UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM
Job Title:
Research Associate/Fellow (fixed term)
School/Department:
School of Education
Salary:
£25,513 to £33,242 per annum, depending on skills and experience
(£27,864 maximum without PhD)
Job Family and Level:
Research and Teaching, Level 4a/4
Contract Status:
This post is available from 1 September 2015 and will be offered on a
fixed-term contract until 31 March 2018.
Hours of Work:
Full time. Job shares will be considered.
Location:
School of Education, Jubilee Campus
Reporting to:
Professors Pat Thomson and Christine Hall
Background:
We are seeking to employ a full time researcher to support a ground-breaking longitudinal cohort study
based in 30 secondary schools with diverse populations in city, regional and rural locations across
England. Funded by Arts Council England, and working in close partnership with the Royal Shakespeare
Company Education and the Tate Learning teams, the project tracks the arts learning of secondary
school teachers and their students over three years. In particular, the research focuses on the
contribution that cultural organisations can make to teachers’ professional development and to
students’ learning and engagement in the arts and cultural activities.
Main duties and responsibilities
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Visiting 30 schools to conduct fieldwork. This will involve extensive travel and overnight stays.
Collection and analysis of qualitative research data, including interviews, focus groups,
document and artefact analysis.
Management of data and maintenance of robust administrative systems.
Drafting of working papers, blog posts and reports.
Attending meetings and reporting to project managers and partners.
Working closely with the two senior researchers (Thomson and Hall).
Person Specification:
Qualifications/
Education
Skills/Training
Essential
 PhD completed or close to
completion in a relevant subject
area (i.e. education, performing
or visual arts)
 Expertise in conducting
qualitative research
 Expertise in and experience of
analysing qualitative data
(interviews, focus groups,
observation and document
analysis)
 Excellent writing and
proofreading skills
 Excellent oral communication
skills
 Proven high level of interpersonal
skills
Desirable
 Professional
qualification/experience in
teaching and/or arts education
 Ability to use quantitative
research methods
 Ability to present to
professional, policy and
academic audiences
Experience

Experience of researching
learning in educational or
community settings
Personal
Attributes

Ability to work independently
within a team context
Well organised and systematic
High degree of personal initiative
Ability to travel and conduct
research responsibly when
operating alone
Satisfactory enhanced disclosure
from the Disclosure and
Disbarring Service
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Statutory/Legal
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For further information about
www.nottingham.ac.uk/education
the
School
 Experience of researching arts
and/or creative learning in
educational or community
settings
 Experience of classroom
observation
 Familiarity with literatures on
performing and visual arts,
pedagogy and teacher learning
of

Personal interest and
engagement in the arts
Education
please
visit
our
website
at
The School of Education is committed to reviewing its work and practices to ensure organisational
effectiveness. Applicants should be aware that roles and responsibilities will inevitably evolve over
time and should be prepared to adapt as necessary.
Because of the nature of the work for which you are applying, this post is exempted from the
provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Candidates are therefore, not entitled to withhold information about convictions, which for other
purposes are “spent” under the provisions of the Act, and in the event of employment any failure to
disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the University. Any
information given will be strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to an application for
positions to which the Order applies.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Pat Thomson or Professor Christine Hall:
patricia.thomson@nottingham.ac.uk or christine.hall@nottingham.ac.uk.
Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.
Applicants will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as
defined by the requirements set out by the UK Border and Immigration Agency. Please visit
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ for more information.
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