Postdoctoral Research Associate in Agri-environmental Policy

We are seeking two Postdoctoral Research Associates to join the Farm Environments in Policy and Practice project, a participatory social science programme funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The project produces place-based, policy-relevant evidence on farmer and land-manager experiences of agri-environment scheme development in England, with a particular focus on Environmental Land Management (ELM) policy and practice.

Working with Jennifer Dodsworth, Professor Jamie Lorimer, Rachel Lasko, and policy partners at Defra, the successful candidates will contribute to mixed-methods research examining how agri-environment policy is experienced, implemented, and co-designed in practice. The roles involve extensive stakeholder engagement and fieldwork across England, including on-farm interviews, participatory workshops, co-design activities, and local learning events with farmers, land managers, and delivery agencies.

These are applied, policy-facing research posts suited to candidates interested in environmental governance, participatory methods, and the relationship between policy, research and practice. The successful candidates will contribute to rapid evidence syntheses, policy briefs, farmer-facing materials, and wider engagement outputs designed to inform ongoing policy development.

We are seeking candidates who hold a PhD/DPhil in a relevant discipline and who have experience in participatory social science research, mixed-methods analysis, and policy engagement. A strong understanding of contemporary agri-environment policy in England, including Environmental Land Management schemes, is essential. The ability to communicate effectively with both academic and non-academic audiences, manage field-based research activities, and work collaboratively within a small interdisciplinary team is also required.

The project supports flexible and hybrid working arrangements; however, these are fieldwork-intensive roles and regular travel to rural locations across England is essential.

This is an opportunity to contribute directly to the development of agri-environment policy in England through collaborative, applied research at the interface of academia, farming, and government.

This post is fixed term until 31 March 2027 and offered on a full-time basis (1 FTE / 37.5 hours). Please note that there are two positions to be filled.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ well-being, and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter with a supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. In your supporting statement, please explain how you meet each of the selection criteria found in the job description, and why you would like to do this role. See guidance at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/cv-and-supporting-statement.

Any technical questions related to this vacancy can be sent to: [email protected]

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon (UK time) on 18 June 2026. Only applications submitted by this time will be considered.

The University of Oxford and The School of Geography and the Environment are Silver Athena SWAN holders. Applications are particularly welcome and encouraged from women, black and minority ethnic candidates, and candidates with disabilities, all of whom are under-represented in posts in The School of Geography and the Environment. The School of Geography and the Environment are committed to equality and values diversity

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