Community Engagement Officer

Community Engagement Officer

Job Number

BSL version available: BSL job advert

Vimeo - Job Advert - Community Engagement Officer

We are looking for a 0.5 FTE Community Engagement Officer, who will be linked with Bangor University and UWE Bristol, to fill a 1 year post.

As a guide, the Mental Health Hub is associated with Swansea University, and the Law and Human Rights Hub with UWE Bristol. We are open to suggestions as to which universities or academic members of the team you can be associated with and are keen to match your interests accordingly. You will work with them on a regular basis.

We are particularly keen to recruit a deaf British Sign Language (BSL) signer, especially those who live in Wales, to the post and consider the post to be career- and experience-enhancing for those who wish to develop their community engagement, project management, research, and team working skills.

Educated to degree level or equivalent, the post-holder will lead on community engagement and help facilitate project events, workshops and related activities that will contribute to and support the project’s research and data gathering activities.

The ability to use BSL (minimum Level 3 or a native signer), strong communication, management and organisational skills, an awareness of and/or experience with the deaf community in Wales, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a deaf/hearing team are essential.
The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

You will be home-based, but there will be a need to travel on occasion, and your travel expenses will be covered. There may also be face-to-face/online contact with deaf individuals, groups and other stakeholders, as well as members of the project team, as the project develops and expands its reach and presence across all of Wales.

Applications will only be accepted via our online recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk.

Enquiries and support in BSL is available upon request by emailing c.shank@bangor.ac.uk. In cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by emailing hrassistants@bangor.ac.uk.

Closing date for applications: 15 March, 2026.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Dr Christopher Shank, Director of Research, Impact & Engagement, c.shank@bangor.ac.uk, tel 01248 38 3590.

Committed To Equal Opportunities.

Overview

It is expected that the post will focus on:

• Building relationships with deaf individuals, groups and organisations across Wales and supporting community-led engagement activities.
• Facilitating interviews and focus groups, and holding presentations and workshops across Wales, which will be an opportunity to engage with local deaf people to ask them to contribute their views.
• Raising awareness of the project’s newly created platforms and resources.
• Supporting and gathering data and content for the Hubs.
• Supporting the evaluations of the work in each Hub.
• Attending project team meetings to discuss and shape the project.
• Developing vlogs, blogs, social media content and team reports about the project.

The Project

The Deaf Health Wales project is a four-year, £1.04 million pound project which brings together an interdisciplinary team consisting of hearing and BSL using colleagues from Bangor, Swansea, the University of the West of England, the University of Graz in Austria, the British Deaf Association, Public Health Wales Cardiff, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Centre of Sign Sight Sound in Colwyn Bay and Action Deafness Cymru.

The team is comprised of experts and specialists in language and communication, deaf mental health, deaf health and well-being, interpreting services, the law, and environmental access and well-being. Working together with members of the deaf community, they will co-design, co-construct, implement, and evaluate community-led solutions for their communities in Wales.

This project aims to improve health and healthcare services at every stage through work with deaf people, the NHS, health boards and other service providers. In addition, we will also be developing an online dictionary and resources to help interpreters, service providers and those interested in signed languages and signed language research. We are also developing video guide apps to improve access to Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons).

Purpose of the Job

This one-year post is part of an established team working in the area of Welsh deaf health and wellbeing. The project involves working with an interdisciplinary research team on a four-year AHRC grant on issues affecting the health and wellbeing of the Welsh deaf community and developing interventions and proposals to address identified inequalities and issues.

The post-holder will lead on community engagement and help facilitate project events, workshops and related activities that will contribute to and support the project’s research and data gathering activities.

They will also be responsible, among other things, for helping to implement and coordinate a series of meetings, focus groups, and online studies, consulting with external and internal partners, along with some elements of project management.

The postholder will also help with the project’s communication and social media consultant and project manager.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Build relationships with deaf individuals, groups and organisations across Wales and support community-led engagement activities.
• Facilitate interviews, focus groups, workshops and events (online and in person) to gather views, experiences and data for the Hubs.
• Support recruitment of participants and ensure all engagement follows ethical, accessible and safe practice.
• Assist with the organisation and delivery of project activities, including scheduling, logistics, communication, and liaison with partners.
• Contribute to data gathering, record-keeping and basic analysis.
• Produce accessible content such as vlogs, blogs, social media posts and short updates to promote project work and findings.
• Work collaboratively with the wider project team, attending meetings and contributing to planning and evaluation discussions.
• Be self-motivated, apply and use their initiative, aiming to determine suitable ways to tackle challenges and seeking guidance when needed.
• Demonstrate and evidence own professional development, identifying development needs with reference to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework, particularly with regard to probation, PDR and participation in training events.
• Maintain and enhance links with the professional institutions and other related bodies.
• Observe best-practice protocols in maintenance and retention of research records as indicated by HEI and Research Councils records management guidance. This includes ensuring project log-book records are deposited with the University/Principal Investigator on completion of the work.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• First or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline to one or more of the project’s research hubs; OR
• work /life experience to a similar level e.g. reports, engagement, and administration (evidence on CV).

Desirable

• Master’s degree or equivalent (in a subject related to one or more of the project’s research hubs)
• Experience of delivering deaf awareness/equality training

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of working with deaf communities.
• Actively networks with deaf communities in Wales.

Desirable

• Proven track record in organising and managing events within the deaf community.
• A demonstrable ability to conduct research in line with the objectives of the project.
• Lived experience of culturally deaf people.
• Previous experience in the use and management of online secure software for data collection.
• Previous experience of data handling, management, curation and analysis.
• Up to date training in data security and data management.
• Previous experience of filming and video editing of BSL material.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Fluent in BSL (minimum Level 3 ORa native signer).
• The ability to communicate with a variety of deaf people in Wales.
• Knowledge of challenges of rural/urban communities across Wales.
• An understanding of multicultural and multilingual working environments.
• Ability to travel independently around Wales.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work to deadlines.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team.
• IT literacy.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Good written English skills.

Desirable

• BSL Level 6.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role
• Evidence of conducting research surveys, interviews, and being involved in data analysis.
• Evidence of planning skills to contribute to the research project.
• Demonstrate proven project management skills.
• Demonstrate good computer skills, including MS Office, PowerPoint, Excel.
• Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
• Experience with social media platforms (posting, content management).

Other

Essential

• This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

Desirable

• A commitment to continuous professional development.
• UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

General

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 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.  

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.

Disclosure & Barring Service

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.
As Bangor University meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions. DBS checks will be updated every 3 years.

Candidates should note that the University uses an external Umbrella body to process DBS checks. As such you should be aware that, if successful in your application, your name and e-mail contact details will be shared with the Umbrella body in order that they may contact you to start the application process.