7
- Supporting research, including rapid reviews and new data collection, using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
- Analysing policy and policy processes relevant to water
- Supporting the innovation/policy challenge ‘labs’ and capacity building programme
- Regular communication with research partners, stakeholders and research participants
- Managing multiple research objectives and deadlines as part of a research team.
- Co-authorship of high-quality reports, presentations to academic and stakeholder conferences, journal articles, and blog posts or other summaries
- Attending FORTH20 regular meetings and engaging in routine knowledge exchange with the wider LPIP network
- Working closely with the Principal Investigator, Work Package leads, and project management and communications team (such as via attendance at regular planning meetings)
Grade 8
- Leading research, including rapid reviews and new data collection, using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
- Leading the analysis of policy and policy processes relevant to water
- Supporting or leading the innovation/policy challenge ‘labs’ and capacity building programme
- Regular communication with research partners, stakeholders and research participants
- Managing multiple research objectives and deadlines as part of a research team.
- Co-authorship of high-quality reports, presentations to academic and stakeholder conferences, journal articles, and blog posts or other summaries (often as the main author)
- Representing FORTH20 at regular meetings and knowledge exchange with the wider LPIP network
- Working closely with the Principal Investigator, Work Package leads, and project management and communications team (such as via attendance at regular planning meetings)
Essential Criteria
Grade 7
Qualifications
- PhD in a relevant discipline, such as public policy (political science), economics, management, social innovation. public health research, communication, and heritage (or extensive research and knowledge exchange experience to a demonstrated equivalent level)
Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Attributes
- Experience of conducting high quality research, independently and collaboratively, within strict timescales
- Experience of producing original research and high-quality publications, including significant outputs of internationally excellent standing
- Experience of conducting rapid reviews, systematic reviews, or qualitative systematic reviews as part of a team
- Experience of effective collection, analysis, and management of data
- Experience of effective presentation of research to different audiences, including the ability to engage with policy and practice discussions
- Experience of developing and delivering knowledge exchange activities
- Have excellent collaboration skills with a diverse range of research partners. Be comfortable talking to a wide range of other stakeholders including policymakers
- Have strong attention to detail, including excellent organisation and planning skills, and experience in prioritising multiple tasks and meeting significant deadlines
- Be able to critically assess, interpret and evaluate the outcomes of research
- Have excellent communication (written and verbal) and other research dissemination skills, including presentation and social media skills
- Be skilled in communicating complex and conceptual ideas to those without specialist knowledge in the field
- Interpersonal skills, to contribute to a collaborative and respectful research and practice team
Grade 8
Qualifications
- PhD in a relevant discipline, such as public policy (political science), economics, management, social innovation. public health research, communication, and heritage (or extensive research and knowledge exchange experience to a demonstrated equivalent level)
Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Attributes
- Experience of leading high quality research projects, independently and collaboratively, within strict timescales
- Experience of leading the production of original research and high-quality publications, including significant outputs of internationally excellent standing
- Experience of managing or conducting rapid reviews, systematic reviews, or qualitative systematic reviews as part of a team
- Experience of effective collection, analysis, and management of data
- Experience of effective presentation of research to different audiences, including the ability to engage with policy and practice discussions
- Experience of developing and delivering knowledge exchange activities
- The ability to lead as well as contribute to research projects
- Have excellent collaboration skills with a diverse range of research partners. Be comfortable talking to a wide range of other stakeholders including policymakers
- Have strong attention to detail, including excellent organisation and planning skills, and experience in prioritising multiple tasks and meeting significant deadlines
- Be able to critically assess, interpret and evaluate the outcomes of research
- Have excellent communication (written and verbal) and other research dissemination skills, including presentation and social media skills
For a full description duties and essential criteria please review the attached job description.
Desirable Criteria
Grade 7/8
Qualifications
- Professional qualification in a place-based or wellbeing role
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Experience of co-production in research and knowledge exchange
- Proficiency in qualitative and creative research methods. Familiarity with arts-based methods such as participatory mapping, visual storytelling, or co-creation is desirable
- Experience in synthesising multidisciplinary literatures to measure value beyond monetary terms, designing and testing analytical tools with communities, and survey design and analysis
- Experience of facilitating the inclusion of diverse sources of knowledge, ideas, and perspectives
- Expertise in the study of social marginalisation and its relevance to policy change, such as in relation to women, racialized or minoritized communities, persons with disabilities, and/ or people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+
Additional Information
*x5 Positions Available*
Full time or Part time (please note in your in your application letter, the working arrangements you wish to undertake)
Fixed term until 31 December 2026
Grade 7: £38,784 – £46,049 p.a. pro – rata or
Grade 8: £47,389 – £56,535 p.a. pro-rata
The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 02 December 2025.
Interviews are expected to take place on Friday 12 December 2025.
There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.
This role is not eligible for sponsorship due to contract length. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.
Expected start date – as soon as possible.
The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.
Behaviours and Competencies
The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework.
- Managing self and personal skills
Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly. - Delivering excellent service
Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards. - Finding solutions
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation. - Embracing change
Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles. - Using resources effectively
Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets. - Engaging with the wider context
Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values. - Developing self and others
Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential. - Working together
Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process. - Achieving Results
Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.
The University
The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe. Driven by our mission to be the difference, we are addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society.
The University has more than 17,500 students globally and employs 1,800 staff, with more than 140 nationalities represented within our community. Our campus environment is ranked first in the UK and top 10 in the world, and our sports facilities rank first in the UK and second in the world (International Student Barometer 2024, wave two), reflecting our long-standing designation as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.
We were shortlisted for University of the Year 2024 at the Times Higher Education Awards and are proud holders of a Silver institutional award from the Athena Swan Charter, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. We have an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings and are ranked top 30 in the UK for postgraduate teaching and learning (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024). In recognition of our excellence in business education, we are accredited by AACSB International.
Eighty-seven per cent of our research has an outstanding or very considerable impact on society, with more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021), and we are ranked among the top 100 institutions in the world for our contribution to meeting 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have twice been recognised with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize; for our Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and our Institute of Aquaculture (2019).
Alongside partners, the University spearheads the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – which will deliver three major University-led projects: the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub, Scotland’s International Environment Centre, and the Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub. We are also a central partner in the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
Available documents
