Marketing and Communications Officer in Edinburgh

Grade and Salary: Grade 6, £31,236 - £36,636 per annum

FTE 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.

About our Team

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation in delivering world-class teaching and leading-edge research for over 200 years, making it one of the UK’s top universities for innovation, research, business and industry. The University offers a distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Our strong alignment with industry and our global presence combined enable us to help address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Our Global Research Institutes (GRIs) are central to delivering the University’s Strategy 2035, from driving income generation in key research areas to growing the University’s rankings across citations, reputation and our research market share. They provide a focus for the future talent needed to build economies and deliver positive impact. Working across the University's Global Research Institutes, with initial focus on Net Zero, this role will support the promotion of internationally recognised research and innovation through integrated marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement. As priorities evolve, the role will have the flexibility to support activity across the wider GRI portfolio.

Purpose of Role

As part of the Marketing and Communications Team, you will report to the Senior Marketing Manager for Business and Enterprise. You will work closely with academics, researchers and colleagues across the University to develop and deliver marketing and communications activity that raises the profile of Heriot-Watt's research and innovation. This includes creating compelling content, delivering integrated campaigns, supporting stakeholder engagement and promoting research excellence across digital, media and events channels as well as through business-to-business engagement.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Website – Develop and maintain web content that promotes Heriot-Watt's research and innovation, routinely creating and publishing case studies, blogs and web articles, aligned to the University’s digital roadmap and user experience.
• Intranet – build on our internal communications channels e.g. Newsletters and NewsBeat updates, deploying content that helps us to engage internal audiences.
• Digital marketing – including expertise in a variety of social media channels such as LinkedIn, experience using content management systems and experience developing integrated digital campaigns.
• Email marketing – creating personalised and targeted email campaigns that engage our different audiences. Experience using digital platforms like MailChimp, Pardot or similar digital mass-mail tools is essential.
• Copywriting – create engaging copy for print, web and social media channels.
• PR and Communications – utilise press releases, thought leadership etc. that develop effective brand-led storytelling that promotes the impact and value of the University's research and innovation.
• Events – contribute to events including visits, conferences and workshops.
• Reporting – provide regular reports on marketing activity, working with in-house teams to show measured results. Use data management to offer valuable insights and create reporting dashboards with KPIs.
• Agency briefing and management – brief and manage external agency relationships for campaigns e.g. media agencies, design/advertising agencies, video production.
• Collaboration – work with Global Research Institutes, Schools, academics and professional services colleagues to identify and promote world-leading research and innovation, with an initial focus on the Net Zero Global Research Institute.
• Other duties – where required, the Officer will need to be flexible and support the other members of the team with additional duties as requested.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Person Specification

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.

Essential

• Educated to at least SCQF level 6-7 or equivalent practical experience in the workplace.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a marketing communications role.
• Campaign marketing experience in customer acquisition and retention.
• Excellent copywriting skills with the ability to write within brand guidelines.
• Experience using Google Analytics, content management systems for web and mass-mail platforms.
• Reporting on campaigns, web traffic, social media engagement and sales to track conversion funnel.
• Analytical problem-solving skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and fast paced environment.
• Demonstrable professional and proactive approach.

Desirable

• Strong marketing and communications expertise and networking skills.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Hootsuite, SharePoint.

How to Apply

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV. Applications can be submitted until 23:55 on Sunday 26th July 2026.

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.

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.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.