Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The Carnegie School of Sport is seeking to recruit a highly motivated individual to a 1 year post-doctoral research role at Leeds Beckett University to work as part of the insight team for the new Women in Coaching National Taskforce.

This is a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic, collegial, and high-achieving individual looking to undertake a post-doctoral research role in a vibrant, impactful, and inclusive research environment in collaboration with Women in Sport, to help innovate and drive new areas of knowledge for women and coaching within the UK.

In partnership with Women in Sport, the post requires the applicant to carry out data collection and analysis using a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to deliver new insight towards understanding the major challenges facing women in sports coaching, their lived experiences, and to make sense of these experiences within the context of the sporting system. The project is funded by Women in Sport and will seek to understand gendered patterns in coaching qualifications, practices, and experiences to examine women’s route into and through coaching within the context of their sporting environments.

This post involves delivery of the insight for the new Women in Coaching National Taskforce with the ambition of producing evidence-informed change to create sporting structures, processes and environments in which women coaches thrive. Our vision as a collaborative taskforce is a more gender-balanced UK coaching workforce and that coaching is a role in which women feel they belong, are valued, and feel safe.

The successful candidate with work closely with Professor Leanne Norman and Dr Annette Stride as part of the Centre for Social Justice in Sport and Society within the Carnegie School of Sport in partnership with Women in Sport. In addition, the candidate will also work with other participating partners from the taskforce to understand what are the issues and challenges for different organisations addressing gender equity in UK sports coaching.

The successful applicant will support the design, organisation and delivery of elements of the research project, management of data collection, and data analysis. They will prepare high-quality publications, conference papers and other outputs resulting from the project. In return, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to join an internationally leading (as recognised in the recent national REF audit) research team for improving gender equity in sports workforces.

This post is appropriate for individuals with a PhD qualification in sports sociology, sports coaching, gender studies, or sport management with a focus on gender equity and sports leadership. Evidence of relevant experience/knowledge specifically related to women and/or gender equity in sports coaching is essential. Knowledge and/or experience of working within sports organisations, sports coaching, or sports leadership is desirable.

All candidates should possess strong academic research, communication and presentation skills, experience of disseminating research in different forms to different audiences, and the ability to lead research independently and as part of a collaborative team.

The successful candidate will be based at Headingley Campus but expected to travel to London once a month to meet with the insight team at Women in Sport.

The interviews for this role will take place on the 5^th December.

Closing date: Monday 11^th November 2024 (23:59) Please note that you will not be able to edit or submit a part-completed application form after the closing date. 

Working here means you’ll also have access to a wide range of benefits including our generous pension schemes, excellent holiday entitlements, flexible working, reduced study fees, subsidised fitness facilities and a lot more.

We welcome applications from all individuals and particularly from black and minority ethnic candidates as members of these groups are currently under-represented at this level of post. All appointments will be based on merit.