Purpose of Role
: The primary function of this post is to lead and manage the provision of expert support to researchers in the development, costing, and submission of research proposals. The post-holder will ensure that proposals are handled efficiently and effectively, maximising the recovery of costs to the University and contributing to its financial sustainability. This role is central to the University's ambition to grow its research portfolio and enhance its reputation for excellence.
The Research Development Manager will play a pivotal role in embedding robust and responsive research procedures, aligned with institutional priorities and funder requirements. In addition to operational leadership, the post-holder will contribute to strategic, pre-competitive analyses and horizon-scanning activities, identifying emerging opportunities and shaping institutional responses to major funding calls. By working closely with academic colleagues and professional services, the role will add significant value to the research development process, fostering a culture of ambition, agility, and success.
Role Responsibilities and Objectives:
1. Managing the Research Development Team in the Research Engagement Directorate, enabling a professional partnership model to achieve strategic objectives
2. Contributing to strategic, pre-competitive analyses and horizon-scanning activities, identifying emerging opportunities and shaping institutional responses to major funding calls in collaboration with academic colleagues and professional services.
3. Developing key contacts with strategic partners and funders.
4. Managing university-wide processes to identify and respond to funding calls, including:
i. Pre-submission review;
ii. Costing and pricing;
iii. QA and approval procedures;
iv. Systems for proposal management (Worktribe) and submission (e.g. Je-S, etc.);
v. Processes and systems to identify and disseminate opportunities.
5. Taking specific responsibility for advising on the development of funding from a wide range of research funders, i.e. UK Research Innovation, Charities and public bodies.
6. Providing support to researchers and support staff on significant proposal developments.
7. Ensuring the University's research management and administration systems are maintained and identifying opportunities for development and improvement, including promoting a digital-first approach to research support and service delivery.
8. Liaison with Schools, Research Engagement (Legal Services, Policy, Strategy & Impact), Business and Enterprise and other professional support (Finance, HR, etc.) to achieve these objectives.
9. Working closely with senior research leaders, especially the Deputy Principal Research & Impact and Assistant Executive Deans of Research and Impact on all research and related funding matters.
10. Managing the newly appointed Researcher Development Consultant to ensure alignment between proposal development and researcher development initiatives, with a focus on increasing research excellence and quality across career stages.
11. Undertaking such other duties as may be required by the Head of Research and Researcher Development and the Global Director of RED.
Essential Criteria
Education
12. Educated to degree standard or equivalent experience
Experience
13. Good experience of UK, EU and International research funding
14. Deep understanding of the significance of research for universities
15. Track record of liaison with research funding bodies
16. Project management e.g. financial administration; liaison with multiple partners
17. Developing and submitting research funding proposals
18. Motivating teams responsible for delivering multiple projects
19. Developing inter- disciplinary activities
20. Using research management systems
Desirable Criteria
Education
21. Appropriate qualification or training (e.g. ARMA Membership or attendance at ARMA events)
Experience
22. Working in a Higher Education, Research or similar institution
23. Familiar with electronic submission systems such as Je-S
24. Working closely with Research Councils, and Royal Society
25. Sound knowledge of research funding
26. mechanisms in the UK, EU and Internationally
27. Track record of influencing project development
28. Coordinating the delivery of a service
29. Managing research management systems.
30. Identifying opportunities to innovate in the delivery of a service
31. International funding sources other than EC
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 funding. The team works at pace, in response to strict funder deadlines.
Following the restructuring, a vacancy has arisen for a Research Development Manager to lead the pre-award service. They will be responsible for shaping and delivering high-quality support for research proposal development across the institution. The Research Development Manager will play a key role in supporting a culture of research excellence and ambition, supporting researchers at all career stages to develop competitive proposals and build sustainable research portfolios.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a newly integrated division that champions researcher development and research success, and to help shape the future of research support at a time of renewed institutional focus and investment.