Location: Canterbury
Salary: £36,386 to £40,931 per annum
Grade: Grade 7
Post Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term - 18 Months - (at least 18 months with a maximum end date of 31st March 2025)
Release Date: Friday 03 March 2023
Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Sunday 02 April 2023 (unless otherwise stated)
Reference: LSSJ-233-23

We have an exciting opportunity for an outstanding quantitative analyst to apply their advanced skills for the public good, working as part of a team to deliver the quasi-experimental, realist evaluation in the Police Drug Diversion (PDD) project.

This evaluation is funded by the Cabinet Office Evaluation Accelerator Fund and is being carried out by the University of Kent in collaboration with several partners, including the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)

The role holder will primarily work on developing and analysing the linked dataset. The analysis will involve quasi-experimental comparisons of people in areas with diversion schemes to similar people in areas without diversion schemes. There will also be opportunities for the successful applicant to collaborate on other research projects in SSPSSR.

The successful applicant will be employed by the University of Kent and also seconded into OHID in order to access the data necessary for completion of the evaluation. Appointment to this post is conditional on the selected applicant passing the necessary vetting to access the data. We aim for the post to start in June 2023, but this will depend on passing vetting.

We are open to applications from people who wish to work part-time (with a minimum of 0.5 FTE). Please indicate in your cover letter what working pattern you would prefer.



As a Research Associate (Quantitative Analyst) you will:

Prepare for and carry out analysis of data on drug-involved suspects that is collected from police record management systems and then linked to their appearances in the Police National Computer, Health Episodes Statistics, the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System, and Office for National Statistics mortality data.
Access the linked data via platforms provided by OHID and its partners and preparing it for analysis. Using matching techniques (e.g. propensity score matching) to create comparisons between people who were exposed to PDD interventions and comparator groups.
Draft reports of the process and findings of the quantitative outcome evaluation, and producing tables and graphs to illustrate these reports.
Carry out high quality independent research and contribute fully to SSPSSR’s research strategy.
To be successful in this role you will have:

A Masters level qualification that includes training in relevant quantitative analysis methods
Knowledge of quantitative research methods and their application
Experience of undertaking high-quality quantitative research in this or a related field
Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills
Data processing and quantitative analysis skills using relevant software packages, (particularly R)
What we can offer you in return:

A friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing
Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs)
43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
An excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
On-campus cinema/theatre, sports facilities, library, nursery and food outlets, set among green, open space
Study while you work discounts, cycle to work scheme, local business discounts
On-site parking
If you have the qualifications, skills and experience we are looking for, we would welcome your application.

Please see the links below to view the job descriptions and additional information. To apply, please follow the link below to complete the application form and upload a cover letter and CV.

For questions about the application process, please contact LSSJHR@kent.ac.uk quoting ref: LSSJ-233-23

Further details:
Please note that we prioritise applications from current University of Kent redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.

Applications must be made via the University’s online application system; CVs or details sent directly to the department or via email cannot be considered.

The University of Kent values diversity and promotes equality at all levels.