Golf Lab Research Assistant Faculty of Health _ Wellbeing £17111

							APPLICANT INFORMATION




Golf Lab Research Assistant

Faculty of Health & Wellbeing

 £17,111 to £20,327 per annum,
   dependent on experience

  Fixed term until 31 July 2011

 Vacancy reference HWB 531/10

 Closing date 20 December 2010
           at 12 noon
The University

Sheffield Hallam University is one of the UK's most progressive and innovative universities.

We pride ourselves on making a difference - to our students, our staff and to the businesses we
work with. Our research and business ideas, alongside our sought after graduates, contribute to
the economic and social development of both our region and to the UK as a whole.

Our teaching is first-rate and is supported by our world-class applied research. Our students are a
diverse group and benefit from a tailored approach that helps them to get the most from their
studies. We offer top quality teaching and learning facilities and the ability to learn flexibly in a way
that best suits their needs. For example, we are one of the UK's leading universities in e-learning
and offer a range of distance learning and part time courses as well as the more traditional full time
courses.

Our industry partners choose Sheffield Hallam because of our flexible, business led approach and
our high quality research, facilities and students. Our partners include Sony, BP, NHS, Network
Rail, Cisco, SAP and Microsoft.

Our facilities are state-of-the-art and we have invested heavily in new technology to ensure that our
technological capability matches the cutting-edge approach of our teaching. We are recognised as
a Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning, e-learning and employability.

The University's Corporate Plan for 2008-2013 outlines our priorities and is available to download
http://www.shu.ac.uk/about/foi/priorities.html


Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER)

The Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER) at Sheffield Hallam University is an
internationally renowned centre of excellence for research and consultancy, with over 110 years of
cumulative experience. It focuses on developing fundamental understanding of the complex
sporting environment and the creation of new innovative technologies. The centre is led by
Professor Steve Haake, founding chair of the International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA),
founding editor of the journal Sports Engineering and author of nine books and over 130
publications.

CSER currently comprises 13 researchers, 2 admin staff, 8 PhD students and 8 MSc students. It
was part of the very successful Sports Studies submission to the 2008 Research Assessment
Exercise (UoA 46) placing it 4th in the country in terms of research power. CSER was awarded a
number of noteworthy grants this year from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering and is part of Innovation Futures (a large multi-
disciplinary project funded by HEFCE, ERFDF and Yorkshire Forward). The centre was awarded
five national and international prizes in 2008-9 amounting to £26,000, bringing the total number of
prizes won by staff so far to eleven.

CSER undertakes research and consultancy for a diverse range of sports companies and sport
organisations including: the International Tennis Federation, Adidas, Prince, Puma and UK Sport.
In the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, the centre has been identified as a UK Sport
Innovation Partner, a role that will see it providing technological support across sports such as
swimming, diving, boxing, gymnastics (and skeleton bobsled and snowboarding for Vancouver
2010).

CSER also delivers large and complex collaborative projects with agencies such as the former
Department of Trade and Industry, the European Regional Development Fund and the European
Social Fund. Public engagement is embedded into the culture of the centre and numerous high
profile projects have been delivered with organisations like the British Council, the Institute of
Physics and the Royal Academy of Engineering.


Location

Collegiate Campus

This post is based at our Collegiate Crescent Campus which is a leafy oasis set in Victorian
landscaped gardens off Ecclesall Road, which is bustling with shops, bars and cafés.


Discussion and Selection Event

For informal enquiries regarding this post please contact: Nick Hamilton, 0114 225 2566

Proposed Interview Date: To be confirmed


For informal enquiries regarding this post please contact Nick Hamilton, Senior Research Fellow
on Tel: 0114 225 2566, E-mail: N.Hamilton@shu.ac.uk

Proposed Interview Date: Week commencing 10 January 2011

The Selection Event for this post will comprise of an Interview


Further Details About This Post

CSER has developed a unique mobile golf swing analysis lab in conjunction with the project
sponsor Golphysics. The lab allows in depth analysis of the golf swing to be taken out of the
laboratory and in to the field. The candidate will be expected to aid in the development and
commercial exploitation of the lab in conjunction with the rest of the team of development
engineers and coaches.

