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
This role offers an outstanding opportunity to join a major new inter-disciplinary ESRC-funded Planning and Biodiversity project, generating high quality research assessing urban impacts on biodiversity, and the role of planning policy in shaping those impacts. Working in collaboration with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), you will use sophisticated statistical techniques to assess environmental impacts of house building arising under divergent planning policy regimes. Working with a wide range of project partners you will use the results to ask whether the planning system can be reshaped to improve outcomes for nature.
The position offers the successful candidate a chance to benefit from a large, vibrant and supportive Early Career Researcher community, and inter-disciplinary collaborations with other project members based in the School of Planning and Geography.
Applicants must have a PhD (or have equivalent work experience) in a relevant discipline along with excellent quantitative analysis skills within the R environment or equivalent. GIS/spatial mapping experience is also essential.
Main duties and responsibilities
Take a leading role in the co-design and conduct of research, in accordance with project objectives.
Use GIS and other tools to extract information on habitat types and other indicators of ecological status of locations pre and post development from a strategically selected sample of planning applications.
Conduct some fieldwork to verify the accuracy of these data.
Use causal inference (otherwise known as quasi-experimental) analytical techniques or other state of the art statistical methods to assess the ecological impacts of planning decisions under contrasting policy regimes.
Communicate research findings/outcomes to the scientific community through publication in leading academic journals, and at conferences.
Work collaboratively with project partners to enhance research impact through knowledge exchange and wider communication through professional publications, policy briefings, and the wider media.
Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the project and wider community.
Take a leading role in organising and managing research, wider project activities and administrative tasks to ensure the effective running of the project.
Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.
Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post as agreed with your line manager.
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.
Essential criteria
Hold a PhD (or have equivalent work experience) in a relevant discipline (assessed at: application/interview).
Excellent quantitative analysis skills within the R environment or equivalent (assessed at: application/interview).
GIS/spatial mapping experience (assessed at: application/interview).
Strong written and verbal communication skills across a range of academic and stakeholder communities (assessed at: application/interview).
Experience of scientific publication, commensurate with current experience (assessed at: application/interview).
Understanding of urbanisation impacts on ecology (assessed at: application/interview).
Working knowledge of the UK avifauna and its habitat requirements (assessed at: application/interview).
Experience of quasi-experimental (i.e. causal inference) statistical methods (assessed at: application/interview).
Ecological fieldwork experience (assessed at: application/interview).
Desirable criteria
Driving licence (assessed at: application/interview).
Working knowledge of the UK avifauna and its habitat requirements (assessed at: application/interview).
Understanding of the UK planning system and approaches to biodiversity conservation (assessed at: application/interview).
Further Information
Grade: 7
Duration: 30 months
Line manager: Professor of Planning
Direct reports: N/A
For informal enquiries about this job contact
Karl Evans, Senior Lecturer in Conservation: on karl.evans@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place within four weeks of the closing date. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. If you are shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments please contact bioscienceshradmin@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
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.
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 recognizes and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.