Research Assistant - The Illicit Project UK Phase 3

The UK Illicit Project is an NIHR funded pilot study of The Illicit Project‑UK, a school‑based universal drug prevention and harm reduction intervention for older adolescents. It is a collaboration between Liverpool John Moores University, Stirling University, the Matilda Centre at the University of Sydney, the University of Liverpool and Queens University, Belfast. Work includes contributing to a pilot RCT of an effective Australian intervention for delivery in the UK in collaboration with young people and educational professionals. The role holder will work with project researchers to liaise with local education and substance use leads and school staff to recruit schools into the trial, update intervention materials, training packages and research materials.

Research Responsibilities

• Be committed to undertaking research that is respectful to the needs and lives of young people, including those who may use drugs.
• Work with the research team to help recruit schools into the trial.
• Co‑convene our young person’s advisory group and convene engagement activities with members.
• Assist in the preparation for delivery of the UK Illicit Project intervention.
• Develop and maintain skills in relevant research methodologies.
• Ensure that full and accurate documentation is kept for all work and that all policies and processes, including quality assurance, are maintained and adhered to.
• Help to prepare papers for steering groups and other bodies.
• Assist in the preparation of follow‑up proposals to external bodies for funding and contractual purposes.
• Carry out administrative tasks related to the delivery of the research.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
• Ensure all work adheres to appropriate ethical and governance standards.
• Attend and contribute to research group meetings.
• Participate in internal/external networks that support the development of evidence‑based interventions, including drug prevention and drug education for young people.
• Engage with and participate in the University’s appraisal process.

LJMU are committed to adhering to the Principles set out in the Researcher Development Concordat; in line with this all fixed‑term researchers will be supported to complete 10 days of professional development activities per year.

Teaching and Learning

• Contribute to School, Faculty, and Institute for Health Research knowledge‑exchange activities.
• Optional opportunities to contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching sessions and supervision of postgraduate projects.

Citizenship

• Contribute to a supportive working environment and develop productive working relationships with other team members.
• Attend and contribute to staff meetings.
• Contribute to wider school/university activities where appropriate.
• Act as an ambassador for the University in all interactions with current and prospective staff and students, visitors to the University, external partners, media and the general public.
• Promote the University’s values of an inclusive and diverse community.

Post Specific Duties

• Any other duties commensurate with the grade as deemed necessary by the PI.
• A commitment to LJMU’s values and regulations and Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
• Commitment to adhere to and promote the ethos of Respect Always as set out in the Respect Always Charter.
• Liverpool John Moores University recognises and is aware of its social, economic and environmental responsibilities. The post holder is required to minimise the environmental impact in the performance of the role, contribute to (and supervise if applicable) the implementation of environmental improvement measures and actively contribute to the delivery of LJMU’s Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy and the Climate Change Action Plan.
• The post-holder’s mandatory Health and Safety responsibilities, as agreed by the University’s Executive Leadership Team, are contained in Section 2 of the University’s Safety Management Code of Practice (MCP1) – Organisation for the implementation of the Health and Safety Policy.
• The post-holder’s mandatory Environmental Management responsibilities are contained in Section 2 of the University’s Environmental Management Code of Practice (ECP1) – Organisation for the implementation of the Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy.
• For some activities, from time to time, you may be required to contribute to externally funded projects such as research or EU projects.

Person Specification

• A postgraduate qualification or equivalent research experience in a relevant discipline, including (but not limited to) public health, psychology, education, criminology or sociology. This includes applicants awaiting a PhD viva or who have recently or will shortly submit their PhD thesis.
• Experience of working with young people and/or schools on interventions, trials or substance use research.
• Good understanding of the challenges of working in school environments.
• Experience of undertaking qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and understanding of mixed‑methods research.
• Awareness of the current UK drug situation, including key debates and responses to young people’s drug use.
• Awareness of key principles of evidence‑based approaches to drug prevention and education in school settings.
• Commitment to developing personal knowledge of drug and health prevention topics.
• Excellent writing skills, e.g. contribution to reports or other academic writing such as a Master’s thesis or a PhD thesis.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills with the ability to work collaboratively, methodically and accurately to tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel to study areas.

Desirable Factors

• Evidence or knowledge of key theories related to drug use and behaviour change.
• Publication in peer‑reviewed journals as a co‑author.

Financial Benefits

• Competitive salaries based on a low contractual 35‑hour working week.
• 17.5% employer contributions to pensions for non‑academic staff enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• 28.68% employer contribution to pensions for teaching staff enrolled into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).
• Work‑life balance: Excellent annual leave provision – 30 days for support staff and 35 days for staff and senior managers grade 8 and above.