Future Skills Research Fellow - Qualitative

Kingston University London is a national leader in Future Skills education, embedding the teaching and assessment of skills such as problem-solving, digital competency and collaboration into every undergraduate degree. This work has been made possible by funding from The Mohn Westlake Foundation (MWF) and is now entering a new phase of evidence-building and impact evaluation.

To support this, we are recruiting a full-time Research Fellow, funded by MWF, to form the core delivery team for the next phase of Future Skills Research. As Research Fellow you will bring strong qualitative and applied pedagogic research skills to the project. You will be expected to:

- Design and lead qualitative and mixed methods research, feeding directly into continuous Future Skills curriculum improvement across all undergraduate courses

- Conduct process evaluation of Future Skills implementation, examining contextual enablers and barriers to success

- Contribute qualitative insight to quantitative longitudinal research, capturing evidence on skills use, career advancement and the continuing relevance of Future Skills.

- Lead co-creation research with industry/employer partners and researchers to generate insight on emerging trends, employer expectations and demand for human-centric skills

- Support and help oversee co-produced student research projects funded through the Student Research Fund

- Prepare and disseminate joint-authored qualitative and applied research findings in high-quality peer-reviewed journals, conferences, policy briefs and white papers

- Support the preparation of external research funding and Knowledge Exchange bids.

- Provide guidance on qualitative data collection, analysis and interpretation

- Contribute to quarterly reporting to the Future Skills Research Steering Group and annual reporting to The Mohn Westlake Foundation

Please note that this is one of two posts, advertised separately. The two posts are deliberately complementary: one bringing strong qualitative and pedagogic research expertise, and one bringing strong quantitative and psychometric expertise. Together they will deliver the analytical depth, methodological breadth and research capacity needed across the multi-year programme, while also building early-career researcher capacity and a pipeline towards external research income. This post reports directly to the KERI Director for Behaviour, Business and Policy (PI) who will allocate workload flexibly across work packages in collaboration with nominated Academic Leads.

The Person

Person specification – Essential

- A PhD in education, social sciences or a related discipline, or equivalent research experience

- Outstanding expertise in qualitative and applied research design, including process/implementation evaluation and pedagogic research

- Experience conducting and analysing qualitative research (e.g. interviews, focus groups, thematic or framework analysis) within mixed methods designs

- Experience disseminating research findings through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations

- Experience contributing to research proposals and securing research funding, in accordance with quality standards

- Experience of co-production or stakeholder engagement with students, staff and/or employers

- Strong communication skills and the ability to guide colleagues on qualitative data collection, analysis and interpretation

- Commitment to research integrity, inclusivity, and collaborative working across university departments and external partners

Person specification – Desirable

- Experience researching student outcomes, graduate employability, skills development or education evaluation

- Experience of employer/industry co-creation, knowledge exchange, or related research activity

Knowledge of the UK higher education and employability policy agenda

The Faculty

This post sits within the Behaviour, Business and Policy (BBP) KERI, one of Kingston University's four Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes, which brings together academia, industry and policymakers to generate evidence-based solutions to societal challenges at the intersection of human behaviour, business and policy.

Both Research Fellow posts are essential to delivering Kingston University's Future Skills Research programme and offer a rare opportunity to help shape a flagship research programme from the ground up, working closely with researchers from across the University's four Kingston Engagement and Research Institutes (KERIs).

Further information

This is a full-time, fixed-term positions for four years, with a starting salary of £45,025 per annum.

Please there is a possibility of extension to a fifth year depending on funding. Posts will be based at Kingston University, London Penrhyn Road campus

Interviews are expected to be held on Monday, 21 September 2026.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Debra Gray, KERI Director BPP.

Bring your true self, expertise, and passion to Kingston where we are continuing to strive to build a university where authentic inclusion and belonging is at its heart. Every one of our staff and students’ identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences makes us who we are - so harness and embrace yours by applying today. We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and those with disabilities.

We are a place-based organisation, proud of our location in Kingston and the civic role we play in our community. Our campuses inspire collaborative, innovative and creative communities. Being present on campus is important to us because it helps us to create a sense of belonging for both our staff and students. Therefore, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required, this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme. 

To apply click on ‘Apply Now’. If, for accessibility reasons, you need to apply in an alternative format, please email jobs@kingston.ac.uk or call the HR Shared Services team on 020 8417 3118.