Research Assistant (Maternity Cover) - Wales Centre for Public Policy in Cardiff

Job Advert

Research Assistant (Fixed Term, Maternity Cover)
Wales Centre for Public Policy
Cardiff Business School

The Wales Centre for Public Policy is pleased to invite applications for maternity cover (up to 12 months) as a Research Assistant to conduct research on the use of evidence in policy-making and practices of evidence mobilisation. You will work alongside experienced researchers in the Centre on studies that help to inform its approach to working with public services and the Welsh Government and assess its impact.

This post offers a unique opportunity to conduct research that will contribute directly to the growing academic literature on evidence informed policy. The successful candidate will broaden their understanding of key academic debates in these areas working within a Centre that is acknowledged to be at the leading edge of both research and practice in the field.

You must have a good understanding of public policy and the ability to work directly with public service leaders. With a commitment to high quality policy relevant research, we expect you to have excellent communication and organisational skills and be able to disseminate the findings of the research to external audiences.

Co-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Welsh Government, the Wales Centre for Public Policy bridges the gap between academia and policy makers/practitioners by generating, synthesising and mobilising evidence from research. The Centre has more than 25 full-time staff who are drawn from a range of backgrounds - including academia, the civil service, health service, local government, think tanks, and the voluntary sector. It is a member of the What Works Network, was a finalist in the prestigious ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize, and is recognised internationally for its pioneering, demand‑led approach to evidence use, and knowledge mobilisation. Further details are available at www.wcpp.org.uk.

The Centre provides a stimulating and supportive working environment with flexible working arrangements; a generous pension scheme and a range of other benefits; a wealth of training opportunities; and offices in the world’s first Social Science Research Park (SPARK), located on Cardiff’s £300 million Innovation Campus.

This fixed term maternity cover post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 7 December 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter and for a period of up to 12 months or until 7 December 2027. The university will consider applications which propose a secondment.

For further information and an informal discussion about the role please contact Dr Hannah Durrant at Hannah.Durrant@wcpp.org.uk

Salary: £33,951 - £36,636 per annum (Grade 5)

Date advert posted: Friday, 11 September 2026

Closing Date: Sunday, 27 September 2026

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. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We especially welcome and encourage applications from those from under‑represented groups within the University workforce, such as those who identify as LGBT+, Ethnic Minority or those with disabilities. 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

Cardiff Business School Cardiff Business School is a leading business and management school in the UK, holding AACSB and AMBA accreditations and ranked 1st for its Research Environment and 2nd on Research Power (REF2021). The School has a Public Value purpose and focuses on the co‑creation of high quality, interdisciplinary education and knowledge that delivers economic, social and environmental value. The School’s activities are oriented towards five Grand Challenges: Decent work, fair and sustainable economies, future organisations, good governance, and responsible innovation.

Hysbyseb Swydd

Cynorthwyydd Ymchwil (am gyfnod penodol dros gyfnod mamolaeth )
Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru
Ysgol Busnes Caerdydd

Mae’n bleser gan Ganolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru wahodd ceisiadau i gyflenwi yn ystod cyfnod mamolaeth (hyd at 12 mis) fel Cydymaith Ymchwil i gynnal ymchwil ar y defnydd o dystiolaeth wrth lunio polisïau ac arferion gweithredu tystiolaeth. Byddwch yn gweithio ochr yn ochr ag ymchwilwyr profiadol yn y Ganolfan ar astudiaethau sy’n helpu i lywio ei dull o weithio gyda gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a Llywodraeth Cymru ac asesu ei heffaith.

Mae'r swydd hon yn cynnig cyfle unigryw i gynnal ymchwil a fydd yn cyfrannu'n uniongyrchol at y llenyddiaeth academaidd gynyddol ar bolisïau sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth. Bydd yr ymgeisydd llwyddiannus yn ehangu ei ddealltwriaeth o ddadleuon academaidd allweddol yn y meysydd hyn, gan weithio o fewn canolfan y cydnabyddir ei bod ar flaen y gad o ran ymchwil ac ymarfer yn y maes.

Mae’n rhaid i chi fod â dealltwriaeth dda o fyd polisi cyhoeddus a'r gallu i weithio’n uniongyrchol gydag arweinwyr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. A chithau’n ymrwymo i wneud ymchwil o ansawdd uchel sy’n berthnasol i fyd polisi, rydym yn disgwyl i chi fod â sgiliau cyfathrebu a threfnu rhagorol a’r gallu i rannu canfyddiadau'r ymchwil gyda chynulleidfaoedd allanol.

