Research Fellow (Impact of CWG) - College of Life and Environmental Sciences - 101535 - Grade 7

Position Details

College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,348 to £43,155 with potential progression once in post to £45,737

Grade 7

Part Time (50% FTE), Fixed Term contract up to June 2024

Closing date: 9th May, 2023

Background

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG) have just ended and now is a unique opportunity to capture both local communities and policy-makers understanding of the CWG legacies in terms of community and place regeneration. The study will focus on the immediate aftermath and legacy of the Games as well as aspirations and/or anxieties about long-term changes in the Perry Barr area that have been set in motion. Event-led regeneration projects are known to trigger changes in land-use, the social fabric and recreational spaces of their host neighbourhoods for years following the event.

Dr Barber (P-I) and Dr Salter, Dr Attuyer and Dr Goode have secured funding to evaluate the impact of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) on the local community as well as its role in broader place-making.

There is a detailed framework to support the future development of Perry Barr following the hosting of the CWG with policies in place at the local level (adoption of the Perry Barr Masterplan by Birmingham City Council, 2022) and neighbourhood level (adoption of the 3Bs Neighbourhood Plan, 2021). These documents set out different visions for Perry Barr and focus on different themes and issues. The research will explore the relationship between these policy tiers and deepen our understanding of policy development. It will also seek the voices of the wider community whose views may be absent from the statutory planning documents enabling an understanding of the interplay between the tiers in the policy hierarchy.

T his is an exciting opportunity to engage with a high profile planning agenda in Birmingham and to play a role in shaping future approaches to sustainable regeneration for the city and its diverse communities.

Role Summary

• To work with PI and Co-I ’s to develop contacts with diverse stakeholders including polic y-makers, local government, private sector consultancies, community groups and members of the public
• To compile and analy s e planning policy documents and gr e y literature on the redevelopment of the Perry Bar area and the Commonwealth Games.
• To coordinate and conduct interviews and focus groups
• Support the planning and organi s ation of dissemination events with a range of audiences
• Contribute to project outputs including report w riting

Main duties

• Collect qualitative data. Organise and conduct face-to-face research interviews and focus groups with a diverse range of stakeholders. The intention is for these to be conducted in person so an ability to travel to Perry Barr and work within the community is important.
• Collate and analyse documentary data to include planning applications, consultation responses, policy documents and reports.
• Analyse research data as directed
• Present research outputs in a range of formats including for non-academic audiences
• Ability to solve problems and use initiative to resolve emerging issues that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

• Master Degree or equivalent in urban planning
• Experience of conducting qualitative research notably coding and analysing interview and focus group data
• Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively
• Ability to translate findings for non-academic audiences
• Ability to liaise and engage with professional stakeholders ( private planning consultant and local government representatives )
• Good team working, organisation and project management skills
  

For more information or an informal chat about the role, please speak to Austin Barber ( a.r.g.barber@bham.ac.uk ).

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working .