Research and Innovation Associate – Sustainable Supply Chains and Community Engagement (Shetland)

Role: Research and Innovation Associate – Sustainable Supply Chains and Community Engagement (Shetland)

Directorate: School of Business, Design and Social Sciences

Grade: Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum (pro rata)

Contract Type: Part-time (average 8 hours a week) Fixed term for 7 months

Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days (pro rata)

About Our School    

The School of Business, Design & Social Sciences (BDSS) brings together internationally recognised strengths in business, design and the social sciences to create a vibrant, interdisciplinary community focused on addressing complex societal, economic and global challenges. Our academic departments include:

• Psychology
• Languages & Intercultural Studies (LINCS)
• The Design School (TDS) ​​​​​
• Research Methods & Practice (RMP)
• Edinburgh Business School (EBS)
• Management (MGMT)
• Marketing & Operations (MOPS)
• Accountancy, Economics & Finance (AEF)
• Panmure House

We specialise in industry-focused degree programmes which embrace a truly international outlook. Our degrees are taught by experienced professionals and highly regarded academics, and we are proud to produce high-calibre, career-ready graduates and offer a full range of degree choices at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The WWW site for BDSS is https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/schools/social-sciences.htm

About Our Team    

Edinburgh Business School brings a global reputation for high-quality, accessible and practice-oriented education and research that promotes responsible business. As part of BDSS, EBS contributes expertise in business, economics and management, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration that strengthen the School's ability to deliver impactful education, research and engagement across local and global communities.

This post will be based in the Department of Management within Edinburgh Business School. The post supports a funded research project undertaken by a team of researchers in the Department of Management and the Department of Marketing and Operations, working together as the Sustainable and Circular Innovation Research Lab https://scilab.site.hw.ac.uk/

Detailed Description

This part-time Research and Innovation Associate post will support a TalEntEd Islands Programme-funded collaborative project between Heriot-Watt University and Lerwick Distillery, exploring the feasibility of establishing a local, sustainable barley-to-malt supply chain in Shetland. The project will examine organisational, governance, and stakeholder engagement options, with a particular focus on supporting constructive dialogue between industry, agricultural and community stakeholders.

Working with researchers from the Sustainable and Circular Innovation Research Lab, the postholder will contribute to stakeholder mapping, qualitative interviews, literature review, workshop planning and delivery, and the analysis and reporting of findings. The postholder will also undertake project administration tasks, supported by the project lead.

Applications are welcome from current PhD researchers and others with equivalent postgraduate research experience.

Some travel to Shetland will be required.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Research

• Conduct a focused review of relevant literature on circular economy, local supply chains, sustainable business models, stakeholder engagement and sustainability dialogue.
• Contribute to the identification of business model options.
• Support the development of stakeholder mapping and engagement strategies.
• Contribute to the design and refinement of interview schedules, workshop activities, and data collection approaches.
• Prepare research ethics documentation, including participant information sheets, consent forms and interview materials.
• Plan and conduct and document stakeholder interviews under the supervision of the academic team, including travel to Shetland.
• Plan and conduct, with the academic team, stakeholder workshops in Shetland.
• Prepare, organise and securely manage qualitative research data, including anonymisation and transcription of interview and workshop materials.
• Undertake qualitative analysis of interview and workshop data, interpret findings, and contribute to the identification of key themes, opportunities, constraints, and feasibility considerations.
• Contribute to the preparation of briefing papers, feasibility assessments, project reports and evidence-based recommendations for project stakeholders.

Communication

• Deal with routine communication using a range of media.
• Communicate professionally with project partners and external stakeholders.
• Assist with the preparation of workshop materials, stakeholder communications and project documentation.
• Contribute to the production of stakeholder-facing summary materials and project outputs.
• Maintain accurate records of project activities, decisions and research findings.

Liaison and Network

• Work collaboratively with researchers from the Department of Management and the Department of Marketing and Operations, as well as external project partners.
• Support communication and relationship building with stakeholders from industry, agriculture and local community organisations involved in the project.
• Coordinate stakeholder interviews and workshop participation.

Managing People and Resources

• Manage own research and administrative activities, with guidance if required.
• Organise project meetings and maintain records of actions and decisions.
• Support practical arrangements for stakeholder engagement activities, including travel, venues, invitations and workshop logistics.
• Contribute to project administration, data management and reporting requirements.

Teamwork

• Work with colleagues and external partners to deliver the joint project, as required.

Initiative, Problem-solving and Decision-making

• Use creativity to analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
• Exercise judgement in the collection, organisation and analysis of qualitative data, identifying issues requiring discussion with the project team.
• Contribute to collaborative decision making with colleagues in areas of research.

Planning and Managing Resources

• Use research resources and project budget as appropriate and with agreement from the project lead.
• Plan and manage own research activity in collaboration with others.

Sensory, Physical and Emotional Demands

• Balance with help of supervisor the competing pressures of research and administrative demands and deadlines.

Work Environment

• Be aware of any risks in the work environment and their potential impact on their own work and that of others.
• Follow travel declaration procedures for work travel.

Expertise

• Engage in continuous professional development.
• Understand equal opportunity issues as they may impact on areas of research content.

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

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential Criteria

1. A postgraduate qualification (normally master's level or above) in business/management, sustainability, social sciences, environmental studies, or a related discipline.
2. Knowledge of qualitative research methods, including interviews and thematic analysis.
3. Experience collecting and managing qualitative research data.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
5. Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities within agreed deadlines.
6. Strong organisational and administrative skills.
7. Ability to work collaboratively with academic and non-academic stakeholders.
8. Willingness and ability to travel to Shetland.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience conducting qualitative interviews with external business and community stakeholders.
2. Experience organising and conducting stakeholder engagement activities or workshops.
3. Knowledge of sustainability, circular economy, rural development, island communities, food systems or supply chains.
4. Experience of discourse and/or conversation analysis methods.
5. Experience using qualitative data analysis software (e.g. NVivo).
6. Experience preparing ethics applications or handling research data in accordance with ethical and data protection requirements.
7. Experience producing reports for non-academic audiences.

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 up to midnight (UK time) on Friday 02 October 2026.

We aim to shortlist as soon as possible, usually within a couple of working days of receiving applications, with interviews planned for the following week.

For informal discussions about the position, please contact Dr Liz Cooper, [email protected]

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/.

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.