The lab records full body motion during the swing, ground reaction forces and the ball and club
launch conditions. The data is processed and fed back to the golfers using a secure web interface
where they can interrogate their swing with the online tools provided. This online portal for
feedback is one of the strengths of the system, the interactive nature of which allows golfer/coach
driven investigation and swing improvements.

The size and strength of the UK and worldwide golf markets make the exploitation of this system
very attractive. In the UK and Ireland alone there are approximately 1.7 million core golfers who
play at least once a month, worldwide this figure is more like 30 million. A significant proportion of
these golfers engage a coaching professional to improve their swing paying between tens and
hundreds of pounds for a session. It is envisioned that the mobile lab will compliment this teaching
allowing coaches to remove the subjectivity from their coaching using the tools within the online
feedback report.

Once fully trained the candidate will be responsible for the day to day running of the lab over the
period of the project. This will involve developing collaborations and working relationships with
suitable golf clubs and coaches nationwide and touring around with the lab, testing participants
Job Description

Job Title: Golf Lab Research Assistant

Faculty/Dept: HWB/Centre for Sports Engineering Research

Grade: 4

Reports to: Prof Steve Haake

Direct Reports: N/A

Role Purpose:

CSER has developed a unique mobile golf swing analysis lab in conjunction with the project
sponsor Golphysics. The lab allows in depth analysis of the golf swing to be taken out of the
laboratory and in to the field. You will aid in the development and commercial exploitation of the lab
in conjunction with the rest of the team of development engineers and coaches.

You will be responsible for the day to day running of the lab over the period of the project. This will
involve developing collaborations and working relationships with suitable golf clubs and coaches
nationwide and touring around with the lab, testing participants


Responsibilities:

      Day to Day Running of the Golf lab performing swing analysis
      Liaising with Golf clubs and coaches nationwide to develop relationships
      Development and management of the lab systems
      Analysis of the lab operation and feedback to development team
      Analysis of the lab potential and feedback for commercial operation
 Person Specification


Job Title                                               Golf Lab Research Assistant

Faculty/Dept                                                  Health & Wellbeing

Completed by                                                     Nick Hamilton

Vacancy Reference Number                                          HWB 531/10

(* Essential or Desirable)                             Details                    E*   D*   Evidence**

Attainment                            A degree or equivalent in a relevant        E         AF & Q/C
                                      subject (sports science, biomechanics,
Evidenced achievements e.g.           mechanical engineering )
relevant qualifications (or
equivalents), training,
membership of professional
bodies
Experience                            Understanding of research methods           E         AF/I
                                      and techniques
Type of experience and specific
knowledge required for this job       High standard of golf ability               E

                                      Experience of using Microsoft Office        E
                                      including Excel
Competencies                          Good planning and organisation skills       E         AF/I
                                      with the ability to prioritise and manage
Skills and abilities required for     own workload against conflicting
effective performance e.g.            demands and deadlines
numeracy, attention to detail, oral
and written communication,            Excellent oral communication skills,        E
planning and organising,              with the ability to communicate well at
leadership skills, ability to cope    individual and group levels in formal
with conflicting                      and informal circumstances
demands/deadlines
                                      Excellent written communication skills      E
                                      including the ability to write reports

                                      Team player, with the ability to work       E
                                      effectively with a range of people, both
                                      internal and external to Sheffield
                                      Hallam University

                                      Good IT skills including word
                                      processing and use of                       E
                                      databases or spreadsheets.
Other relevant information           Willingness to work flexible hours (the      E         AF/I
                                     post will require travel on a monthly
e.g. shift work or weekend           basis, occasionally international, and at
working, travel in UK or abroad,     short notice to liaise with participants).
driving
(state approximate frequency i.e.
travel abroad twice a year)



 Desirable criteria should be kept to a maximum of 4 key points

 **Evidence/Method of Assessment

 Q/C = Qualifications/Certificates     AF = Application form           I = Interview

 P = Presentation                      PT = Psychometric Testing       IT = IT Test

 OT = Occupational Test

 Where an applicant has declared a disability and their application meets all of the essential
 criteria they will be guaranteed an interview.

