University of Bath



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Job Description

|Job title |Research Associate |

|Department/School | |

| |Social and Policy Sciences |

|Job family |Education and Research |

|Grade |7 |

|Reporting to |Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (CI) |

|Responsible for |Day to day supervision of other staff e.g. technical staff or supervision of doctoral |

| |or undergraduate students may be required. |

|Location |University of Bath premises |

|Background and context |

| |

|This is a post-doctoral position which is available from 1 August to 31 December 2019 and forms an integral part of a 2 year |

|project “Social mobilization for social policy: building the policy-making capacity of state and society in the Arab region” |

|funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York (New York, USA), |

|. The project is led by Dr Rana |

|Jawad at the University of Bath and Ms Erin Sullivan, Friends of the British Council, New York Office. It is now entering the |

|last 6 months of its total duration. |

| |

|The Post-doctoral researcher will be supervised by Dr Jawad and work with the project team based in the Department of Social |

|and Policy Sciences at the University of Bath. The project entails a programme of policy analysis and engagement to refine and|

|advance policy understanding of the mobilization of resources and ideas to strengthen the social policy-making capacity of |

|state and non-state actors in the Arab region. The overall research aim is to move beyond the current conceptual orthodoxies |

|of “Rentierism”, state incapacity and political illegitimacy in Arab countries using 6 case study countries: Egypt, Morocco, |

|Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and Oman. |

| |

|The post-doctoral position will support the research activities, publication outputs and policy research activities of the |

|project, including the redevelopment of the MENA social policy network website . They will also support the |

|organisation of policy labs in the MENA region, including a Policy Lab in Cairo to be held in October 2019 and the bi-annual |

|MENA social policy network conference which will also take place at the same time in Cairo. |

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|Job purpose |

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|To provide subject-specific research expertise on social policy and social mobilisation in the Arab region. The role will involve|

|the following research-tasks: |

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|In collaboration with Dr Jawad, completing the analysis of a desk-based review of social security legislation in the Arab region,|

|with specific focus on the country case studies. The aim of this is to develop a historical overview of the introduction of key |

|forms of social security benefits and to conduct a political economic analysis of the types of welfare systems that have |

|developed in the Arab region since the 20th century. This research will contribute towards an academic output and preparation of |

|a new research grant application. |

| |

|Gathering and writing material for the MENA social policy network website. This will include an update on key policy developments|

|in social policy and social protection in the Arab region. |

| |

|Supporting the organisation of a policy lab and an academic conference in Cairo in October 2019. There may also be two additional|

|policy labs in other parts of the MENA region. |

| |

|Supporting Dr Jawad in writing policy briefs about the findings that emerge from the project |

| |

|As appropriate supporting Dr Jawad in preparing for a new grant application that can develop the desk-based review conducted |

|during the Carnegie grant |

| |

|Working with the project team on the network’s marketing and communications strategy to ensure successful delivery of the project|

|outputs by the project end date |

|Main duties and responsibilities |

| |Responsible to the PI for (as appropriate to discipline): |

|1 |Conduct individual and/or collaborative desk-based research on the social security systems of the Arab world using |

| |secondary data and where needed, organising Skype calls. Collect and analyse existing data related to the project using|

| |qualitative and quantitative techniques. |

|2 |Writing up results of research and contributing to publishing of results in high-quality peer-reviewed academic |

| |literature, as well as policy briefs |

|3 |Project management: e.g. timetabling and meeting project milestones; participating in regular discussions with |

| |collaborative partners. Liaise with key stakeholders/policy partners. In agreement with Dr Jawad, conducting up to two |

| |short fieldwork trips to the Arab region for interviews or conducting Skype calls as required |

|4 |Disseminating results of project as appropriate to the discipline e.g. by presentations at conferences. |

|5 |Participate regularly in group meetings and prepare and deliver presentations to project team, internal and external |

| |stakeholders or funders. |

|6 |Support the redevelopment of the MENA social policy network website through gathering and writing content on MENA |

| |social policy, and assisting with the update and maintenance of the UNICEF database on social policy expertise |

|7 |Conduct up-to-date literature review of the field of social policy in the Arab region |

|8 |Identify sources of funding and provide assistance with preparing bids to funding bodies contribute to securing of |

| |funds for research. |

[pic] Person Specification

|Criteria |Essential |Desirable |

|Qualifications | | |

|A PhD degree in subject area of direct relevance for the project, or an |√ | |

|equivalent professional qualification (and significant relevant experience | | |

|where applicable). These include: social policy, politics, public policy, | | |

|international development, sociology, Middle East regional specialism | | |

|Experience/Knowledge | | |

|Post-doctoral experience | |√ |

|Demonstrated significant depth and breadth of specialist knowledge of subject|√ | |

|matter to contribute to research programmes and to the development of | | |

|departmental research activities. | | |

|Demonstrated awareness of latest developments in the field of research and in|√ | |

|research design | | |

|Demonstrated potential to publish in high quality, peer reviewed journals |√ | |

| | | |

|Skills | | |

|Ability to prepare research proposals, to conduct individual research work |√ | |

|and to disseminate results | | |

|Ability to organise and prioritise own workload |√ | |

|Ability to write research reports and to effectively disseminate outcomes |√ | |

|Excellent oral, interpersonal and written communication skills |√ | |

|Proficiency in experimental techniques (as appropriate to discipline) | |√ |

|Proficiency in IT skills (as appropriate to discipline) |√ | |

|Knowledge of other languages: Arabic, French | |√ |

| |  | |

|Attributes | | |

|Innovation and developing creative solutions |√ | |

|Enthusiasm and self-motivation. |√ | |

|Organisation – able to plan and deliver work to meet required deadlines |√ | |

| | | |

|Tenacity – working to achieve own and team objectives and to overcome |√ | |

|obstacles | | |

|Ability to be an effective team worker |√ | |

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