Salary
£31,236 - £42,254
Contractual hours
37
Basis
Full time
Package
Fixed term for 27 Months
Date posted
08/09/2025
Job reference
T02219
Teesside University is seeking to appoint an outstanding Research and Innovation Associate (R&IA) to join the Green Corridors North East (GCNE) team delivering a £3m+ AHRC Mission project. The role will focus on the theme of culture and creativity, for example developing inclusive creative methods to co-produce artworks that promote environmental empathy and enhance well-being and will concentrate on the South Tees Corridor - Tees to Topping. This corridor is in its conceptual planning phase, and you will join as we begin to navigate its realisation. However, the role will also enable work across the region's other two green corridors: the Durham City Green Corridor, that will appoint another R&IA focusing on 'Heritage and History', and the Tyne and Derwent Way in Gateshead whose dedicated R&IA post will focus on the theme of 'Nature and Natural Heritage'. Collectively, all three R&IAs will be expected to work together collaboratively, across all three areas, to facilitate development of the region's green corridors in conjunction with key stakeholders and community-based groups.
The role will involve working with researchers at Teesside University, staff at the National Trust, Local Councils, regional nature partnerships, and community-based groups to shape and implement collaborative approaches and ways of working together to generate research questions, co-producing research and supporting collective action. The successful applicant will work in partnership with the GCNE team to co-produce research that embed creative approaches to environmental well-being, and that could enable stakeholders to address key policy objectives (e.g. nature recovery, climate regulation, flood prevention, public health and wellbeing).
The post holder will be supported to develop their own contributions to the project, to develop new activities and co-create new research and/or impact activities funded by the GCNE Flexible Research Delivery Fund that is part of the AHRC funding. Their work will contribute to new funding bids that will help the future development of the region's green corridors for the benefit of nature, communities, and visitors.
The postholder will have a PhD relevant to supporting GCNE's work on the theme of 'culture and creativity'; their doctorate might, for example, be in humanities, environmental creative practice, curatorial and learning approaches to co-production, arts and engagement, nature and well-being, placemaking and lived experience or another cognate field.
The postholder should have recent and in-depth experience of working collaboratively with academic and non-academic partners to develop and deliver applied research and/or impact. They should also have experience of using participatory methods when working with stakeholders (e.g. local authorities, third-sector actors, heritage organisations, and/or community-based organisations). Experience helping to organise and host public engagement events (e.g. workshops or walk and talks) is highly desirable. Being willing and able to travel within Teesside, specifically around Middlesbrough, and infrequently across the North East is essential.
The postholder will be based at Teesside University School of Arts and Creative Industries and Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), Teesside University's GCNE Co-Leads together will co-supervise the postholder who will spend portions of their time co-located with the Tees to Topping Corridor team at one of their spaces in the South Tees (specifically National Trust's Ormesby Hall). The role is a full-time appointment for 27 months. We are committed to building a fair and inclusive workplace and would welcome requests for flexible working and — depending on the needs of the role — blended working opportunities will also be considered.
Every member of our University is part of the inspiring, supportive, and caring community known as Team Teesside.
What we offer you:
* A holiday entitlement of 185 hours (25 days), increasing to 28 and 30 days after 3 and 5 years' service respectively, plus bank holidays
* Additional leave over the Christmas and New Year period during the Christmas closure
* Special leave to support a range of circumstances
* Hybrid working arrangements
* A variety of provision to support staff with personal development and recognition
* A range of family friendly benefits
* An employee benefits platform which provides discounts with 350+ retailers and access to health and wellbeing resources
The position we are filling is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a satisfactory DBS disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service is required as part of our clearance procedures.
Please be advised that due to the minimum salary thresholds imposed by the UKVI, this post may qualify for University sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route.
If you are shortlisted, your interview will take place online via Microsoft Teams,
The interview will take place on Monday 13 October 2025.
Please note that the University may ask you to participate in a number of selection activities as part of the recruitment process for this vacancy.
Please note that we are advertising this vacancy on other websites but we are not using those third parties to collate applications for us. If you are viewing this advert on a third party website please ensure you apply directly to Teesside University.