Research and Innovation Assistant (Leicester, GB, LE1 9BH)

Research and Innovation Assistant (Leicester, GB, LE1 9BH)

Job Reference: 533
Job Title: Research and Innovation Assistant
Job Location: Gateway House
Full-time/Part-time: Part-time/Annualised hours
Employee Weekly Hours: 29.60
Salary: £32,080.00–£38,784.00

Closing Date: 27/07/2026

Main duties and responsibilities

You will be working on the ESRC-funded project, ‘Universities in communities (Cuba): creating the capacity for change’.

The two key focus areas for your role are:

• Helping to design and deliver a 12-18 month participatory action research project in the Leicester area, which will develop university, local government and community links, based upon learning from an extended period working with project partners in Cuba.
• Supporting the overall administration and delivery of this 3-year research project, developing skills and experience in research.

Faculty

You will be joining the Division of Education, which sits within the School of Applied Social Sciences, within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. We are a dedicated and experienced team who teach across a range of education-focused undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and research education in the UK and internationally, particularly participatory research on education for social justice.

Role

We are seeking a creative, community-minded individual with a professional or academic background in community development, voluntary or public sector project delivery, sustainability or public engagement.

The role focuses on supporting participatory action research through which universities collaborate with local government and civil society organisations to support the priorities and needs of their local communities. The project is focussed upon learning with and from the highly-integrated collaborations in Cuba through Municipal University Centres, in part to inform the work of civic university initiatives in the UK.

Ideal candidate

You will have a relevant masters-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in the voluntary, public or community sector. You will have a proven collaborative and participatory approach and a real interest in how universities, local government and communities can work together to make change. You will be imaginative and creative person and it is expected that your ideas and priorities will be essential to defining the direction of the Leicester project. You will be able to undertake an extended period of engagement with Cuban universities. It is hoped that this will be in person.

To view the job description and person specification, please click here.

Contact

For further information please contact Rosi Smith, Senior Lecturer in Education and project lead, via email rosi.smith@dmu.ac.uk.

Competencies

• Literature Review
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Project Management
• Report Writing
• Ethical Compliance
• Presentation Skills

Skills

• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Communication
• Organisation
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Resilience
• Honest and Compassionate
• Innovative and Creative
• Community Minded
• Problem-Solving

Education

De Montfort University is committed to providing a working and learning environment that enriches lives, supports individuals to reach their full potential, and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As an educator and shaper of society, the university aims to role model positive behaviors both within the university and to reflect the diversity of the wider community. As such we welcome applications from all potential candidates.

For general enquiries, please contact peopleservices@dmu.ac.uk.