Deputy Principal - Research and Impact

Location: This is a campus-based role in Edinburgh, which should be easily commutable from your home location

Forward-thinking and research-led, Heriot-Watt University has an impressive track record as a leader in ideas and solutions. Through multi-disciplinary approaches, significant international collaborations and connectivity to business, we make a direct impact on real-world problems.

We are focused on growing our impact through our Global Research institutes, our frontier research and by recruiting new research leaders to increase capacity, as well as funding PhD scholarships in exciting research areas.

The Global Research Institutes are:

1. A hub for collaboration within and beyond the University bringing together interdisciplinary teams of researchers expertise to develop innovative solutions to global challenges;
2. Facilitating the development and delivery of our fundamental research into devices, products and services in collaboration the third sector, industry and business;
3. Driving the development of the tools that empower businesses and industries to upskill their workforce, accelerating the adoption of new technologies and tools;
4. Engaging with society, business, industry and government to ensure that the implications of future technologies help shape appropriate policies, especially with UK, Middle East and Asia regions.

Through our diverse research culture, we will continue to pioneer new approaches to some of society’s most pressing challenges, delivering innovative, practical solutions that improve lives and drive the economy.

We have an outstanding opportunity to join us as our new Deputy Principal for Research and Impact to take this journey forward as a key member of our University Executive.

Key Strategic Priorities

1. Develop and grow (with Deputy Principal Business and Enterprise) our Global Research Institutes, specifically in terms of:

- income through both industrial and UKRI based;
- impact through engagement with industry;
- recruitment & retention of key research staff and capabilities;
- global reach across all of our campuses.

2. Lead the preparations for and delivery of REF2029 submission of Heriot-Watt University including our joint submissions with University of Edinburgh in Engineering and Mathematics.
3. Continue the development of the Research Futures Hub as a key strand of our research culture development in relation to our postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.
4. Management of the Research Excellence Grant with a focus on delivering the University strategy.
5. Playing a key role in the delivery of Strategy 2035 as a member of the University Executive with a particular focus on research and impact assuring our position as a QS250 ranking institution or better.

Budgets

The role is also responsible for the resources and accountable for the budgets across our institutional research and impact funding allocation.

This includes the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Research Excellence Grant (REG), REG-Postgraduate Research and capital budgets, as well as the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Institutional Doctoral Landscape Award and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account.

Essential experience includes:

• An outstanding and internationally recognised personal track record in research leadership, demonstrated by its academic achievement and impact. 
• Clear evidence of leadership experience with specific relevance to our growing and complex University with its diversity of disciplinary schools and multi-national locations.
• International external recognition (e.g. Fellow of Professional Academy). 
• Familiarity with UK, Malaysia and UAE Higher Education research and innovation funding landscape and their associated governance and regulatory systems. 
• Strategic, commercially astute and resilient mindset. 
• Excellent communication skills, with an inspirational leadership style to engage and motivate staff and research students. 
• Collaborative with strong relationship management skills, sound judgement and the ability to build partnerships and advocate support from a variety of stakeholders. 

University Executive Purpose Statement

The University Executive’s primary role is to manage and lead the whole University and to deliver institutional strategy in line with our mission and values. The University Executive is responsible and accountable for decision making and for inspiring and empowering our staff and students to build a more responsive, sustainable and resilient University community that is purpose-driven and values-led.

Statement of Primary Tasks

1. Provide leadership and management across the University to affirm its purpose.
2. Manage and report on the delivery of strategy, specifically the Research and Enterprise strategy.
3. Set and provide executive approval of the annual financial plan.
4. Set targets and performance indicators for delivery of the strategy and in particular the Research and Enterprise Strategy.
5. Monitor performance delivery, monitoring risks and opportunities and making adaptations where necessary to optimise outcomes in relation to the Research and Enterprise Strategy.
6. Approve prioritisation of key strategic projects.
7. Set and support the enabling strategies required for successful growth, organisational development and delivery of strategic outcomes.
8. Support and inspire staff, creating future leaders and a flourishing environment. 

Other information:

The level of appointment will be made as a Professor (G10). The Secondary role as Deputy Principal will be a full-time appointment for an initial (renewable) period of 5 years. Candidates may, by specific agreement annually, undertake personal research for up to a maximum 20% of their time. Candidates must be able to travel on occasions to all campus locations and other venues as required, but the post will be Edinburgh-based.

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. 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.

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 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.

Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. 

How to apply

Please provide a Covering Letter of no more than 2 pages that indicates why you believe you are a suitable candidate for the post, along with your CV. Your CV should indicate your research and leadership experience evidence of your international impact and esteem, and provide professional affiliations and network. Please list your ten most influential publications.

Deadline for applications: 17th January 2025

Attendance will be required for Campus Tours and additional meetings during weeks commencing 03rd and 10th of February.

Interviews for the post are anticipated week commencing 17th February

For a confidential discussion regarding this post please reach out to Gary Anderson - Head of Recruitment at g.anderson@hw.ac.uk