Research Associate - Food Procurement - (9666)

About the Faculty 

The Faculty of Business and Law at Manchester Metropolitan University is home to one of the UK's largest business schools and to the Manchester Law School. The Faculty is committed to research that addresses pressing social, economic and environmental challenges, and works in close partnership with industry, policymakers and communities. 

About the Department 

The Department of Marketing, International Business & Tourism is an outward-looking academic community within the Business School. Among its research output there is a developing body of work on sustainable food system and public procurement, which examines how public spending can support fairer and more sustainable ways of producing and distributing food. 

This is a part-time post (17.5 hours per week, 0.5 FTE). The fieldwork will be carried out online, and flexible working arrangements can be discussed with the line manager.  

About the Project  

UK public sector institutions such as schools and hospitals serve millions of meals every day, which makes public procurement a significant lever for change in the food system. This project assesses the potential impact of sourcing public sector food from local suppliers, or from producers who can demonstrate high environmental standards. It considers the implications for regional economies, environmental outcomes and supply chain resilience. 

The project will draw on the experience of producers, processors and distributors in two geographically bounded UK supply chains to understand current practice in regionally focused food production and distribution. It will also identify the barriers to, and opportunities for, supplying public sector institutions. The findings will contribute to the evidence base on how public sector food procurement could be reshaped.  

The project is led by Adrian Morley, Research Fellow in Sustainable Food Systems.

About the Role & Team 

We are seeking to appoint a Research Associate on a six-month fixed-term contract to lead the project's qualitative fieldwork.

• The postholder will conduct online interviews with around food businesses, including producers, processors and distributors, exploring their current practices and their experiences of, or potential for, supplying the public sector.  
• Working under the supervision of Adrian Morley, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the fieldwork and work independently to deliver it within agreed timescales.
• The role offers a valuable opportunity to contribute to an emerging and policy-relevant area of research, and to develop your own research profile through the project's outputs.  

Key Responsibilities 

• You will be responsible for designing and preparing the interviews, recruiting participants, and conducting and analysing the interviews.
• You will consolidate the findings and work with colleagues and research partners to communicate them to academic, policy and practitioner audiences through reports, presentations and journal articles.   

Key Skills & Experiences  

• You will hold, or be working towards, a doctoral qualification.
• You will have research experience in business studies or a related field, including a clear, independent contribution to research projects and the preparation of written reports.
• You will be experienced and confident in qualitative interviewing and analysis, and able to synthesise complex data and communicate findings clearly to diverse audiences.  
• You will also bring sound knowledge of food systems, supply chains or sustainability.
• As the role involves engagement with external organisations, excellent communication and relationship-building skills are important.
• Experience of working directly with business representatives would be particularly welcome.  

To learn more about role and requirements, please read the Job Description provided below.  

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you! 

Application & Assessment Process: 

• To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter detailing your suitability, on the application portal. Applicants are encouraged to address the Person Specification section of the Job Description in their covering letter. 
• For informal enquiries, about this vacancy, please contact Adrian Morley on a.morley@mmu.ac.uk  
• Please be aware that only applications including a cover letter may be considered at shortlisting stage.  
• Assessment will include a panel interview.   

We believe in working together, sharing knowledge and valuing everyone's contributions. Develop your skills, further your knowledge and be part of a team who are transforming lives, every single day! 

Further Information

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support. 

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups. 

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.  

This vacancy is expected to attract a high volume of applications. Therefore, under the Disability Confident Scheme, only disabled people who apply under the scheme and best meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview.  

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