Rights Lab Casual Research AssistantUK Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The Rights Lab is recruiting a team of Research Assistants to support the delivery of a National Baseline Assessment of UK Implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The assessment is being delivered for the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Start Date:1 April 2025
End Date: 24 June 2025
Working Hours:To be arranged with the successful students around your studies
Pay Rate: 16.65 per hour plus holiday pay
Location: Highfield House University Park
Dress Code: Smart casual

Research Assistants will support at least one of the following research activities:

1 Conducting a systematic evidence review of academic and grey literature on UK Implementation of the UNGPs.

2 Coding and analysing bilateral investment treaties for references to human rights labour rights and sustainable development.

3 Collecting and analysing media reports of adverse human rights impacts associated with UK businesses.

4 Collecting and analysing law and policy frameworks relevant to the UKs implementation of the UNGPs.

5 Analysing modern slavery statements produced by UK businesses.

6 Collating and analysing secondary data related to UK implementation of the UNGPs and adverse human rights impacts associated with UK businesses.

7 Coding and analysing key informant interviews and focus groups conducted with stakeholders from government private sector civil society and affected populations.

Duties and responsibilities for all Research Assistants recruited to the team:

• To meet regularly with supervisors to plan and undertake research
• To conduct research activities in line with prescribed research protocols
• To draft initial writeups of research analysis and synthesis

Duties and responsibilities for Research Assistants associated with particular research activities:

• To review code and summarise academic and grey literature (activity 1
• To code and analyse bilateral investment treaties using NVivo and Microsoft Excel (activity 2
• To collect and analyse media reports using Nvivo and Microsoft Excel (activity 3
• To collect and analyse law and policy frameworks (activity 4
• To conduct quantitative analysis of modern slavery statements (activity 5
• To collate and analyse secondary data related to UK government and private sector implementation of UNGPs and adverse human rights impacts associated with UK businesses (activity 6
• To code and analyse key informant interviews and focus group transcripts using NVivo (activity 7

Skills and experience required for this role:

• Current PhD or postgraduate students demonstrating satisfactory academic progress as defined by the candidates academic supervisor (if applicable)
• Excellent time management and ability to work to a deadline
• Professional manner in all communications
• Strong eye for detail

What can students expect to gain from this role

• Team working skills
• Time management skills
• Hands on research experience
• Knowledge and expertise in relevant aspects of the research area
• Acknowledgement in publicfacing research publications
• Qualitative research analysis skills (activity dependent)
• Quantitative research analysis skills (activity dependent)
• Experience with NVivo qualitative analysis software (activity dependent)
• Experience with Microsoft Excel (activity dependent)

Application Instructions:
Application Closing Date:24 March 2025

Instructions to candidates on cover letters

Please include a cover letter in your application that sets out:

1 Your motivation for applying for the role and interest in the subject matter of business and human rights.

2 Which of the above numbered activities you wish to be considered for (you may specify interest in any number of these activities from 17.

3 Your relevant skills and experience in line with the essential and applicable desirable criteria specified for these roles with specific examples of when you have demonstrated the relevant skill/experience.

Cover letters should be no more than 2 pages in length.

Our University is a supportive inclusive caring and positive community. We warmly welcome those of different cultures ethnicities and beliefs indeed this very diversity is vital to our success it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. We welcome applications from UK Europe and from across the globe.

Further information:

The University of Nottingham will ask you whether you have any unspent criminal convictions as part of our preassignment checks. If the position you are applying for is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 you will be asked to confirm both spent and unspent convictions at the point of offer. Examples of such posts include clinical medical and allied health roles roles involving childcare services. A DBS check may also be required.

The University will only use information relating to criminal convictions where the law allows us to do so in line with our Data Protection Policy. Personal data relating to criminal convictions will be retained confidentially and securely and access to that data will be strictly controlled. More information relating to the manner in which we process your personal data is located within our privacy notice for staff job applicants and others working at the University. Information about your rights relating to the use of your personal data can be found within our website privacy notice.

What Next:To apply for this vacancy please click Apply Now to complete your details.

Please contactfor further information. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.