Job title: Community Researcher (Afghanistan)
Salary: SO1 £34,434 - £36,363
Hours: Full time (37 hours per week). Although this is a full-time role, we will consider applications for part-time hours.
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8BB. Hybrid working is available.
Are you interested in researching the experiences of Afghans coming to live in the UK? Do you have good qualitative research skills with some experience of applied research? If so, this role may be for you.
As a Community Researcher you'll be interested in other people's stories and experiences, and you'll be keen to grasp opportunities to share these stories with people who make decisions about how support services are delivered and funded.
It's not about lobbying or advocacy work on behalf of anyone else – we're a politically neutral organisation. In the research team, we present our research findings in a professional, objective way as part of Migration Yorkshire's role to work for the best outcomes of migration for everyone in the community.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .
About You
As a Community Researcher, you will bring to the role:
Good qualitative research skills
The ability to translate and interpret between English and Dari, Pashto or Farsi
A good understanding of Afghan society and the political situation in Afghanistan
Personal experience of migrating to live in the UK
Excellent listening skills and the ability to develop good relationships quickly.
About the role
Migration Yorkshire recognises it's important to involve people with lived experience of what we're researching in the design and implementation of a project. Therefore, we're looking for someone with experience of migrating to the UK to work with us on a particular piece of research.
As our next Community Researcher, you'll be supporting research and evaluation of the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) Regional Pathfinder pilot. This will mainly involve understanding the experiences of people from Afghanistan who come to live in the Yorkshire and Humber region through this programme. Research tasks will include conducting interviews and supporting focus groups, transcription, primary and secondary analysis and writing in a supportive environment. It's important to us to make sure we hear these perspectives of Afghan households as we are continually making improvements while we run the programme, and we might be able to influence how other places run similar schemes in the future.
The role is integral to our Migration Yorkshire research team. Migration Yorkshire supports people and organisations to achieve the most positive outcomes of migration for everyone in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Migration Yorkshire provides leadership and coordination, evidence, and practical assistance to organisations from all sectors at local, regional and national level. We believe in improving understanding, supporting the integration of migrants and maximising opportunities for all to create a more equal and enriched society. Migration Yorkshire is a partnership of councils working across the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region and is based in Leeds. Find out more about us at
What We Offer You
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Dr Vanja Celebicic, Policy and Research Officer Call or email
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children's or Adults' barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description Job Purpose
The post holder will contribute to Migration Yorkshire's research programme within the Policy and Research team. This post involves the opportunity to contribute to the design and implementation of research projects, which includes performing research tasks such as fieldwork, transcription, primary and secondary analysis and writing in a supportive environment. The core tasks of this post will involve supporting the research work of Migration Yorkshire that concerns the resettlement of people from Afghanistan to the Yorkshire and Humber region through UK government schemes. You will also have the opportunity to influence councils and other organisations on issues affecting people with experiences of migrating to live in the UK.
The post holder will have personal experience of migrating to live in the UK. Migration Yorkshire recognises the value of involving people with lived experience of what you are researching in the design and implementation of research, enabling us to incorporate those perspectives from the beginning of a project to ultimately better understand the migrant experiences and perspectives we are researching.
You will have good qualitative research skills with some experience of applied research. You will have strong communication skills including fluency in Dari, Pashto, or Farsi, an eye for accuracy and detail, and an ability to create and maintain good relationships. You are a team player, a good listener and interested in other people's stories.
This post is part of the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) Regional Pathfinder pilot which is being funded by central government. The Regional Pathfinder welcomes new arrival Afghan households and provides a comprehensive package of initial integration support as people adapt to life in Yorkshire and Humber. Alongside frontline advice and housing support, the Regional Pathfinder supports families as they move on into settled accommodation. The Regional Pathfinder will also produce research to inform future resettlement initiatives. The project is managed by Migration Yorkshire and delivered across the Yorkshire and Humber region through a partnership of statutory and voluntary sector organisations.
Migration Yorkshire supports people and organisations to achieve the most positive outcomes of migration for everyone in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Migration Yorkshire provides leadership and coordination, evidence, and practical assistance to organisations from all sectors at local, regional and national level. We believe in improving understanding, supporting the integration of migrants and maximising opportunities for all to create a more equal and enriched society. Migration Yorkshire is a partnership of councils working across the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region and is based in Leeds.
Responsibilities
Independently undertake research tasks as directed, to a high standard, including conducting fieldwork in English and Dari, Pashto or Farsi.
Read and summarise research reports of relevance to the Migration Yorkshire team and partners
Write and present reports for a range of audiences at local and regional levels
Actively contribute to research meetings and Migration Yorkshire team meetings
Be responsible for personal learning and development, undertake available training to increase knowledge, skills and awareness
Work with other members of the team to ensure Leeds City Council and Migration Yorkshire procedures are followed in all areas of work, including finance, safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, accessibility etc.
Provide excellent customer service to all stakeholders.
Respect the sensitive and confidential nature of the work. Follow good practice in data protection.
Be responsive to the needs of the Migration Yorkshire team and support colleagues as required.
Able and willing to travel across Yorkshire and Humber, and occasionally beyond the region.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Essential Behavioural And Other Characteristics
Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters
Qualifications
Degree level education or equivalent through relevant training or experience
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
Good qualitative research skills including designing and conducting fieldwork, analysing qualitative data and transcribing interviews
Fluent in written and spoken Dari, Pashto or Farsi with an ability to translate and interpret between English and Dari, Pashto or Farsi
Personal experience of migrating to live in the UK
Good communication skills, particularly including excellent listening skills and the ability to develop good relationships quickly
Good command of written and spoken English
A good understanding of Afghan society and the political situation in Afghanistan.
In-depth familiarity with challenges faced by people with different migration statuses, for example: people seeking asylum, people with refugee status, people with EU 'pre-settled' status, people with visa conditions
Experience of working on an applied research project
Recent experience of work involving writing or translating materials in English and Dari, Pashto or Farsi
Understanding of issues concerning research ethics, confidentiality, data protection and freedom of information
Ability to professionally represent the organisation to partners and external stakeholders, and capacity to develop constructive relationships with partner organisations
Enthusiastic about the integration of migrants and about ensuring that the Yorkshire and Humber region benefits from migration.
Ability to learn quickly and absorb new information on issues concerning qualitative research and analysis
IT literacy, including competence in using Word and Excel
Ability to write and present information to a range of audiences
Good knowledge of issues concerning migration, social cohesion, integration, and social inequalities
Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
Knowledge of the UK immigration system and the routes for Afghan nationals to come to the UK.
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