Description Salary £44,711 - £49,764 Per Annum | Fixed term until 11/11/2026, Part time | 29.6 hours per week | International Sponsorship – please note, this role is not open to international sponsorship. The Local Authority Research Practitioner is an exciting new role that will focus on delivering the priorities of the Lancashire County Council's Public Health Strategy and wider Corporate Strategy by embedding a culture of equity-sensitive research, ensuring local decision-making on the wider determinants of health is grounded in robust evidence. To achieve this aim, the postholder will work with colleagues to foster the development and integration of equity-sensitive research skills, processes, capacity, and infrastructure throughout the organisation. The role will also support research investigators, collaborations, and the delivery of other research studies. This role is ideally suited to a motivated individual who is passionate about championing the role of research in local decision-making. You will have a strong research background, excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to support others, as well as a keen awareness of, and interest in, how Local Authorities are structured and operate. You will be based in the Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities Directorate but will contribute to the wider council objective of making Lancashire the best place to live, work, visit and prosper. Your work will focus on building strategic and collaborative working relationships with colleagues across the county council, local stakeholders and wider academic networks, to promote the use of equity-sensitive research. You will provide guidance and support to colleagues looking to engage with research as well as liaise with colleagues to identify barriers. You will partner with a Public Health Specialist to shape this new role and have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the county council's diverse range of service areas. To foster these relationships, you are expected to work from County Hall, Preston, for at least two days per week within the culture of our flexible working policy. At Lancashire County Council we are focussed on career development, wellbeing, flexibility, and support. This exciting opportunity will allow you to advance your career in a nurturing environment with numerous opportunities for personal development and growth, both in terms of training/CPD and working with a range of partners. You can find more information about the range of benefits available to Lancashire County Council employees on the LCC Vacancies website. Accountabilities/Responsibilities The following are a range of duties that are appropriate to this grade, within the scope of the identified portfolio: Build strategic and collaborative working relationships with colleagues across the county council, local stakeholders and wider academic networks, to promote the importance and use of research in decision-making. Conduct an audit of research skills and capacity across the council to identify current levels and scope of capacity and capability, including barriers to engaging with research. Conduct awareness-raising activities across the county council, including senior-level networking, to influence senior leaders on the importance of research. Establish the infrastructure necessary to support research activities, including the ability to host and initiate studies, along with implementing coordinated and consistent governance processes across the county council. This role is part funded by the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health, and the postholder will therefore be expected to actively promote, support and contribute to the activity of the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health, alongside their work within the county council. Applications for this post are open until Sunday 5 th January 2025. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 14 th January 2025 at County Hall in Preston. Should you be unable to attend the interview in person, we can arrange for it to take place via Microsoft Teams. For more information about the post please contact Andrea Smith (Public Health Specialist – Wider Determinants) on 01772 539829. Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website. We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications. Job Description and Person Specification