Postdoctoral Researcher - Women in Academia Phase III (Implementation and Evaluation)

We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join us on an approximately 8-month fixed-term appointment (18 November 2026 - 31 July 2027) for 18 hours per week (days/times negotiable). The successful candidate will contribute to the third phase of the Women in Academia (WinA) research programme at the University of Warwick.

The WinA programme examines structural, cultural and organisational barriers affecting women's experiences, progression and retention in UK higher education. Phase I explored women's experiences and identified key systemic challenges, while Phase II used a national modified Delphi study to establish evidence-informed priorities for institutional and sector-wide action.

Phase III focuses on translating some of these agreed priorities into practical, measurable and sustainable institutional changes. The project will work with one or two departments at the University of Warwick to co-select and pilot priority actions, examine their implementation and feasibility, and identify barriers, facilitators and early indicators of organisational change.

The successful candidate will support the design, delivery and evaluation of these departmental implementation pilots, drawing on implementation science frameworks and mixed-methods research approaches. They will also contribute to the development of an open-access Implementation Toolkit, including practical guidance, planning templates and recommended outcome measures to support wider adoption across UK higher education.

The offers an opportunity to contribute to applied research at the intersection of gender equity, research culture, implementation science and organisational change, with potential implications for institutional policy and practice.

Duties and responsibilities

Support the design, coordination, delivery and evaluation of the Phase III implementation programme, including:

•    Engage critically with relevant literature on gender equity, research culture, organisational change and implementation science within higher education

•    Work collaboratively with participating departments and stakeholders to select priority actions from the Phase II Delphi findings and translate these into context-sensitive, measurable implementation plans.

•    Apply implementation science approaches, including Implementation Mapping and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), to identify contextual factors, barriers, facilitators, implementation strategies and resource requirements.

•    Develop research and evaluation materials, including baseline assessments, implementation monitoring tools, interview guides and stakeholder feedback instruments.

•    Support participating departments in implementing selected actions, including facilitating stakeholder engagement, monitoring progress and documenting adaptations.

•    Conduct mixed-methods data collection and analysis to assess implementation outcomes, including acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, adoption, fidelity and sustainability, as appropriate.

•    Examine early indicators of organisational change, including improvements in processes, accountability arrangements and departmental practices.

•    Lead the development of two departmental implementation case studies, documenting implementation processes, challenges, adaptations and lessons learned.

•    Contribute to the development of an open-access Women in Academia Implementation Toolkit, including practical guidance, planning templates, accountability mechanisms and evaluation measures.

•    Contribute to academic publications, project reports, presentations and other research outputs.

•    Support stakeholder engagement and dissemination activities, including workshops, presentations and knowledge exchange with external institutions and relevant networks.

•    Work independently and collaboratively with the project team to ensure timely delivery of project milestones and outputs.

Skills and experience

Essential:

•    A PhD degree in a relevant discipline, such as psychology, social sciences, organisational studies, gender studies or public policy.

•    Demonstrable experience in implementation research using qualitative and/or mixed-methods research.

•    Familiarity with implementation science frameworks, such as CFIR, Implementation Mapping or implementation outcome frameworks.

•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience using relevant quantitative and qualitative analysis software (e.g., R, SPSS, NVivo).

•    Experience engaging and communicating effectively with stakeholders, including academic and professional services colleagues.

•    Ability to translate research evidence into practical recommendations, guidance or actionable outputs.

•    Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

•    Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities and meet deadlines.

•    An understanding of gender equity, equality, diversity and inclusion, or research culture issues within higher education.

•    Experience facilitating stakeholder workshops or co-production activities.

•    Knowledge of UK higher education structures, Athena Swan or institutional EDI and research culture initiatives.

Desirable:

•    Experience developing practical research outputs, such as implementation toolkits, guidance documents, evaluation frameworks or institutional case studies.

•    Experience evaluating interventions or organisational change initiatives in complex institutional settings.

•    Experience communicating research findings to policy, institutional leadership or non-academic audiences.

Location
Flexible (campus/remote working). Attendance at Warwick may be required for project meetings and departmental engagement activities.