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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We are excited to offer this opportunity for a Research Associate to join us in the School of Economics at the University of Sheffield. We are seeking a talented researcher with a strong background in quantitative analysis to contribute to an innovative project examining the sustainability of the care home market across England.

This research is funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and has an interdisciplinary research team across the Universities of Sheffield and Birmingham. The project team also includes co-investigators at West Midlands ADASS and an extensive advisory board comprising social care leads. The project will provide the first ever picture of the evolution of the English care home market, identifying patterns of openings, closures, ownership changes, and service reconfigurations. It will also develop predictive indicators of unmet need and market risk, and produce a range of accessible resources (dashboards, short reports) for commissioners, providers and policymakers to inform evidence-based practice.

The successful candidate will contribute to the project’s quantitative analysis, mapping and modelling the relationship between care home characteristics and local market contexts using a novel national dataset. The project will run for 18 months, beginning on 1 October 2026.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Work on a day-to-day basis with the Principal Investigator Dr Lucy Ward.
• Undertake literature reviews relevant to the project scope.
• Construct the relevant care home and market datasets for the project from a variety of secondary sources, including the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Social Care Collection, and Census data.
• Assist in the quantitative modelling of the link between local market contexts and home stability, and assist in the development of risk-indicator tools.
• Collaborate with the project team to design and develop interactive dashboards and mapping tools using Microsoft Power BI.
• Contribute to the creation of insight reports, policy briefs, and academic publications, ensuring findings are communicated effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to impact and public engagement activities, including stakeholders and the public.
• Support the organisation of relevant workshops, seminars and other events.
•  Manage own time and ensure agreed project milestones/deliverables are met.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on Wednesday 22 July 2026. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 13 July 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Janine Wilson, j.l.birch@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 08/072026 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.