Research Assistant

Queen?s University seek to recruit a number of Activity Leaders to deliver safe, progressive and enjoyable activities to children of all ages and abilities in the Queen?s Sport Summer Activity Scheme.  You will assist the Co-ordinator and Team Leaders in planning and implementing a programme of activities that will include teaching/coaching a variety of sporting and non-sporting activities. 

You will assist in the supervision and safeguarding of children participating in the scheme, overseeing the general safety and behaviour. You will be provided with training prior to the scheme starting and the role will involve an element of manual handling, assembling and dismantling the equipment as required for use in activities. 

You will be customer orientated with good communication skills and you will have the ability to use initiative and work unaccompanied.  This is a full-time position from 23 June ? 15 August 2025 (inclusive to staff training) and successful candidates will be expected to have availability throughout this period. The post meets the definition of regulated activity and requires an enhanced disclosure check and references.

The Summer Scheme at Queen?s Sport is a popular programme that offers children aged 6 - 14 years old a high-quality activity experience. Children can learn new skills that promote an active lifestyle by providing opportunities to try new sports in a fun and supportive environment. You will also be supervising and safeguarding our Junior Leader Programme which is for 15-17 year olds. 

Further information about the Directorate can be found at ?http://www.queenssport.com/

JOB PURPOSE:

 Assist the Co-ordinator and Team Leaders as required in planning and implementing a programme of activities that will include teaching/coaching a variety of sporting and non-sporting activities.

MAIN ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist the Co-ordinator and Team Leaders as required in planning and implementing a programme of activities that will include

Assist in the supervision and safeguarding of the children participating in the scheme, overseeing the general safety and behaviour of the children and directing activities to prevent injury, misuse and damages to facilities or equipment.

Assemble and dismantle the equipment as required for use in activities.

To carry out duties in a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and profile of the Queen?s Sport.

Any other relevant duties as may be required for the period of the summer scheme.

PLANNING AND ORGANISING:

Assist with planning and organising a weekly programme of sporting and non-sporting activity for 7 weeks.

Plan and organise coaching / instructional sessions on a daily basis.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES (e.g. People, Finance, Equipment):

Ensure the safety and well-being of children through the delivery of an enjoyable programme of sporting and non-sporting activity.

Responsible for set-up and take down of equipment required for programme delivery.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Liaise with parents on a daily basis.

Communicate / work effectively with Queen?s Sport staff on a regular basis.

ESSENTIAL

A minimum of 3 GCSEs (Grade C or above) or equivalent, including English Language and a mathematical based subject plus a teaching or coaching qualification in sport(s), physical education, or arts and crafts.

DESIRABLE

Qualified Primary School Teacher.

Level 1 National Governing Body Coaching Award.

Current First Aid qualification.

Safeguarding in Sport Qualification 

Recent relevant experience of teaching or coaching children (paid or voluntary) on a part time basis for a minimum of 6 months OR 3 months experience of teaching children in a structured environment on a full time basis. Note that those whose experience is gained as part of a teaching qualification must demonstrate a minimum of 3 months i.e. 12 weeks experience within a classroom.

DESIRABLE

Cleaning experience.

Experience in teaching/coaching swimming, rugby, Gaelic games, soccer, basketball, dance, netball, hockey or other sports activities.

Recent experience of working as an activity leader at a Summer Activity Scheme.

Recent experience working with young people ie in a Youth Club setting

Recent experience of implementing safe sporting and non-sporting activities to young people following health & safety and safeguarding guidelines within an education and/or sporting context.

Other Skills/Knowledge

Sporting or cultural interests.

Presentation

Demonstrate good communication skills.

Personal Qualities

Ability to respond clearly to direction.

Customer oriented.

Ability to use initiative and work unaccompanied.

Desire to contribute and demonstrate commitment to team.

Ability to work flexible hours.

Research Assistant - SUPPORTive Leaders Online & ESRC Workplace Well-being Project

We are seeking a part-time Research Assistant to support the SUPPORTive Leaders Online project?an initiative focused on developing a digital leadership training programme to promote mental health and well-being in the workplace.

This project builds on our GBP1.6 million ESRC-funded research, conducted in collaboration with the Enterprise Research Centre, Warwick Business School, University College Cork, and the University of Nottingham, exploring the relationship between workplace well-being and productivity. The Research Assistant?s time will be divided between this new initiative and supporting the broader ESRC-funded research, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge work on workplace mental health and productivity.

This role is ideal for candidates looking to gain hands-on research experience in work psychology, human resource management, and organisational behaviour. The position focuses on translating academic research into practical applications for business leaders and organisations.

Key Responsibilities

The Research Assistant will work closely with the project team to support the development and implementation of the digital training programme. Key responsibilities include:

• Engaging with advisory groups, including business leaders and mental health professionals.
• Assisting in content development for the digital platform (e.g., Xerte).
• Uploading and managing training materials within the digital system.
• Coordinating pilot activities, including participant recruitment and scheduling.
• Collecting and analysing feedback through surveys and interviews.
• Contributing to research dissemination, including reports and publications.

• Essential: An undergraduate degree in psychology, business management, organisational behaviour, human resource management, public health, or a related field.
• Preferred: A Master's degree (completed or in progress) in a relevant discipline.

We are looking for candidates who:
✔ Have an interest in work psychology, leadership, and workplace well-being research.
✔ Have experience or a strong interest in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
✔ Possess strong written and verbal communication skills.
✔ Can work independently and manage their workload effectively.
✔ Have experience with digital learning platforms (beneficial but not essential).

Job description for QWork Assignment

• Research Assistant in Management (up to a maximum of 4 hours per week for 30 weeks)
• This part-time role (up to a maximum of 4 hours per week for 30 weeks) will support Dr Sara Melo, Senior Lecturer in Management, in her leading impact project. Supporting the design, implementation, continuous improvement, and effective use of Business Intelligence systems in decision-making at Portuguese NHS hospitals.

The Research Assistant will be responsible for:

• Searching the Internet for examples of toolkits targeted at practitioners in general, and toolkits directly related with the design and implementation of Business Intelligence (BI) systems
• Preliminary scoping literature review on the models used to evaluate the readiness of hospitals to implement BI systems
• Collaborate in the graphical design of the paper-based versions of a toolkit (draft and final versions) to be targeted at hospital practitioners to support them in the design, implementation and continuous improvement of a hospital BI system.
• Identification of examples of activities that could be implemented at the different stages of the creation of a national network/community of practice of hospital staff
• Identification of examples of questionnaires to measure the impact of research dissemination workshops with practitioners

Applicants must be currently studying towards a PhD.  

• Applicants who have an interest in communicating research to non-academic stakeholders.
• This part-time role is intended for an individual who is currently a PhD student.
• Good written and verbal communication skills are essential. There is no need to know Portuguese as all the Research Assistant work will be in English.