Research Officer

Contract Duration: 30/06/2027

Applications are invited for an innovative, temporary full‑time position working with Bangor University's Business School in collaboration with Community Energy Wales. Are you passionate about applying cutting‑edge GIS and data analytics to tackle climate change and empower communities? This role offers a unique opportunity to make a real‑world impact by developing a groundbreaking online decision support system to help communities across Wales design their own Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES).

In this exciting position, you'll collaborate with leading academics and practitioners to integrate complex geographic datasets, design and implement a user‑friendly web application, and transform how communities identify and plan local renewable energy solutions. This SMART Partnership project combines academic rigour with societal benefit in a fast‑growing sustainability and clean energy space.

The ideal candidate will bring creativity and technical expertise, applying their skills in GIS, spatial data analysis, and web application development while building valuable connections across academia, industry, and community organisations. This is a rare opportunity to see your technical work directly empower grassroots action, influence renewable energy adoption, and contribute to Wales’ net‑zero goals.

Candidate should be educated at least to PhD standard or be close to the completion of or possess equivalent experience relevant to the role in a related field, with expertise in spatial data processing and web application development. Strong Python programming skills and familiarity with GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS, PostGIS) are essential. Experience with JavaScript frameworks (e.g. React) is highly desirable.

The successful candidate will be self‑motivated, able to work independently, and possess excellent communication skills to engage with technical and non‑technical audiences.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence on 1st July 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter, and the post is available until 30th June 2027. The role will be hybrid, with flexibility to work from home, Bangor University, and Community Energy Wales offices (preferred North Wales base). Through our Dynamic Working framework, there is flexibility to support work‑life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates  ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.

£38,249 to £45,413. Grade 7

Committed To Equal Opportunities.