Research Assistant in Bangor

Fixed-term, part-time (10.87 hours per week) position working with Bangor University's School of Arts, Culture and Language and School of Ocean Sciences in collaboration with the RNLI. Are you passionate about engaging with stakeholders and coastal communities about matters relating to the ocean? This role offers a unique opportunity to make a real-world impact by co-developing innovative solutions towards understanding the complexity of tidal movements, keeping beach visitors safe on the shores of Wales.

In this exciting position, you'll collaborate with leading academics and RNLI practitioners to identify actions and co-created communicative strategies that will improve societal tidal literacy – the ability to understand tides sufficiently to stay safe. This will mark a significant shift in the discourse around access to the ocean, including how tidal cut-off hazards are presented across media, communications and wider societal discourse. This collaborative project combines academic rigour with societal benefit by translating research insights into improved communication and action strategies that ultimately will save lives.

The ideal candidate will bring creativity, social media and co-creation experience, applying their skills in building valuable connections with stakeholders, coast guards, local authorities, communities and more. This is a rare opportunity to achieve real-world change by using communicative skills, informed by research on tidal movements and water safety. Candidates should be educated at least to an undergraduate degree standard (or equivalent) in social sciences, linguistics with a focus on communication and discourse, ocean sciences, or a related field, with experience in outreach. Proven experience with workshop organisation and advanced interviewing skills are essential. Advanced knowledge of tidal movements is highly desirable.

The successful candidate will be self-motivated, confident, able to work independently, and possess excellent communication skills to engage with highly diverse audiences. A driving licence is desirable to ensure mobility. The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible and the post is available until 30/04/2027. The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. The role will be hybrid, with flexibility to work from home and Bangor University offices. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there is flexibility to support work-life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

The post is part of a collaborative team working to increase tidal literacy across the UK. The project will engage with stakeholders, coastal communities, beach visitors and others to identify concrete actions to reduce tide-related water safety incidents. The post holder will be responsible for organising workshops, establishing contacts and relationships, holding and analysing focus groups and interviews, and co-developing further actions as collaboratively agreed. They will liaise closely with the RNLI, Bangor University academic supervisors, and community stakeholders to ensure that actions are co-ordinated, purposeful and effective.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Messaging Analysis: Desk-based and field research to establish a qualitative account of how tidal information is commonly communicated.
• Collaborative Co-Design: Work closely with Bangor University supervisors, RNLI, and community stakeholders to capture insights and perceptions and agree on actions.
• Analysis and Action: Systematically record and analyse the contributions from various events held to co-develop tidal literacy enhancing actions. Pursue next steps as collaboratively agreed and derived from the insights gained.
• Project Communication and Reporting: Provide regular progress updates to the project team; prepare and deliver presentations to academic and non-academic audiences; maintain thorough documentation of methodologies and datasets; contribute to publications and dissemination activities.
• Project Management: Support monitoring of project progress against project goals; help identify and address operational risks; coordinate tasks between university and partners; support timely delivery of project objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders; translate complex scientific concepts into clear, non-technical language; foster strong relationships to support and establish collaboration and trust beyond the duration of the project.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to participate in job-relevant developmental activities offered by the University. The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme. The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments. The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Qualifications / Training

• Undergraduate degree in social sciences, linguistics with a focus on communication and discourse, ocean sciences, or a related field.
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject area.

Experience / Knowledge

• Basic knowledge of tidal movements.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement / outreach.
• Advanced knowledge of tidal movements.
• Experience working with communities to gather perspectives and co-design solutions.
• Familiarity with coastal practices e.g., coast guards, RNLI volunteering.
• Experience in knowledge transfer between academic and community environments.

Skills / Abilities

• Advanced interviewing skills.
• Strong intrinsic motivation and confidence.
• Proven ability to work independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to engage with highly diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in stakeholder engagement and collaborative problem-solving.
• Ability to adapt to evolving project requirements and work flexibly across academic and non-academic contexts.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload, manage deadlines, and work independently as well as part of a distributed team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex information into actionable insights.

Other

• Willingness to travel within Wales for stakeholder meetings, workshops, and field visits.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role.
• Driving licence.

General

The 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. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity.