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.

Starting salary will be from £34,610 depending on experience and skill set.

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

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.

• 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.

Applicants will possess a good honours degree and PhD/ higher degree (or nearing completion) in a Human Geography, Political…