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UCL DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY As and When Research Assistant Job Title: Research Assistant Department: Department of Political Science/School of Public Policy Grade: Grade 6B Salary: £15.49 per hour (inclusive of London Allowance) Hours: As and When Responsible to: Dr Alan Renwick University College London (UCL) is a multi-­faculty college of the University of London with a population of over 17,000 students, from more than 130 different countries. Degree programmes are provided in Arts and Humanities, Social and Historical Sciences, Architecture, Building, Environmental Design and Planning, Laws, Life Sciences and Clinical Sciences (including Medicine), Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Engineering Sciences. UCL is among the world’s top universities, as reflected in performance in a range of rankings and tables. The Department of Political Science is recognised as a centre for excellence in the field, ranked 2nd in the UK in the 2014 REF. The School of Public Policy was established in 1997 to provide the bridge between UCL's world-­class research and the policy-­making community in Britain and internationally. In 2005 its core staff and teaching programmes formed a newly created Department of Political Science within the School, and for all practical purposes the two entities are now identical. Britain’s only department to specialise in graduate teaching and research, it offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, comparative government and public policy-­
making and administration. The Post The ‘As and When’ Research Assistant will work with Dr Alan Renwick, Dr Christine Reh, and Professor Meg Russell to deliver a series of seminars and related web-­based materials on the theme Brexit: The Constitutional Consequences for Britain and Europe. This programme is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the UK in a Changing Europe programme. Four seminars will relate to specific areas of potential impact;; for each of these, in addition to the seminar, a short video and a briefing paper will be produced. A fifth event will be a large-­scale debate on the general subject of whether the UK should remain in or leave the European Union. Our intention is that these events and related materials should contribute significantly to debates in advance of the UK’s referendum on EU membership. Accordingly, the seminars will be timed to precede the referendum: the four thematic seminars will take place between April and early June;; the general debate will be held in June or later, depending on the referendum date. The briefing papers will each be four pages long and will draw on the content of the seminars. Each will be published no more than two weeks after the corresponding seminar. The successful candidate will be expected to take the lead in planning, coordinating, and editing the briefing papers. She or he will also play an active role in conducting background research in advance of the seminars, in organising and publicising the seminars, and in other activities related to the programme. She or he should be available primarily from April to June, when up to 150 hours of work may be available. This work will be more intense at some times than at others, and it is therefore essential that the successful candidate be able to work flexibly. Key Responsibilities The Research Assistant will be expected to undertake duties in connection with the project as directed by the PIs, which include the following: Research: • research support for seminar speakers and chairs in preparation for each seminar, including identification of appropriate questions and background research into those questions;; • planning and delivery of the briefing papers, which may include coordinating contributions from seminar speakers, adapting seminar transcripts to briefing paper format, writing up research findings, and editing each paper into a cogent draft. Administration: • liaison with speakers regarding their participation in the seminars;; • liaison with the Constitution Unit Administrator on other aspects of seminar organisation;; • liaison with the video production team • liaison with the Constitution Unit Administrator regarding the production of briefing papers;; • promotion of the seminars and related materials through contacts lists, traditional media, and social media. Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required to undertake other duties which are in line with the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description may be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder. Person Specification Essential • A high 2.1 or first-­class Bachelor’s degree in political science or a related field, or equivalent qualifications or experience • Good general research skills • A demonstrable knowledge of British politics and keen interest in the politics of Britain’s relationship with the EU • A keen interest in current UK political debates • Excellent written communication and editing skills • Good organisational skills and a flexible approach to working as part of a team • An ability to work to tight deadlines • An ability to work flexibly in the period from April to June Desirable • A Master’s degree at Merit or Distinction • Experience in editing blogs, newsletters, or other similar publications Salary This ‘As and When’ appointment is available from April 2015. The salary for the post is Grade 6B of the UCL salary scale, £15.49 per hour (inclusive of London Allowance).