Research Development Officer

Role

Title:

Research Development Officer Grade and Salary:
Grade 6, 31,861 - 37,369 per annumFTE and working pattern:
Full-time (35hrs per week), Open Ended Reward and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator:  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. About our Team Heriot‑Watt has an ambitious agenda for research excellence and impact, and the Research Engagement Directorate (RED) is the key professional services department supporting the development and delivery of this strategy.

RED brings together a wide range of specialist and generalist expertise, offering flexible, responsive support that enables academic colleagues to pursue world‑class research and knowledge transfer opportunities. The Directorate’s remit spans research development, Research Excellence Framework management, impact and knowledge exchange, public engagement, academic development, intellectual property and contracts. RED supports academics, researchers and senior leaders in building relationships with funders and partners, developing collaborative links with users of our research, and navigating the increasingly complex research funding landscape.

We work closely with colleagues across the University and central services to ensure coordinated, high‑quality support. Within RED, the Research Development Team provides a centralised pre‑award service for academic colleagues across the University research portfolio. The team supports the full spectrum of externally funded research applications, offering guidance on scheme fit, compliance, costing, narrative development and submission processes. The postholder will contribute to the delivery of the team’s objectives, including the organisation and delivery of training events on campus, and the effective administration and coordination of associated activities.

Purpose of Role Applications are invited for the role of Research Development Officer to support the Research Development Team. The post will be line managed within the management structure of the team. Success for Heriot-Watt rests in the ability of academic colleagues to respond to and take advantage of opportunities to carry out world-class research and knowledge transfer supported by RED and by others.

The Research Development Team provides an essential, high-quality, pre-award service for academic colleagues across all five Schools at Heriot-Watt University who are applying for externally funded research including, but not limited to: identifying funding sources, preparing proposals, costing, pricing and submitting funding proposals, dealing with project finance, reporting to funders, advising on research impact, knowledge exchange, technology transfer, research strategy and policy, ethics and governance, information systems and audit.

The postholder will play a key role in enabling successful research applications by:
Identifying and interpreting funding opportunities and guidance across UKRI, charities, government bodies, and international funders. Supporting proposal development, including preparing and reviewing applications for accuracy, compliance, and alignment with funder requirements. Costing and pricing research projects and coordinating the submission of funding proposals through internal and external systems. Providing guidance on project finance, including pre‑award budget preparation and liaison project approvers.  

Advising on research policy, including ethics, governance, data management, and audit. Maintaining and developing research information systems, ensuring data integrity and supporting effective reporting and decision‑making.

This role offers the opportunity to work collaboratively…