About

• Job Title: Research Development Advisor
• Directorate: Research Engagement Directorate
• Contract Type: Open-ended, 0.6 FTE
• Grade and salary: Grade 7 (£37,694.00-£47,389.00 for full-time equivalent),
• Annual Leave: 33 days, plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday).
• Detailed Description
• The primary purpose of this post is to provide researchers with both direct and indirect support in developing, costing and manage research proposals. The post-holder will help ensure proposals are prepared efficiently and that there is a maximum recovery of costs to the University The role will also contribute to pre-competitive development work that enhances the overall research development process.
• We would particularly welcome those with some experience of EC and/or other international funding applications.
• The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the University, as well as external partners and funders. We are seeking a highly organised individual with strong communication and financial skills, and experience in research support—ideally within a university or relevant industry setting.

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 Advisor 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.
• Key Duties and Responsibilities
• Identify relevant funding calls and disseminate these to appropriate research staff
• Support the preparation and development of proposals to Research Councils, the European Commission, charities, public bodies, and multi-sponsor industrial partners. Assist with costing, electronic submission processes, and authorisation on behalf of the University
• Provide support to researchers and support staff on proposal development to ensure the optimal benefit for the University from the costing and pricing of funding bids principally by maximising cost recovery from funding bids
• Support and maintain research management and administration systems
• Coordinate the submission and award processes for research proposals and contracts, including electronic submissions to systems such as TFS (Research Councils) and e-GAP (Royal Society)
• Ensure proposals comply with financial, legal, ethical, and commercial requirements
• Manage the flow of proposals, contracts, and awards between Schools and the Finance Research Grants Office, ensuring timely authorisation
• Work closely with colleagues across the Research Development Team, Research and Engagement, and wider University to support institutional research objectives
• Undertake such other duties as may be required by the Research Development Manager, the Head of Research and the Global Head of Research Engagement
• Education, Qualifications and Experience
• Essential
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills (both orally and in writing)
• Numeracy to a high degree of accuracy and ability to present financial information clearly
• Highly IT literate, with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn new systems quickly
• Highly organised with an ability to work as part of a team and to fit in with the demands of a busy office with competing and tight deadlines
• High regard for confidentiality, security and accuracy
• Desirable
• Ability to read and analyse documents and extract salient information to give clear explanations and guidance notes
• Ability to work undirected
• This job description is intended as a flexible framework which outlines the key general areas of activity in your position. Other activities may be required which are not outlined above but which are appropriate to the position and grade. Your personal objectives (Forward Job Plan) will also set out specific tasks and objectives for you to achieve, including objectives to help your career development.
• How to Apply
• Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Midnight 18th February 2026.
• Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment.
• Informal enquiries about this vacancy can be made through the hiring manager Louise McKenzie – L.McKenzie@hw.ac.uk
• 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 https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .
• Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
• About Heriot-Watt University
• 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.