Research Development Advisor

Heriot-Watt University; Kilmarnock; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Scotland seeks a Research Development Advisor. The ideal candidate will provide essential support in developing, costing, and managing research proposals. Responsibilities include coordinating submissions and ensuring compliance with various requirements. Applicants should have a degree and experience in research support, strong communication, organisational, and numeracy skills. This hybrid role offers a competitive salary ranging from £37,694 to £47,389 based on full-time equivalent.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Flexible working patterns

Access to Universities Superannuation Scheme

Qualifications

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent experience.
• Understanding of UK, EU and International Research Funding.
• Some experience of working in a research support role in a University.

Responsibilities

• Support preparation of proposals to various funding bodies.
• Manage submission and award processes for research proposals.
• Ensure compliance with financial, legal, ethical, and commercial requirements.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Numeracy

IT literacy

Organisational skills

Confidentiality

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title

Research Development Advisor

Directorate

Research Engagement Directorate

Contract Type

Open-ended, 0.6 FTE - Hybrid working considered for this role

Grade and salary

Grade 7 (£37,694.00-£47,389.00 for full‑time equivalent)

Annual Leave

33 days, plus 9 building closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday). Staff on grade 6 - 10 can opt to join the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The University currently contributes the equivalent of 14.5% of an employee’s annual salary and the employee currently contributes 6.1%

Purpose of the Role

The primary purpose of this role is to provide researchers with both direct and indirect support in developing, costing, and managing research proposals. The post‑holder will help ensure that proposals are prepared efficiently and that the University achieves maximum cost recovery. In addition, the role will contribute to pre‑competitive development activities that strengthen and streamlines the overall research development process. We would particularly welcome those with some experience of EC and/or other international funding applications. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the University, as well as external partners and funders. We are seeking a highly organised individual with strong communication and financial skills, and experience in research support—ideally within a university or relevant industry setting.

About our School/Directorate and Team

The Research Engagement Directorate (RED) provides high quality support for the Heriot‑Watt research community across three divisions: Research and Researcher Development, Legal, and 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 to shape the direction of Strategy 2035. As a result of a recent restructuring, the Research and Researcher Development division has a renewed focus and extended remit with two teams who together support researchers from post‑graduate to professorial level in an integrated way. The Research Futures Hub is being established within the Research and Researcher Development division and it incorporates a Graduate School to support an equitable and high‑quality experience for the global community of post‑graduate and post‑doctoral researchers. The Research Development team provides support for pre‑award research proposal development, working in partnership across Schools to advise and target significant funding opportunities and enhance researchers’ skills and experience to succeed in attracting research grant funding. The team works at pace, in response to strict funder deadlines. Following the restructuring, a vacancy has arisen for a Research Development Advisor to lead the pre‑award service. They will be responsible for shaping and delivering high‑quality support for research proposal development across the institution. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a newly integrated division that champions researcher development and research success, and to help shape the future of research support at a time of renewed institutional focus and investment.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Identify relevant funding calls and disseminate these to appropriate research staff.
• Support the preparation and development of proposals to Research Councils, the European Commission, charities, public bodies, and multi‑sponsor industrial partners. Assist with costing, electronic submission processes, and authorisation on behalf of the University.
• Provide support to researchers and support staff on proposal development to ensure the optimal benefit for the University from the costing and pricing of funding bids principally by maximising cost recovery from funding bids.
• Support and maintain research management and administration systems.
• Coordinate the submission and award processes for research proposals and contracts, including electronic submissions to systems such as TFS (Research Councils) and e‑GAP (Royal Society).
• Ensure proposals comply with financial, legal, ethical, and commercial requirements.
• Manage the flow of proposals, contracts, and awards between Schools and the Finance Research Grants Office, ensuring timely authorisation.
• Work closely with colleagues across the Research Development Team, Research and Engagement, and wider University to support institutional research objectives.
• Undertake such other duties as may be required by the Research Development Manager, the Head of Research and the Global Head of Research Engagement.

Essential Education, Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent experience.
• Understanding of UK, EU and International Research Funding.
• Understanding of the significance of research Universities.
• Liaison with external funding bodies.
• Project management e.g. financial administration, liaison with multiple partners.
• Some experience of working in a research support role in a University or other research institution.

Desirable Education, Qualifications and Experience

• Appropriate qualification or training (e.g. ARMA Membership or attendance at ARMA events).
• Working in a Higher Education, Research or similar institution.
• Costing and pricing projects.
• Familiar with electronic submission systems such as TFS, Flexi‑Grant etc.
• Working with research funders e.g., UKRI, European Commission.
• Knowledge of research funding mechanisms in the UK, EU and Internationally.

Essential Competencies, Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills (both orally and in writing).
• Numeracy to a high degree of accuracy and ability to present financial information clearly.
• Highly IT literate, with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Highly organised with an ability to work as part of a team and to fit in with the demands of a busy office with competing and tight deadlines.
• High regard for confidentiality, security and accuracy.

Desirable Competencies, Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to read and analyse documents and extract salient information to give clear explanations and guidance notes.
• Ability to work undirected.

How To Apply

Please submit via the Heriot‑Watt online recruitment system: (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV. Applications can be submitted until midnight on the 18th February 2026. Informal enquiries about this vacancy can be made through the hiring manager Louise McKenzie. We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part‑time working and job share options.

Equality and Diversity Statement

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 https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award‑winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.

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.