"High-rise Landscapes: Afterlives of tower block 'failure' and urban change’"

Job reference: HUM-026473

Salary: £36,024 - £44,263 per annum, depending on relevant experience

Faculty/Organisational Unit: Humanities

Location: Oxford Road

Employment type: Fixed Term

Division/Team: Social Anthropology

Hours Per Week: 1 FTE

Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 15/09/2024

Contract Duration: 12 months

School/Directorate: School of Social Sciences

Two full-time vacancies for experienced Research Associates on the project “High-rise Landscapes: Afterlives of tower block ‘failure’ and urban change”

The High-Rise Landscapes project aims to develop an interdisciplinary approach to the social, political and material worlds of high-rise housing in the UK and in Kenya, in the wake of recent housing disasters. Particularly focusing on the Grenfell Tower fire in London and a series of building collapses in Nairobi, the project examines the afterlives and ripple effects of these disasters, and how they are situated in longer histories of urban change and intervention. 

The two PDRAs will primarily be based in the Unfolding Failure pathway. They will undertake 3 months of field research each, in either London or Nairobi. PDRA1 will focus on North Kensington in London and PDRA2 on a relevant neighbourhood in Nairobi to be defined in discussion with the PI. The exact focus of fieldwork is to be developed and defined by each PDRA in discussion with the PI. It should build on the research interests and expertise of the successful candidates but will also align with the objectives of the Unfolding Failure pathway. The PI will have final approval of the research focus.

PDRAs will also be integrated in the Participatory Publics pathway, working with participatory, theatre and/or visual methods, supporting the development of the citizen social science programming, and involved in the extensive engagement and impact work. An interest in and commitment to some or all of these approaches is essential, however training will be provided where necessary. For more detail on the project and the roles, please see the Further Particulars document.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.           

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk.

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Email: constance.smith@manchester.ac.uk 

General enquiries:

Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.