Research Associate - Direct Cash Transfers to Alleviate Poverty

Position: Research Associate - Exploring Direct Cash Transfers to Alleviate Poverty
Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to You Tube by clicking this link).About the Role The Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL), part of the Faculty of Business & Law (FBL), invites applications for a Research Associate to support the Direct Cash Transfers to Alleviate Poverty Project.

The project grew out of discussions between The Open University and MK Community Foundation following scoping research into the needs of the voluntary sector in the aftermath of the economic crisis commissioned by the Foundation. That research, conducted in 2023, found that demand on the voluntary sector was rising while its resources were shrinking. In response, the partners began exploring innovative ways to tackle poverty, which led to this project examining direct cash transfers in Milton Keynes.

The research seeks to address three questions:(1) What contextual factors influence the success of cash payment programmes?(2) What impact are cash payment programmes expected to have on beneficiaries’ future income, health, education, and employment or self-employment outcomes?(3) How will cash payment programmes affect social cohesion and community participation? The project is a joint initiative between The Open University’s CVSL and MK Community Foundation, and the postholder will both support and contribute to the research.

You will work alongside the academic research team in the Department of Public Leadership and Social Enterprise (PuLSE) and liaise regularly with MK Community Foundation and an advisory group of key Milton Keynes stakeholders. Most of the research will be carried out in person, although some work may be done remotely.

This is an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher with relevant research experience. The anticipated start date is 4 January 2027, and the contract will run until 30 September 2027 at 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE).The role offers opportunities for career and skills development, including the potential to support the team in producing research outputs such as conference papers, blogs, journal articles, and other dissemination materials, as well as applications for external research funding.

Key Responsibilities Supporting delivery of the direct cash transfer project’s objectives and coordinating tasks with the OU project team, MK Community Foundation, and a range of stakeholders.

Reviewing the literature on direct cash transfers as a means of alleviating poverty.

Organising and conducting up to thirty interviews with potential beneficiaries of a direct cash transfer scheme, key informants, and other stakeholders, as well as up to five focus groups.

Analysing secondary data and data from interviews and focus groups.

Drafting a clear and well-structured report on the research findings.

Providing regular progress updates to the project advisory group, the CVSL team and MK Community Foundation.

Communicating effectively through appropriate channels throughout the project to support engagement and impact.

About You

Essential Criteria :

A PhD or professional qualification in a relevant field.

Experience of reviewing academic and grey literature, including reports.

Experience of conducting qualitative research interviews and analysing qualitative data effectively.

The ability to use your own initiative while working as part of a multidisciplinary research team.

The ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, with a range of internal and external…