Directorate: Research Engagement Directorate
Grade and Salary: Grade 8 (£47,389- £58,225)
FTE and working pattern: Open Ended, 1.0 FTE.
Annual Leave: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE). Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University
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:
* Managing the Research Development Team in the Research Engagement Directorate, enabling a professional partnership model to achieve strategic objectives
* 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.
* Developing key contacts with strategic partners and funders.
* 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.
* 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.
* Providing support to researchers and support staff on significant proposal developments.
* 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.
* Liaison with Schools, Research Engagement (Legal Services, Policy, Strategy & Impact), Business and Enterprise and other professional support (Finance, HR, etc.) to achieve these objectives.
* 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.
* 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.
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
* Educated to degree standard or equivalent experience
Experience
* Good experience of UK, EU and International research funding
* Deep understanding of the significance of research for universities
* Track record of liaison with research funding bodies
* Project management e.g. financial administration; liaison with multiple partners
* Developing and submitting research funding proposals
* Motivating teams responsible for delivering multiple projects
* Developing inter- disciplinary activities
Using research management systems
Desirable Criteria
Education
* Appropriate qualification or training (e.g. ARMA Membership or attendance at ARMA events)
Experience
* Working in a Higher Education, Research or similar institution
* Familiar with electronic submission systems such as Je-S
* Working closely with Research Councils, and Royal Society
* Sound knowledge of research funding
* mechanisms in the UK, EU and Internationally
* Track record of influencing project development
* Coordinating the delivery of a service
* Managing research management systems.
* Identifying opportunities to innovate in the delivery of a service
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
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.
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 Monday 27th October 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 and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: to 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 languages. Heriot-Watt University is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.