Researcher PHDRC

“Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.”

Researcher post Plymouth Health Determinants Research Collaboration (PHDRC)

Full time immediately available, initially fixed term until end of September 2027. *

• Do you enjoy undertaking practical research and evaluation, especially in the fields of public health and inequalities in health?
• Are you passionate about making sure we take the learning from all our experiences?
• Can you work with teams helping them be enthusiastic about using research skills to support them to do their job with better outcomes?

If you have an enquiring mind and a track record of being involved with teams undertaking research and evaluation, we would love to hear from you?

The Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) is partnership between the University of Plymouth and Plymouth City Council and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The programme funding is designed to embed a culture of evidence-based decision-making within local government. The HDRCs will help to stimulate economic growth, particularly in some of the most deprived areas of the country and contribute to the Government’s plans to take action for the longer-term resilience of the health and wealth of the country.

The Plymouth HDRC has funding to support the release of council staff and community colleagues to undertake research and evaluation, having identified questions and aspect of work which are worthy of further exploration and understanding to reduce inequalities and encourage an environment of research and enquiry.

Our approach has been to offer funding to teams to enable their own staff to be released to undertake their own research themselves, not only developing the knowledge, but sharing research skills which could then be subsequently used in other aspects of work. However, we recognise the release of staff to undertake the role has been challenging, staff shortages and staff skill gaps has meant a desire to undertake the projects cannot always be followed through with the ability to identify the staff capacity to progress the work and has led to long delays in setting up pieces of work and enabling the council to benefit from the initiative.

We are therefore looking for a researcher to work closely with teams offering that research capacity, in a way that ensures the teams still own the work and remain enthusiastic in reaching the findings and understanding the impact. You absolutely need to be a team player, committed to sharing your activity and findings throughout and ensure that the team of colleagues and consider how you can optimise your contribution to benefit all.

We anticipate that where a project has been highlighted but capacity is likely to create a significant delay you join the team and be the extra resource for the team. Each of the projects has an assigned researcher in residence that has helped to develop the idea, but you will be the practical capacity to make sure we can deliver!

We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role

For informal enquiries please contact

Elaine.fitzsimmons@plymouth.gov.uk to arrange a time to speak and if you require more informaiton about the HDRC.

Nb whilst this post is offered until the end of September 2027, we are hopeful of confirmation of further funding until December 2028 but at this stage cannot guarantee this.

Closing date:- Wednesday 07 October 2026

Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation.

As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.