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.

Job Description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Associate (RA)  (Grade 7) from a health research background to support a major project at the intersection of healthcare delivery and systems engineering. You will work with a highly interdisciplinary research team and with our community and clinical  partners to ensure that innovation reflects the needs of service users, particularly those from groups who are often underserved and under-represented. You will have substantial experience of involving stakeholders in research and innovation, including the co-production of change. This will be underpinned by a strong understanding of methods for supporting public and patient involvement in health research and high level organisational and interpersonal skills. 

RESHAPE-CARE (re-engineering services for health, maximising person centred care) is a research and innovation programme to transform care for people with multiple long term conditions. It represents a partnership between systems engineers, healthcare researchers, health data experts and health service providers. It seeks to integrate the human (ensuring person-centred preferences about care) with the technological ( “digital twin” computer models of health systems). The project is underpinned by a strong commitment to Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) including people from underserved and under-represented communities.

RESHAPE-CARE is a partnership between the Universities of Sheffield (School of Medicine and Population Health and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering) and Manchester with healthcare partners in South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. It is jointly funded by the National Institute of Health Research and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and will run for 4.5 years.

Main duties and responsibilities

You will be a key member of the PPIE team working with investigators, a team of 6 Community Health Research Link Worker (CHRLW) and with patients and communities themselves. You will have a key role in managing and supporting the CHRLWs.

As the RA for  patient and community stakeholder involvement you will be responsible for working with the project  investigator team to deliver this essential component of RESHAPE-CARE. This will involve working with patient and public stakeholders (within communities and health services)) both directly and through your leadership and support of a team of 6 Community Health Research Link Workers (CHRWLs) who will be appointed to work on the project. The clinical focus of RESHAPE-CARE will involve you working with ​​people with lived experience of care for diabetes and breathlessness as part of their multiple long-term conditions.

You will work with our existing community PPIE groups and the CHRWLs.  You will work as a member of the  RESHAPE-CARE PPIE and stakeholder teams. This includes academic co-investigators (Professor Peter Bath and Dr Kate Fryer) and PPI co-investigators  (Ms Jacqui Gath and Ms Aishah Aslam) as well as the CHRLWs. You will also be a full member of the wider RESHAPE-CARE research team and be expected to contribute to discussion across the work packages.  You will have project management and secretarial support from members of our professional services team.

You will be based in the Sheffield Centre for Health & Related Research and work closely with colleagues in Engineering (the buildings are only a short distance from each other). Some travel to Manchester and to clinical sites and community meetings in Sheffield and South Yorkshire will be expected as part of the project.

As a member of the University of Sheffield you will contribute to the vibrant academic life of the university.

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 during the week commencing 5th January 2026. This will consist of a presentation and interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage by mid December 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact dph-section-operations@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 commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways / Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• 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 basic 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).

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Job Advert

We have an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Research Associate to work with patient and community stakeholders in a major innovation partnership. RESHAPE-CARE aims to transform the delivery of healthcare for people with multiple long term conditions. It will integrate the personal (shared decisions about treatment) with the technical (“digital twin” models of services). Our focus is on the needs of people from underserved and under-represented communities.

We are looking for a researcher who can engage with diverse individuals and communities. Your skills will enable you to lead and support our team of Community Health Research Link Workers. You will help us understand stakeholder needs and perspectives and co-produce change. We are seeking a person who thrives in an interdisciplinary research environment. You will share our commitment to fairness, so that changes in health services benefit the most disadvantaged in society.

We are an established interdisciplinary group that has completed a successful development award. We have members at the University of Sheffield in health, engineering and computing, at the University of Manchester and with healthcare partners in South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. This post offers an outstanding opportunity to develop your skills and experience in stakeholder involvement and co-production of change.

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 pension scheme, flexible working opportunities,a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more at sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits and join us to become part of something special.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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.