Head of Student Wellbeing in Edinburgh

The Head of Student Wellbeing is a key role which will provide strategic leadership for Heriot-Watt University’s Student Wellbeing Service across our global campuses. The successful candidate will lead a proactive, student‑centred and evidence‑based approach to supporting student wellbeing, ensuring services meet the diverse needs of our global student community. Working collaboratively across academic, professional services and external partners, the successful candidate will foster an environment where all students feel supported, valued, and able to succeed.

The Head of Student Wellbeing will play a central role in the development and implementation of the Student Wellbeing operational plan, working in partnership with key internal and external stakeholders. Reporting to the Head of Student Life, and as a key member of the University’s Student Life Division (part of the Registry & Academic Support Directorate), the Head of Student Wellbeing will play an important role in contributing to the wider student experience at Heriot Watt University. The role will be based at the University’s Edinburgh Campus and will lead a team of 25 professional staff located at the Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders Campuses and structured into 4 main teams: Chaplaincy, Counselling, Disability Services and Student Experience. The Head of Student Wellbeing will develop strong relationships with stakeholders from across the University, and with external partners. Whilst the role does not line‑manage Wellbeing staff in our Dubai and Malaysia Campuses, they will provide professional leadership to the team based across all our campus locations. The role holder will also be expected to manage an appropriate level of student case work.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Lead the development and delivery of Heriot‑Watt’s Student Wellbeing strategic and operational planning, aligned with the institution’s Values and Strategy 2035.
  • Provide expert guidance to senior University leadership on emerging issues relating to student mental health, wellbeing, disability and GBV.
  • Develop policy and procedures to support student wellbeing and retention.
  • Ensure compliance with the Equality Act, QAA Codes of Practice and sector guidance (for example from Universities UK, HUCS, AMOSSHE).
• Service Management and Enhancement
  • Manage the UK-based multidisciplinary service, including counsellors, mental health advisers, wellbeing practitioners, disability support specialists, student experience and chaplaincy colleagues.
  • Oversee the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of the University’s wellbeing services, ensuring they are accessible, inclusive, and student‑centred.
  • Establish and monitor service standards, risk protocols, and case management practices.
  • Participate in University committees and groups to promote and embed the wellbeing agenda and encourage a whole university approach to student wellbeing.
  • Provide case management, professional leadership and support to the managers of the Wellbeing Services in the Dubai and Malaysia campuses and lead on the embedding of best practice across the University’s global campuses.
• Student Mental Health and Support
  • Ensure the provision of safe, robust, and timely mental health support, including crisis intervention, risk assessment, and individualised support plans.
  • Build effective referral pathways with NHS services, external clinical providers, and community partners.
  • Maintain compliance with relevant legislation and sector standards, including the Equality Act 2010, GDPR, and Universities UK and Sector guidance.
  • Manage critical incidents and high‑risk cases, respond to mental health crises and liaise with internal and external partners as required.
  • Lead on GBV initiatives and support the development of the Equally Safe strategy within the University.
• Inclusivity and Student Engagement
  • Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion across all wellbeing activities and initiatives, ensuring services are responsive to the needs of a diverse international student body.
  • Collaborate closely with the Student Union, EDI teams, Schools, and other University networks to support belonging and inclusion.
  • Lead preventative campaigns, wellbeing events, and engagement activities that build a positive, supportive community culture.
• Data, Reporting, and Quality Assurance
  • Use data, analytics, and student insight to evaluate wellbeing service performance and inform strategic priorities.
  • Produce high‑quality reports, proposals, and recommendations for relevant University governance groups.
• Partnership Development
  • Represent Heriot‑Watt in regional and national networks related to mental health, wellbeing and GBV (for example, the Edinburgh Fearless Partnership and Universities Scotland Mental Health Working Group).
  • Develop key partnerships and maintain effective relationships externally with statutory service providers, other HE providers and relevant others.
  • Promote the wellbeing agenda across the global University community through effective partnership working.
  • Oversee, plan and deliver relevant training to institutional colleagues relating to student mental health.

Essential Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• You will be an experienced leader who has extensive experience working in student wellbeing, mental health, or student support services, within the University or College sector.
• Degree‑level qualification, or equivalent professional qualification/experience in a relevant field.
• Knowledge of UK legislation relevant to student wellbeing, mental health, safeguarding, disability, GBV and data protection.
• Understanding and engagement in developments in the external environment.
• Strategic insight, and the ability to plan at a strategic level.
• Ability to summarise complex ideas or highly detailed or specialist information.
• Ability to successfully manage and address competing work demands.
• Strong commitment to the University Values.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and influence at all levels.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building abilities across culturally diverse communities.
• Sound judgement in managing sensitive, complex, and high‑risk situations.
• Commitment to equality, inclusion, and shaping a compassionate, student‑centred culture.
• Analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive evidence‑based improvement.
• Appropriate professional accreditation (for example, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Health Care Professions Council, Nursing & Midwifery Council, British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies).
• Appropriate relevant professional qualification (Counselling, Mental Health or Social work) or equivalent experience relating to Mental Health and service delivery.