Research Support Officer Ref: 44235 (Part Time, Fixed Term)
Location
Brighton, UK
Hours
Part time, 0.4 FTE (14.6 hours per week). Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need). The post holder will need to attend some in-person team meetings and workshops, including in the Upper Medway area.
Salary
Grade 5 starting at £30,378 to £34,610 per annum, pro rata if part time.
Contract Type
Fixed Term Contract
As part of our recruitment approach, internal candidates will receive priority consideration at the shortlisting stage.
About the role
We are looking for a highly organised, proactive Research Support Officer to keep a small, multidisciplinary team running smoothly and to lead the project’s communications.
Catchment Dialogues is a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and led by the University of Sussex with Friends of the River Medway. It brings together people and organisations across the Upper River Medway catchment to build a shared understanding of the river and plan action for its regeneration.
Your main responsibilities will be:
- coordinating logistics for team meetings, workshops and in-person gatherings, including venues and travel
- maintaining project timelines and flagging key dates and deadlines
- drafting and coordinating communications with participants, stakeholders and partner organisations
- writing project updates, newsletters and public-facing materials
- running the project’s social media and creating engaging content
- supporting the recruitment and coordination of workshop participants
- keeping project files organised, taking meeting notes and following up on actions
You will work closely with the Project Lead and a team of academics, artists and community partners.
About you
You will have:
- strong organisational skills and the ability to manage several tasks at once
- excellent written communication skills, including creating social media and public-facing content
- confidence using digital collaboration tools such as Google Drive, shared calendars and messaging platforms
- a calm, adaptable approach to changing timelines and to working in a multidisciplinary team
- an interest in research, participatory practice, environmental issues / and/or the arts
- running social media or communications for a project, campaign or organisation
- coordinating events, workshops or community engagement
It would be an advantage if you have experience of:
- working in a university or research project
An interest in rivers and ecology would also be welcome.
About our School
We are a global hub at the heart of Sussex University. Our engaged research and critical pedagogy addresses the most pressing global issues of our times – global social justice, environmental change and climate justice, war and peace, migration, global health, human rights, identity, and inequality. Our mission is to generate transformative research and real-world teaching that equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to work towards a fairer, safer, more sustainable and more inclusive world.
We are committed to inspiring and curiosity-driven teaching and research that strives to find creative solutions for the social, environmental, economic and political poly-crisis facing the world today. Global Studies stands out for its interdisciplinarity across our departments, courses and research centres; our ambitious global outlook; and our decolonising, anti-racist and reparative justice approaches to teaching, research and civic engagement.
Please find further information regarding the School of Global Studies on our website.
Why work here
Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.
Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.
Find out more about our reward and benefits package.
Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion.
Further Key Information
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Lucila Newell at l.newell@sussex.ac.uk.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Eligibility
Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role does not meet the eligibility for sponsorship due to its part-time nature. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship.
The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
Closing Date
November 26, 2026 11:59 PM
Expected Interview Date
9-11th December
Expected Start Date
12th January or earlier
Fixed Term Contract Duration
Fixed term until end of September 2027
If you are experiencing any issues using our application portal or if you require adjustments to be made to the selection process, please contact us on (01273) 873743 or recruitmentadministration@sussex.ac.uk to discuss your requirements.
