Research Fellow – Social Equity (12‑month Fixed‑Term)

About the role

The University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Social Equity Institute is seeking a Research Fellow to lead applied research that advances social equity, inclusive work and community wellbeing. This 12‑month fixed‑term position offers the opportunity to work with government, philanthropy and community partners on evidence‑based projects.

Key responsibilities

• Design, manage and deliver applied research and evaluations of social enterprises, inclusive work initiatives and related government programmes.
• Integrate and analyse complex datasets to deepen understanding of Australia’s for‑purpose sector and its social outcomes.
• Produce high‑quality academic and applied publications, reports and other outputs.
• Engage proactively with partner organisations, supporting co‑productive research design and community‑informed methodologies.
• Oversee project workflows, timelines and reporting to meet contractual and grant requirements.

Required profile

• Completed PhD in sociology, management, policy studies, evaluation science or a related analytical discipline.
• Strong knowledge of evaluation debates, methods and social‑enterprise research contexts.
• Hands‑on experience conducting applied social research or evaluation projects with external or community partners.
• Understanding of participatory and co‑productive research approaches.
• Excellent written communication for academic, policy and practitioner audiences.
• Ability to build productive relationships across small teams and organisational boundaries.

Required skills

What we offer

• Competitive salary Level B $124,656‑$148,023 per annum plus 17% superannuation.
• Comprehensive benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services and professional development opportunities.
• Supportive, interdisciplinary research community focused on social impact.