Job Description

Role Communications and Engagement Officer

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

Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term for 6 months

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full-time staff

Reports To Public Affairs and Communications Manager (with matrix working across the Communications and Marketing team)

Purpose of the Role

The Communications and Engagement Officer will provide operational communications support during a significant period of institutional activity, helping deliver integrated internal and external communications across Heriot-Watt University's global community.

Working across multiple communications disciplines, the role will support the successful launch of Strategy 2035, engagement activity associated with the University's new Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and business-as-usual communications for colleagues, students and external stakeholders.

The postholder will develop compelling content across digital channels, support campaigns and events, maintain communication platforms, monitor performance and work collaboratively with colleagues across the University to ensure communications are timely, engaging and aligned with the University's strategic priorities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Internal Communications

• Support delivery of the University's internal communications and engagement plan.
• Produce engaging content for staff newsletters, Newsbeat, the staff intranet and other internal digital channels.
• Support leadership communications including speeches, presentations, briefing documents and staff updates.
• Help coordinate communications around major institutional announcements and organisational change.
• Maintain forward plans and communications calendars.

External Communications

• Draft media releases, case studies, feature articles and web content.
• Assist with media enquiries and proactive media opportunities.

• Work with academic and professional services colleagues to identify newsworthy stories.
• Produce content showcasing research, education, student experience and global partnerships.

Digital Communications

• Create content for University social media channels including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and emerging platforms as appropriate.
• Develop multimedia content including graphics, photography, short-form video and digital storytelling (working with specialist colleagues where appropriate).
• Publish and update content using the University's content management system.
• Ensure content is accessible, audience-focused and aligned with brand guidelines.

Campaigns and Engagement

• Support delivery of integrated communications campaigns aligned to Strategy 2035.
• Assist with communications for University-wide events, leadership engagement and staff forums.
• Help coordinate campaign assets across multiple channels.
• Work closely with colleagues across Communications and Marketing to ensure a joined-up audience experience.

Stakeholder Management

• Build positive working relationships with Schools, Professional Services and Global Campuses.
• Advise colleagues on appropriate communications approaches, timing and channels.
• Support senior communications colleagues with planning and implementation of projects.

Evaluation

• Monitor digital performance using analytics tools.
• Produce simple reports measuring engagement across internal and external channels.
• Make recommendations to improve content performance and audience engagement.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

1. Degree or equivalent professional qualification, or significant relevant communications experience.
2. Experience delivering communications across multiple channels.
3. Excellent writing and editing skills with the ability to adapt tone for different audiences.
4. Experience managing website and digital content.
5. Experience using social media professionally.
6. Ability to prioritise competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
7. Excellent organisational skills.
8. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across a complex organisation.
9. Experience supporting communications campaigns.
10. Good understanding of accessibility and inclusive communications.
11. Experience using Microsoft 365 and digital collaboration tools.

Desirable

1. Experience within Higher Education or another large, complex organisation.
2. Experience supporting senior leadership communications.
3. Experience planning communications around organisational change.
4. Experience creating multimedia content using Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva or similar.
5. Knowledge of media relations.
6. Experience using content management systems.
7. Experience using analytics platforms including Google Analytics and social media insights.
8. Understanding of AI tools to support content development, while maintaining editorial standards and abiding by University guidance of use.

Key Behaviours

1. The postholder will demonstrate:
2. Excellent customer focus.
3. Strong collaboration across teams.
4. Initiative and sound judgement.
5. Creativity and curiosity.
6. Professionalism and discretion.
7. Flexibility and resilience.
8. Commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
9. Continuous improvement and learning.

How to Apply

Please must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV

Applications can be submitted until midnight on Wednesday 12th August 2026.

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. 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/  

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

Use our total rewards calculator:  https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About Heriot Watt University

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 industry.

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.