Applications are invited for the above temporary part time (6.5 hours per week) post working in The Albert Gubay Business School (Bangor University).
The post-holder will be providing general research support to include assisting the research team in meeting their anticipated outcomes within the agreed timescales of the project in examining how single-use plastic littering can be reduced using a natural field experiment.
Candidates should be educated to degree level in a relevant subject area and have some experience of basic techniques related to the area of research (e.g. taking part in scientific literature searches, conducting a data search and developing a data collection protocol as related to focus groups and interviews, and potentially field experiments).
The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.
This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.
Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.
Closing date for applications: 07/08/2026
Committed To Equal Opportunities
Located in The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, The Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University brings together a range of academic disciplines including environmental management and sustainability; it is a dynamic and diverse research-driven community. As a testament to the schools’ endeavours, it is ranked number 1 in the UK for Business and Management (Unifresher, 2027) and has achieved 100% Overall Satisfaction for Management Studies in the National Student Survey (2025).
With Bangor University being based in stunning North Wales, the school is the obvious choice for applicants interested in the natural world and environmental sustainability, the backdrop of this research project. Alongside, you will also have the forests and mountains of Snowdonia, and the cliffs and sandy beaches of Anglesey on our doorstep.
Branded as an environmental disaster single-use plastic and the littering and disposal of single-use items is a major contributor to climate change and land pollution. While anti-littering campaigns are common, the continued presence of litter shows this approach’s lack of success. An individual’s behavioural intentions are intrinsically linked to drive for the greater good, but there is a difference between what people intend and what they do. This highlights the need for actions that go beyond simple awareness raising.
Objectives:
- Identify historic and current data from national litter-picking events run by various organisations (e.g., Trash Free Trails) to be compared to print messaging, portrayal and branding cues.
- Map of single-use plastic bottles through citizen-science and community stakeholders (e.g., schools, community groups and organisations such as Trash Free Trails and North Wales Wildlife Trust).
- Develop a social media campaign to focus on single-use bottles.
- Co-create of alternative messaging with the aim of altering behavioural support of environmental sustainability.
- Examine how single-use plastic littering can be reduced using a natural field experiment.
The post-holder will be providing general research support to include assisting the research team in meeting their anticipated outcomes within the agreed timescales of the project.
- Identify historic and current data from national litter-picking events run by various organisations (e.g. Trash Free Trails) to be compared to print messaging, portrayal and branding cues.
- Map of single-use plastic bottles through citizen-science and community stakeholders (e.g., schools, community groups and organisations such as Trash Free Trails and North Wales Wildlife Trust).
- Develop a social media campaign to focus on single-use bottles.
- Co-create of alternative messaging with the aim of altering behavioural support of environmental sustainability.
- Examine how single-use plastic littering can be reduced using a natural field experiment.
- Undertake data analysis (potential techniques identified content analysis and cluster analysis.
- Work as part of a team in delivering research outcomes, including contributing towards the creation of reports and/or publication, support the research team in the presentation of outcomes to internal/external stakeholders to disseminate information as part of knowledge transfer.
- Support in the administration of the research project, including arranging research related meetings, circulating information, collecting and completing research related timesheets.
- Other related project duties as required, within the timeframe.
- The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
- The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
- The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.
Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Undergraduate degree in related subject area.
Desirable
- Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject area.
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrate interest in specific areas related to the post.
- Have some experience of basic techniques related to the area of research (e.g., taking part in scientific literature searches, conducting a data search and developing a data collection protocol as related to focus groups and interviews, and potentially field experiments).
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate good verbal and written skills.
- Demonstrate good IT skills, including MS Office, Excel and PowerPoint. Be familiar with Teams, and potentially transcription software e.g., Trint Online Transcription and Editing Platform.
- Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.
- Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team.
Other
Desirable
- The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.
The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.
We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver Award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.
We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post, you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will be able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. If you are successful in your application, we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.
Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme) from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme
Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.