 How to apply

 Complete the Sheffield Hallam University application form and equal opportunities form and email
 to recruitment@shu.ac.uk

 If posting return to:         Human Resources Directorate
                               Sheffield Hallam University
                               City Campus
                               Sheffield S1 1WB

 If delivering in person:      Human Resources Directorate
                               Sheffield Hallam University
                               1-11 Arundel Gate
                               Sheffield S1 2PN

 Call us on 0114 225 3950 if you have any questions about completing the form or the recruitment
 process.

 You will be informed as soon as possible after the closing date if you have been short listed.

 If you have not received notification from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume
 you have not been successful on this occasion.

 Non-EU Nationals

 The University has a legal responsibility to ensure that all employees are entitled to live and work
 in the UK. For those posts that require highly specialist skills and qualifications we may be able to
 provide a Certificate of Sponsorship for a suitably qualified applicant to help in obtaining entry
 clearance in to the UK or leave to remain in the UK from the UK Border Agency.

 Further guidance on the UK Border Agency Points Based System can be found at
 www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. You can also email the University's Human Resources
 Directorate at recruitment@shu.ac.uk
Equality and diversity drive our success

Equality and diversity are essential to our academic and business strengths. We believe that
excellence comes through recognising the value of each individual.

We aim to create an environment that respects the value of each individual and the diversity of
staff and students in the University's community. This will enable them to contribute fully, and to
derive the maximum benefit and enjoyment from their involvement in University life.

Positive about disability

We use the symbol on the right, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment
to good practice in employing people with a disability. It also enables people with a disability to
know which employers will be positive about their abilities.

All applicants who meet the minimum criteria (based on the person specification) for a job vacancy
and have declared their disability are guaranteed an interview and considered on their abilities.




Trade unions

We are committed to working in partnership with staff representatives. You are welcome to join a
trade union, professional association or staff organisation and participate in its activities. The
University recognises the following unions for the purpose of collective bargaining UNISON, GMB,
T&GWU, UNITE, UCU.

Benefits

The employment package includes generous holiday entitlements - Annual leave entitlement starts
from 25 days and rises depending on staff group, grade and length of service.

In addition, extra statutory days are provided for extended University closure around some UK
public/holidays.

We understand the need for a good work/life balance. We therefore support and operate a number
of flexible working schemes including job-share and flexible working hours where applicable.

The University operates an incremental grade structure. This means that you will be eligible to
receive an annual increment (subject to satisfactory performance) until your salary reaches the
maximum salary for your grade.

If appointed you can join the: Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Universities
Superannuation Scheme (USS) (if a current member)

Living and working in Sheffield

Sheffield is the greenest city in England. We have over 200 parks and woodlands and a third of the
city is in the Peak District National Park. We have excellent rail links to all major cities and the city
centre is in walking distance of both our campuses.

For more information, visit our website http://www.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/index.html
Other important information

All appointments are made subject to confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK and satisfactory
declaration of health from the occupational health consultant to make sure you are medically able
to carry out the type of work involved in the post. Appointments are also subject to receipt of
references that are satisfactory to the University and any other checks that may be required for the
role.

Appointments are normally subject to a six month probationary period (excluding academic and
research staff).

We comply fully with requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. This requires us to tell you we
will:

      hold details of your name, address and the post applied for on computer to assist the
       recruitment process
      hold the information on your equal opportunities monitoring form, to monitor effectiveness
       of our policies
      retain records for unsuccessful applicants for one year, after which time the records are
       destroyed

For overseas applicants we normally reimburse travel expenses from the port of entry into the UK
only.