Job Purpose

The postholder will lead a data collection team undertaking a pupil survey in Scottish secondary schools as part of the Equally Safe at School Trial. This is a national evaluation of a whole-school approach to tackling sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The evaluation is led by a research team in the School of Health and Wellbeing.

The role involves travel to secondary schools across Scotland to administer an online survey to all students in years 2,4, and 6. Tasks include preparing fieldwork materials, leading a team of data collection assistants, supporting teachers with survey logistics, explaining the purpose of the survey and answering student queries, monitoring classrooms to ensure ‘exam conditions’ for completion, and fieldwork administration. Administration in schools can be complex and logistically difficult and initiative and good judgement is required. The survey questions are also sensitive. Training will be provided.

Data collection for the Equally Safe at School project will take place in school term-time between October 2025 and end of December 2026, with most fieldwork taking place between October 25 and end of March 2026, and a few further schools between October and December 2026. You must be available and willing to work at least 3 days per week during school-term time between October 2025 and March 2026 and be prepared to travel. A clean driving licence is preferred.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Data Collection:  

Work independently or as part of a team, administering web-based questionnaires to students, including supporting students who may encounter IT issues or reading issues. Responsible for ensuring collection, recording, storage and download is completed in accordance with current data protection laws, internal data management policies and study protocols. Ensure that information (e.g. fieldwork reports) are accurately reported in project database and kept up to date.

2. Communication:

The post holder will be required to communicate effectively and professionally with teachers and students in school. They will be required to regularly communicate with the Trial Manager (telephone, email, in person) about progress in relation to their duties, and to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement to the study fieldwork operations.

Act as a point of contact with survey participants: provide clear advice on the project processes to ensure that all participants (students and teachers) understand what is required of them. Support teachers in managing the logistics of administration and ensure that they allow students privacy to complete questionnaires.

3. Health & Safety:

Evaluate situations during fieldwork: using initiative, judgement, and experience to assess any risks to yourself, colleagues or participants and follow provided protocols in handling these.

During data collection the post holder should assess participants ability to complete the survey, including signs of discomfort, and adapt as necessary (e.g. taking breaks, stopping data collection).

Ensure own personal and team safety and ensure that any incidents are recorded in line with project protocols.

Adhere to the University health and safety risk assessment training and ensure full use of the Lone Worker Safety system where appropriate.

4. Project Planning:

Responsible for determining project-related priorities, planning and scheduling of delegated activities from the ESAS Trial Manager to ensure delivery of the project within required standards and timeframe.

Ensure that all study protocols and research governance guidelines are always adhered to, including safeguarding and adverse event protocols.

5.Supervision:

Supervise and monitor members of data collection team to ensure protocols are followed and any concerns corrected.

Ensure quality standards maintained by identifying and mitigating potential protocol or ethical risks when collecting data.

Use experience, initiative, and judgement to seek resolution to detected issues, and when required escalate to supervisors.

6. Administration:

Complete project data collection and monitoring reports while supporting existing standard processes and maximising project continuity.

Execute range of administrative tasks including risk assessments, online expense forms and timesheets to support existing processes and audit compliance.

7. Development:

Attend regular briefings, training and feedback sessions to ensure up-to-date knowledge relevant to the project and any changes to research processes and procedures.

When required, take the lead in training peers to ensure operational consistency across project sites.

8. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Trial Manager or Trial Administrator.

Qualifications

Essential:

A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 7 (Advanced Higher/Scottish Vocational Qualification level 3, Higher National Certificate); and experience of personal development in a similar type of role.

OR

A2. Equivalent qualification in psychology, social sciences or public health and ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role.

Knowledge& Skills

Essential:

C1 Interest in social science or public health research and knowledge of good research practice and methodology and the ethical issues surrounding research including current Data Protection Regulations and Research Governance, and how these should be applied.

C2 Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to engage with others and explain social research and/or complex concepts in easily understandable manner.

C3 Good time management skills, experience of proactive planning, organising and prioritising own and delegating team workloads, and working under pressure to meet deadlines.

C4 Well-developed analytical and problem-solving capability, using initiative and judgement to resolve problems independently with accuracy and attention to detail.

C5 Detailed knowledge of relevant systems, equipment (Mobile, Tablet, Laptop), processes and procedures including software packages (Zoom, Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Microsoft Office tools etc) to undertake data collection effectively.

C6 Flexible approach to work including hours worked, start and finish times, project locations and working and travelling independently or with colleagues to a wide variety of locations safely.

C7Ability to follow project and standard protocols and Standard operating Procedures accurately.

Experience

Essential

E1 Experience of community-based data collection and assisting participants to complete often complex questionnaires (on a mobile/tablet device), with accuracy and attention to detail.

E2 Experience of working with children and adults in a research or similar setting and able to make sound decisions on when to respond directly and when to escalate.

E3 Experience of leading and supervising staff, ensuring working to required research and health and safety protocols, including through delegation of tasks to others.

E4 Experience of working independently and flexibly within a multidisciplinary team on a range of complex concurrent tasks to a high standard and with a high degree of accuracy.

Desirable:

F1 Full, clean UK driving licence and regular access to a car.

F2 Familiar with Qualtrics software language.

F3 Experience of working in a school.

Additional Information:

• Candidates must have Disclosure Scotland ‘Protecting Vulnerable Groups’ PVG certificate in place prior to commencing data collection.

• Study sites are outside Glasgow, and the candidate must have the ability to travel to schools, which may not be easily accessible by public transport, within the time and funding framework of the study.

• Due to travel to schools, some long days will frequently be required, including occasional overnight stays. It is essential that the candidate can work flexibly (including hours worked, project locations and team/lone working) to accommodate this.

Terms and Conditions:

Salary will be Grade 5, £27,319 - £31,236 per annum, pro-rated to the number of hours assigned to, and worked by, you.

4 positions available. 

These posts are part time (41.6 hours over the duration of the contract) and open ended with funding available up until 18 December 2026.

We aim for a start date as 1st October 2025.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)

The University of Glasgow is committed to safeguarding children and protected adults by ensuring that individuals in regulated roles are appropriately vetted and monitored.

The University of Glasgow’s PVG policy aligns with the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 and reflects the legal requirements effective from 1 April 2025, including the mandatory PVG Scheme membership for regulated roles.

The post for which you are applying is considered to be a regulated role under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. Under the Act, individuals working in a regulated role must be a PVG Scheme member before employment. If you are successful in your application, the offer of employment will be conditional subject to a satisfactory PVG Scheme record check. We will be in touch regarding requirements related to this.

Further information is available at :  https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme

Closing date: 23:45 on Monday 1st September 2025