Head of Research and Researcher Development
Head of Research and Researcher Development
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Job Description
Head of Research and Researcher Development
Directorate:Research Engagement Directorate
Contract Type:Open-ended.
Grade and Salary:Grade 9 (57422 - 68529) plus 33 days of annual leave and 9 buildings closed days. A pension option with HWU contributing 14.5% of annual salary
FTE and working pattern:1.0 FTE. Heriot-Watt University operates a Global Connected Hybrid WorkingPolicythat enables hybrid working
Annual Leave:33 days plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday).Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided.
Purpose of Role
The purpose of the Head of Research and Researcher Development role is to lead and manage the Research and Researcher Development team within the Research Engagement Directorate. This role is crucial for advancing the universitys research strategy and supporting the development of researchers. The role forms an important part of the Research Engagement Directorates senior leadership team and will be responsible for leading change and embedding digital transformation through the Directorates service offering.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Service Delivery
- Service definition and evolution: Documenting and maintaining the services provided especially those delivered in partnership with other professional services this is particularly relevant to the introduction of the new Research Futures Hub (incorporating a Graduate School).
- High Standards: Setting and maintaining high service standards for both internal and external customers. This involves anticipating changes in needs and ensuring service quality.
- Digital transformation: Identifying and implementing opportunities to use digital tools and data insights to deliver service efficiencies.
2. Partnership working
- Complex Communication: The role requires handling a variety of complex written and verbal communications tailored to different audiences both within and outside the university.
- Stakeholder Engagement: The role involves regular communication with senior stakeholders direct reports academic colleagues finance teams external funders and high-level external stakeholders. The post holder must be adept at pitching information appropriately for each audience.
- Relationship Building: Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with internal teams senior academics researchers and external partners is crucial to support the achievement of the universitys strategic goals in relation to research.
- Networking: The role includes representing the university in various networks and committees to help influence policy and funding decisions beneficial to the university.
3. Managing Resources
- Strategic Planning: Leading the development and implementation of long-term and annual operating plans for the team. This includes setting objectives aligned with the universitys research and enterprise strategy.
- Resource Allocation: Planning and delegating work to team members organizing events and overseeing strategic projects. The role-holder will also manage the operational running of the new Research Futures Hub.
- Team Development: Ensuring the team is well-supported trained and developed to meet the evolving needs of the university. This includes regular meetings performance feedback and coaching.
4. Change management
- Project management: Ensuring that changes to services are managed in a well-structured and agile way to maximise the benefits to stakeholders and make effective use of available resources.
- Change leadership: Developing and communicating compelling cases for business change seeking feedback to improve the implementation and delivery of benefits and open and transparently persuading with evidence and insight.
Person Specification
These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.
Essential
- Educated to first degree level or equivalent (seelinkfor details) or equivalent practical experience in the workplace
- Experience of service and process improvement though use of digital tools and data insights
- Demonstrable experience of managing resources workloads and changing priorities for self and others in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrable experience of managing and leading a team through change
- Relevant experience in research management and development within a higher education or research-intensive environment including knowledge of external funders and information systems used to support research management
- Skilled in developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external customers peers stakeholders and others
Desirable
- Additional qualifications or certifications in research management
- Ability to analyse data and provide strategic advice
- Excellent communication influencing and interpersonal skills
- Project management skills
- Experience of operating in a complex global environment
- Understanding of information security practices particularly as it relates to personal or sensitive information
About our School/Directorate and Team
The Research Engagement Directorate (RED) provides high quality support for the Heriot-Watt research community across three divisions: Research and Researcher Development Legal and Policy Strategy and Impact. Working closely with the Business and Enterprise Directorate RED works to deliver the Excelling in Research and Enterprise theme of Strategy 2025 and to shape the direction of Strategy 2035.
As a result of a recent restructuring the Research and Researcher Development division has a renewed focus and extended remit with two teams who together support researchers from post-graduate to professorial level in an integrated way:
The Research Futures Hub is being established within the Research and Researcher Development division and it incorporates a Graduate School to support an equitable and high-quality experience for the global community of post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers.
The Research Development team provides support for pre-award research proposal development working in partnership across Schools to advise and target significant funding opportunities and enhance researchers skills and experience to succeed in attracting research grant team works at pace in response to strict funder deadlines.
Following the restructuring a vacancy has arisen for the Head of Research and Researcher Development team to integrate existing support for research and researcher development and build an exciting new service provision that makes creative use of digital tools and data insights to underpin Heriot-Watts research ambitions.
How to Apply
Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV
Applications can be submitted until midnight on the 13th July 2025.
Interviews are anticipated to happen on w/c 18th August 2025.
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected trained promoted appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information please see our website our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
About Heriot-Watt
Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge relevant research which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation business and industry.
Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh Scottish Borders and Orkney) one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science engineering design business and -Watt University is also Scotlands most international university boasting the largest international student cohort.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
