The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

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

The Centre for Care is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, with additional support from the National Institute for Health Research. It brings together staff and students from five universities, working in partnership with key organisations across the care sector. A central aim of the Centre is to ensure that our theoretical and empirical research has a meaningful impact on care policy and practice.

As Impact Associate, you will play a vital role in delivering our ambitious and forward-looking impact strategy. You will lead policy engagement activities by preparing evidence submissions, offering expert advice, developing stakeholder relationships, and identifying opportunities to shape policy discussions at local, national and international levels. You will also support the development of communications and events that raise the Centre’s profile and ensure our research reaches and influences the people who can use it.

You will join a multidisciplinary Operations team, led by the Centre Manager and based at CIRCLE (Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities) at the University of Sheffield.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Work across the Centre to develop and implement our impact strategy, with innovation in achieving impact and good practice embedded in all our research and policy influencing work.
• Participate in, advise and inform the Centre’s Impact Leadership Group.
• Lead production of submissions to calls for evidence (e.g. government consultations, parliamentary committee inquiries and independent reviews) in collaboration with our researchers, partner organisations and people with lived experience.
• Maintain oversight of upcoming parliamentary debates and where Centre for Care research could be useful to support discussions and produce a fortnightly round up of policy and parliamentary news.
• Work closely with Centre research groups and our Digital Content and Communications Coordinator in the design, development and production of outputs, including policy briefs, workshops, seminars, research reports and podcasts, to help build the profile of the Centre as an expert knowledge broker on care.
• Plan and host policy related events, including party conferences, workshops and policy breakfasts and facilitate continuing activity.
• Undertake scoping work to identify and build relationships with local, national and international stakeholders relating to care, and respond to opportunities to collaborate on shared objectives, including local authorities, Government departments, Parliamentarians, and key sector partners.
• Build positive relationships with care sector partners, and identify and progress varied opportunities for stakeholder engagement.
• Handle press enquiries and develop relationships with media, ensuring our work gets coverage.
• Work with the Impact Specialist to track the impact of this activity.
• 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 the week of 30th June. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 23rd June. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact ssrfinance@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 38 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 commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • 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 Employer. 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.

Criminal record

A standard DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Closing Date : 22/06/2025 

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.