Research Impact Manager in Edinburgh

Role: Research Impact Manager

Grade and Salary: Grade pro rata

FTE and working pattern: Part-time (0.8FTE/28 hours per week) Open Ended

Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave plus 9 building closed days for all full time staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE).

About our Team

The Research Engagement Directorate provides high quality support for the Heriot‐Watt research community across 3 divisions: Research and Researcher Development, Legal, 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 development of Heriot‐Watt's new Strategy 2035.

Detailed Description

The post will be offered at Grade 8 with a part-time equivalent (0.8FTE) salary in the range on an open-ended basis. The role will work to support the University to achieve its strategic objectives in research within the Research Engagement Directorate (RED) team. This role-holder will be a credible source of advice and expertise on research impact. This includes developing the impact component of Heriot‐Watt preparation for future Research Excellence Frameworks, including supporting the development of impact case studies. The role will work closely with the Research and Researcher Development team to design and deliver a programme of support for researchers to maximise the impact of their research.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and evaluate an impact strategy for the University.
• Manage and oversee a programme of events/initiatives to stimulate impact activity linked to the development and implementation of Strategy 2035.
• Provide support and guidance on the impact component of the next Research Excellence Framework.
• Oversee the delivery of UKRI Impact Acceleration award and other impact-related funding streams.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact pipeline, helping develop opportunities for impact to be realised or extended.
• Refine practical tools, help and guidance to support Schools and other groups to create their own impact and engagement strategies.
• Provide guidance on how to plan, execute, evaluate and present impact.
• Work closely with the Public Engagement Lead to ensure the global research community is supported to maximise the engagement with and impact of their research.
• Advise work with and support the Head of Policy Strategy and Impact on research policy.
• Be an active member of the Research Engagement Directorate.

This is an open-ended post within the Policy Strategy and Impact team. We are looking for a highly organised and proactive individual with good communication, project planning and analysis skills and experience of research impact preferably in universities or relevant industry.

The Policy Strategy and Impact team works across the University on a diverse range of issues including leading the University's preparations for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF), public engagement, research integrity, responsible innovation, impact ethics, research culture and research environment. The team works closely with the Deputy Principal (Research and Impact) and Deputy Principal (Business and Enterprise) to realise the ambitions of university strategy across our global research community.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Management
   • Develop and manage an innovative programme of work supporting the delivery of university's impact strategy.
   • Manage the Impact Acceleration Project Co‐ordinator.
   • Be an inspiring representative of the University and establish effective working relationships across the Research Engagement Directorate with key partners in other teams and important stakeholders both internal and external to Heriot‐Watt University.
   • Advise work with and support the Head of Policy Strategy and Impact team in the overall delivery of the team's activities.
   • Act as a trusted source of expertise and advice on research impact.
2. Research Excellence Framework
   • Coordinate activity to measure and evaluate impact across the university.
   • Organise, plan and coordinate the management of the arrangements for future REF exercises in relation to Impact case studies.
   • Provide support for the development, drafting and quality assurance of impact case studies and contribute to the impact-related content of the Institutional and Unit of Assessment (UoA) People and Research Environment Strategy (SPRE) statements.
   • Provide expert advice to Unit of Assessment academic and professional services leads in preparation of REF Impact case studies.
3. Policy & Strategy
   • Participate in local, national and international impact networks to share and develop best practice.
   • Develop the responses to consultations by external bodies on research and impact policy.
   • Provide support for implementation of Strategy 2035 initiatives that contribute to achieving the ambitions of excelling in research and enterprise strategy objectives and ensure that these are aligned with Heriot‐Watt's ambitious new Strategy 2035.
4. Impact and Responsible Innovation
   • Develop and implement a research impact strategy (covering all impact types).
   • Enable the development, assurance and delivery of a comprehensive structured and effective approach towards the planning, capture and communication of research impact.
   • Create a central repository of case studies that can be used to demonstrate research value to the public, stakeholders, funders and collaborators.
   • Establish an approach that leads to the effective exploitation of impact (including REF but all other purposes).
   • Work closely with the Business & Enterprise Team to ensure impact strategy and activities complement the Knowledge Exchange Innovation Fund (KEIF).
   • Promote and coordinate impact activities via the University website, newsletters and social media in partnership with the marketing and communications team.

Education Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in a research-related or similar organisation.
• Development of plans and strategies and managing them through to delivery.
• Leadership of projects of scale and complexity.
• Ability to balance competing priorities under pressure.
• Working as a senior member of a team and an ability to contribute to the department.
• Directing, managing, supporting and motivating individuals.
• Experience in a role related to research impact.

Desirable

• An understanding of the external factors affecting research in Higher Education particularly the impact agenda.

Competencies Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to secure credibility across a wide range of projects, communities, expertise and interest groups.
• An ability to learn quickly and manage a diverse rapidly changing portfolio.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, identifying and building the trust of priority stakeholders (internal and external).
• Excellent interpersonal liaison, networking and presentation skills (both orally and in writing); able to understand and communicate research-related information effectively.
• Ability to work undirected.
• High regard for confidentiality, security and accuracy.

Desirable

• Knowledge of IT and/or financial systems.
• Ability to read and analyse documents and extract salient information to give clear explanations and guidance notes.

About Heriot‐Watt

Heriot‐Watt University has established a reputation for world‐class teaching and leading‐edge relevant research which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and technology. Heriot‐Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Heriot‐Watt is also Scotland's most international university boasting the largest international student cohort.

How to Apply

Please submit via the Heriot‐Watt online recruitment system.

Cover letter

CV

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Monday 9th February 2026. We expect interviews to take place w/c 23rd February 2026.

Equal Opportunities

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 under‐represented groups. For more information please see our website and also her award‐winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers. We will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part‐time working and job share options. Heriot‐Watt University operates a Global Connected Hybrid Working Policy that enables hybrid working.