Job Description

The Post

We are looking for skilled and enthusiastic quantitative social scientists to join the ESRC-funded Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. This position will play a key role in developing the data, methods and evidence on community participation in the UK, working across the Centre's activities.



The Centre's Data and Methods unit, led by Professor Alasdair Rutherford, provides a methodological core, developing innovative data and methods and new measures for understanding the scale and impacts of community connectedness. Current data infrastructure on community connectedness includes a range of universal survey measures (Community Life Survey, Understanding Society), surveys developed for understanding the impact of specific interventions (Pride in Place and Life Chances survey developed for the evaluation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund), administrative data(organisational registers, voting records, grant data), indices (Multiple Deprivation, Community Needs, London Civic Strength) and mapping tools (Understory; Emergency Planning Tool). Making sense of these resources, their strengths, weaknesses, and gaps, is a major challenge for policy makers, community practitioners and citizens.



Ongoing limitations in coverage, methodology, and level of detail holdback our understanding of community connectedness. This Unit will engage extensively with partners to co-produce recommendations for change, and co-develop a new, more cohesive, and systematic measurement framework for community connection. This work is closely linked to work across the Centre, to ensure co-ownership and that data measures benefit not only policy makers and researchers, but also communities.



This is an opportunity to be involved in cutting-edge research into community participation, while developing skills and experience in new methods and data, within a large multidisciplinary research centre. The post holder will work under the supervision of Professor Alasdair Rutherford in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Stirling. The role will also involve collaboration with researchers at the universities of Sheffield Hallam, Queens University Belfast, London Metropolitan University and a wide range of community partners.



Informal enquires can be made to Professor Alasdair Rutherford at ar34@stir.ac.uk

Description of Duties

Main duties

Reviewing existing data, measures and methods for measuring community participation Accessing, cleaning and preparing data for analysis Operationalising the measures of community participation in the data Estimation of statistical models Production of outputs, including tables and visualisations, of the analysis Development of a micro-simulation model of participation Contributing to the writing of briefing papers, research summaries and academic journal articles on the results Participation in online webinars and workshops to disseminate the results Development of methods training in the Centre for both internal and external audiences

Essential Criteria

Completed, or near-completion, of a quantitative PhD in social science or other relevant discipline, or equivalent experience Experience of statistical modelling of large datasets Experience of using statistical software (such as Stata, R, or other) Interest in the third sector, volunteering and/or community participation

Desirable Criteria

Experience of using Stata software for data analysis Experience of coding in Python, or other similar language Experience of documenting analysis workflow (i.e. syntax files; data dictionaries; GitHub) Experience of one or more of data visualization; spatial analysis; data dashboards; or micro-simulation

Additional Information

Full time

Fixed term for 48 months



The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday 09 June 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 01 July 2025.



There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.


For the purposes of sponsorship, this is a postdoctoral role that may be eligible for sponsorship depending on candidate circumstances under SOC code 2119.



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.

www.stir.ac.uk

Job Reference: FAC02038