We are seeking to recruit a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to act as a researcher for a large project funded by the Leverhulme Trust, ‘Interpreting the Governance of Human Trafficking: Explaining Policy Practice’. The project is an innovative, comparative interpretive study of public policy and practice regarding modern slavery and human trafficking. It compares policy practice across the United Kingdom, Belgium and Romania. The project objectives are to:
1. Discover the interplay between governance structures, interpretation and practitioner discretion;
2. Explain how policy workers govern the trafficking problem by interpreting and responding to policy, and what this means for people with lived experience of trafficking;
3. Uncover the network and political dynamics operating in trafficking governance, between policy workers and their organisations, and people with lived experience of trafficking.
The post holder, hereby referred to as the PDRA, will be responsible for working with line manager Dr Nick Turnbull and Professor Rose Broad in the School of Social Sciences, and Professor Tom vander Beken at Ghent University (Belgium), to conduct an in-depth comparative study of policy practice in anti-trafficking. The PDRA will manage the overall project and conduct fieldwork in the UK.
In addition, the post holder will help analyse field data and prepare conference presentations and scholarly publications arising from the research. This is an excellent career opportunity for a postdoctoral research specialist in public policy or criminology to co-manage a large interdisciplinary project, build a high quality scholarly publication profile, and develop skills in interpretive research methods and project management.
What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Our University is positive about flexible working you can find out more here
Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.
Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.
Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk.
Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.
Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:
Name: Dr Nick Turnbull
Email: nick.turnbull@manchester.ac.uk
or
Name: Professor Rose Broad
Email: rose.broad@manchester.ac.uk
General enquiries:
Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk
Technical support:
https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home
This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.
Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.