Caiff Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru ei chyd‑ariannu gan y Cyngor Ymchwil Economaidd a Chymdeithasol a Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae’n pontio’r bwlch rhwng y byd academaidd a llunwyr polisïau/ymarferwyr drwy gynhyrchu, cyfuno a gweithredu tystiolaeth o ymchwil. Mae gan y Ganolfan fwy na 25 aelod o staff amser llawn o amrywiaeth o gefndiroedd – gan gynnwys y byd academaidd, y gwasanaeth sifil, y gwasanaeth iechyd, llywodraeth leol, melinau trafod, a’r sector gwirfoddol. Mae’n aelod o’r rhwydwaith What Works, cyrhaeddodd rownd derfynol Gwobr Dathlu Effaith fawreddog y Cyngor Ymchwil Economaidd a Chymdeithasol, ac mae’n cael ei chydnabod yn rhyngwladol am ei dull arloesol, seiliedig ar alw, o ddefnyddio tystiolaeth a gweitharu gwybodaeth. Mae rhagor o fanylion ar gael yma https://wcpp.org.uk/cy/

Mae'r Ganolfan yn cynnig amgylchedd gwaith ysgogol a chefnogol gyda threfniadau gweithio hyblyg, cynllun pensiwn hael a buddion eraill, cyfoeth o gyfleoedd hyfforddi, a swyddfeydd ym Mharc Ymchwil Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol cyntaf y byd, ar Gampws Arloesedd Caerdydd, sydd werth £300 miliwn.

Mae'r swydd hon, dros gyfnod mamolaeth ac am dymor penodol, yn swydd amser llawn (35 awr yr wythnos); mae ar gael o 7 Rhagfyr 2026, neu cyn gynted â phosibl ar ôl hynny, am gyfnod o hyd at 12 mis neu tan 7 Rhagfyr 2027. Bydd y Brifysgol yn ystyried ceisiadau sy’n cynnig secondiad.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth a thrafodaeth anffurfiol am y rôl, cysylltwch â Dr Hannah Durrant:Hannah.durrant@wcpp.org.uk

Cyflog: £33,951 - £36,636 y flwyddyn (Gradd 5)

Dyddiad hysbysebu: Dydd Gwener, 11 Medi 2026

Dyddiad cau: Dydd Sul, 27 Medi 2026

Mae Prifysgol Caerdydd wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi a hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb ac amrywiaeth a chreu gweithle cynhwysol. Rydym o’r farn bod modd gwneud hyn drwy ddenu, datblygu a chadw ystod amrywiol o bobl o lawer o gefndiroedd gwahanol. Felly, rydym yn croesawu ceisiadau gan bobl o bob rhan o’r gymuned, beth bynnag fo’u rhyw, eu hethnigrwydd, eu hanabledd, eu cyfeiriadedd rhywiol, eu hunaniaeth draws, statws eu perthynas, eu crefydd neu eu cred, eu cyfrifoldebau gofalu neu eu hoedran. Rydym yn croesawu ac yn annog ceisiadau yn arbennig gan y rhai o grwpiau nad ydynt wedi’u cynrychioli’n ddigonol o fewn gweithlu'r Brifysgol, fel y rhai sy'n uniaethu fel LGBT+, o gefndiroedd ethnig leiafrifol neu’r rhai ag anableddau. Er mwyn helpu ein cyflogeion i sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng eu gwaith a’u bywydau personol, byddwn hefyd yn ystyried cynigion i weithio’n hyblyg neu rannu swydd.

Mae Ysgol Busnes Caerdydd yn ysgol fusnes a rheoli flaenllaw yn y DU, yn cynnal achrediadau AACSB ac AMBA ac yn y 1af safle 1af am ei Hamgylchedd Ymchwil a’i 2il ar Bŵer Ymchwil (REF2021). Mae gan yr Ysgol bwrpas Gwerth Cyhoeddus ac mae’n canolbwyntio ar gyd‑creu addysg a gwybodaeth o ansawdd uchel, rhyngddisgyblaethol sy’n darparu gwerth economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol. Mae gweithgareddau'r Ysgol yn gogwyddo tuag at bum Her Fawr: Gwaith gweddus, economïau teg a chynaliadwy, sefydliadau yn y dyfodol, llywodraeth da, ac arloesedd cyfrifol.