Research Associate, (Software Developer), WISERD

18133BR

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Research

Advert

Research Associate (Software Developer), WISERD

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences is seeking to recruit a Research Associate (Software Developer) to work within the Wales Institute for Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD). that is located within the School.

In this role you will work with the WISERD Data Lead / Principal Investigator and be responsible for the day-to-day management and development of projects relating to the further development and dissemination of:

i.  the WISERD DataPortal and associated data and analysis and

ii. the CaCHE Data Navigator and associated data and analysis

This is a post funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of the WISERD / Civil Society II programme and UK CaCHE programme. 

The post would suit an experienced academic or suitably qualified professional with expertise in developing, maintaining, and evaluating similar systems.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), is fixed term until 30th September 2024 and is available from the 15th February 2024.

Salary: £39,347 – £44,263 per annum (Grade 6), with 4  annual increments up to £44,263 per annum (final salary at top of grade).

Responsible to Professor Scott Orford, Data Lead

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Professor Orford [email protected] Tel 029 2087 5272

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (including bank holidays), blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

As the biggest university in Wales – and a major employer, with more than 7,000 staff – we are an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression.

Date advert posted: Thursday, 15 February 2024

Closing date: Thursday, 14 March 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:  Responsible research assessment – Research – Cardiff University .

Job Description

Key Duties

• To work with the Principal Investigator and WISERD data team on a research project funded by the ESRC to develop and maintain a data discovery and sharing infrastructure about
  • i. Civil Society via the WISERD DataPortal and
  • ii. housing via the UK CaCHE Data Navigator to achieve the aims of WISERD and UK CaCHE projects.
• To undertake day to day research activity within the overall agreed research programme
• To continue the technical and software development of the WISERD DataPortal / UK CaCHE Data Navigator including improving and developing its functionality and usability
• To facilitate the development of a sustainability strategy for the WISERD DataPortal / UK CaCHE Data Navigator
• To evaluate the roll-out of the DataPortal / Data Navigator and provide support for its continued sustainability within the data communities in Wales and the UK
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the organisation of project meetings and documentation and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• To provide oversight and guidance as required to the WISERD data team working on WISERD data projects
• To write up independent research results and communicate research results within the research group and other groups in WISERD, at meetings through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate
• To publish high quality journal articles related to the DataPortal / Data Navigator and its development
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field
• To prepare reports for steering groups and other bodies as required
• To participate as a member of a research team, attending and contributing to relevant research meetings
• To provide support to other research colleagues on routine research activities and techniques
• To assist in WISERD’s training and capacity building programme in relation to improving spatial and statistical literacy amongst Civil Society researchers using the DataPortal and other WISERD data platforms
• To analyse and interpret the results of own research and generate conclusions
• To update continually knowledge and understanding of DataPortals / Data Navigators, data sharing and data integration and translate knowledge of advances into research activity
• You may be asked to perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

PhD or equivalent work-related experience in Computer Science, Data Science, Geographic Information Science or a related discipline.

Expertise in programming using opensource software, standards, and protocols in relation to DataPortal / Data Dashboard development.

Demonstrable experience of using specialist software and equipment to store, manipulate, search, retrieve, visualise, and analyse data, including spatial data, such R and Python, along with experience of preparing and assembling databases and maintaining websites using JavaScript, HTML and CSS.

Experience of developing web technologies, including maintaining servers, working with databases, undertaking backend and frontend development, using APIs and using code repositories, such as GitHub

Excellent oral and written communication skills with a well-developed ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information to a variety of stakeholders and end-users often at different of levels and expertise

Excellent interpersonal skills and the proven ability to work with a wide range of individuals and organisations and in multi-disciplinary teams

Excellent organisational skills with a proven ability to prioritise and meet deadlines within the framework of an agreed programme

Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems of a technical nature using research, initiative and creativity, and to identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions.

Evidence of research and innovation in Data Portals, based on key advances in this area

Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to WISERD’s long term research development, agenda setting and grant capture.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of contributing to publications in the field of research
• Experience of delivering presentations at conferences / meeting.
• Experience of geospatial analysis methodologies and open-source web frameworks, such as Django, and data management systems, such as CKAN.
• Experience of developing web applications using free open-source web software, such as Ubuntu, Nginx, Postgres, and Python.
• Knowledge of routing engines and trip planners, public transport timetabling formats. (OpenTripPlanner, R5)
• Experience of working with data in a Higher Education environment, particularly in the social sciences disciplines such as geography or sociology.
• Experience of working towards compliance with GDPR / the UK Data Service’s policies and procedures relating to data.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to work, a willingness to learn and apply new skills.
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

 It is Cardiff University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for shortlisting. Therefore, candidates must evidence they meet ALL the essential criteria and, where relevant, the desirable.

As part of the application process, you are asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined in the person specification. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide for each criterion.

 When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure you name it with the vacancy reference number: 18133BR.

Your application will be at risk of not being progressed if you do not evidence you have met all essential criteria. The school welcomes the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test).

Additional Information

Wales Institute for Economic Research, & Data (WISERD)

The Wales Institute for Economic Research, & Data (WISERD) has been awarded £8m of funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and a further £4.6m of funding from its partner Universities to undertake a five-year programme of policy relevant research addressing Civil Society, Civic Stratification and Civil repair in Wales, the UK and Internationally. Research will be inter-institutional and multidisciplinary and will aim to produce new evidence on the changing nature of civil society.
As well as the five WISERD partner institutions of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea, and South Wales universities, WISERD Civil Society also includes co-investigators from Roehampton, Manchester, Manchester Met, Staffordshire and UCL universities as well as international collaborators from Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia.

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences
The School of Social Sciences is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and teaching across a range of subject areas, including Social Policy, Sociology, Criminology, Education, Social Psychology, and Social Work.

We deliver a substantial programme of research, both fundamental and strategic, funded by ESRC, AHRC, MRC, charitable foundations, the European Union, Central Government departments and agencies and voluntary associations.  In the 2021 UK Research Excellence Framework the School was returned to two sub panels, Sociology and Education. We were placed in the top ten in each sub panel by grade point average, joint first for impact in Education and fourth overall for research power in Sociology.

The School has a large student population, with almost 1000 undergraduates, and 300 postgraduates.  We have ESRC recognition for doctoral training in the fields of Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology, Education, and Science, Technology and Innovation and have secured a large number of ESRC collaborative doctoral awards. Our taught and postgraduate research programmes welcome students from around the world.

The School hosts a number of research centres and institutes, including the University’s  Police Studies Institute (UPSI), now part of the University’s Crime & Security Research Institute; the Wales Institute for Economic Research & Data (WISERD); the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE); the Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer); the Cardiff Unit for Research and Evaluation in Medical and Dental Education (CUREMeDE); and the Seafarers’ International Research Centre (SIRC). Many of the School’s research centres are housed in the University’s Social Science Research Park (SPARK) – a world first, and part of the University’s wider Innovation Campus.

The School of Social Sciences holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in academia. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We actively encourage women to apply. We will also always consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities.

Job Category

Academic – Research