Assistant Principal, Advancement

Welcome to HWU

Hear from our Provost and Vice Principal

Heriot-Watt University – Shaping the Future Together

Dear Candidate,

I am delighted to share with you an exceptional career opportunity at Heriot-Watt University—one that will shape the future of our global community and strengthen the philanthropic partnerships that underpin our most ambitious aspirations. We are now recruiting for the position of Assistant Principal, Advancement, a senior leadership role at the heart of the University’s strategic direction and external engagement.

This is a pivotal moment for Heriot-Watt. We have just appointed our first female Vice Chancellor, who takes up her post in September this year. With a thriving international presence, a bold institutional vision, and our Shaping Futures Campaign, launched in 2024, entering its next phase, we are seeking an outstanding leader to drive our philanthropic strategy, deepen alumni engagement, and elevate our advancement operations to new heights. The successful candidate will lead a talented team of more than 30 professionals, championing a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence across the Advancement function.

The Assistant Principal will report to the University Secretary, who is also a Deputy Vice-Chancellor and the most senior professional services employee in the university. They will work closely with the Vice Chancellor, the University Executive, trustees, major donors, and our international foundations in the US and Norway, representing the University at the highest levels. This role requires a leader who can command respect, build trust, and inspire confidence—someone who brings a proven track record in overseeing and delivering major gift fundraising, stakeholder advocacy, and the development of high-performing teams. It is a role for a strategic thinker and a relationship builder, equally comfortable shaping long-term vision and delivering operational excellence.

Based at our Edinburgh campus, the postholder will play a central role in strengthening our global networks, cultivating transformational philanthropic partnerships, and supporting academic and professional leaders to become confident and successful fundraisers. Regular domestic and international travel will be part of the rhythm of the role, but its core lies in investing deeply in the people and relationships that drive Heriot-Watt forward.

If you—or someone in your network—are inspired by the opportunity to influence a world-class university’s future, lead a dynamic and ambitious team, and make a lasting impact through philanthropy and engagement, we warmly encourage an application.

This is a rare and exciting leadership opportunity, and we look forward to welcoming a colleague who will help shape the next chapter of Heriot-Watt University’s story.

Professor Dame Heather McGregor

Provost and Vice Principal

About

Our Heritage and Scottish Roots

Founded in 1821 as the Edinburgh School of Arts, Heriot-Watt was the world’s first Mechanics Institute, born out of the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, with a mission to educate working people for technical and scientific jobs. Our founding mission, and character of the University across the years has been to make education accessible and deliver tangible benefit to industry and society.

Over the years, we have grown from a technical college to a global university with a reputation for excellence in science, engineering, business, and design.

As we look forward, we reflect on our origins and build on this heritage which sets the foundations for our future and Strategy 2035.

Heriot-Watt University today

Heriot-Watt University is a charity registered in Scotland, with a distinctive multinational operation through its campuses in the UK, UAE and Malaysia, as well as through collaborative activity with partners around the world and its Virtual Campus. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia is a Private Higher Education Institution and subsidiary company of the Heriot-Watt Group; Heriot-Watt University Dubai is a branch entity; and Oriam – Scotland’s National Performance Centre for Sport – is also a subsidiary company, along with Heriot-Watt Trading.

A Distinctive University; A Sustainable Future

Growing from these Scottish roots in the 19^th century, the University remains renowned for employability, for access and inclusion; and for its applied research impact and global reach. The University has an exceptional track record in transnational education with a globally connected delivery model, enabling students to ‘Go Global’ and learn through global teaching teams across campuses and cultures.

The University’s staff and students are the bedrock of its reputation, and it is their achievements in teaching, learning and research, underpinned by our values as a community, that makes the University what it is today. These values – to Inspire; Belong; Celebrate and Collaborate – help us stay true, with respect for one another; understanding and valuing diversity.

We have an exceptional partnership with our students and, as a university community, we care most about the transformational value of education which is accessible and research which impacts on real world challenges and benefits society.

We are thought leaders in sustainability and see that future prosperity depends on us curating a future with institutional, environmental, economic and human factors in mind. As we look forwards in Strategy 2035, we are sharpening our focus and building on these strengths and characteristics.

Our Institutional Impact Statement is the anchor for our strategy, defining our purpose as follows:

WE ARE FUTURE SHAPERS. Our Purpose is to develop leaders to build an equitable, sustainable, and enriching society. Our community will leverage its global presence and focused expertise to provide applied learning and research to transform lives and address real-world challenges.

Strategy 2035

Our strategy focusses on applied learning for life and employability, with research that addresses real world challenges. We are partners, collaborators, entrepreneurs and innovators. We care about sustainability, about developing and educating people who will lead out and make a difference in the world.

Links

More about HWU

Our campuses

Our strategy

Our structure

Our schools and research

Our community

Role description

The Role

Job Purpose

The Assistant Principal, Advancement, is a senior leadership role responsible for driving Heriot-Watt University’s philanthropic strategy, alumni engagement, and advancement operations. Based at the Edinburgh campus, the postholder will lead a team of over 30 professionals, most of whom are based at the Edinburgh campus, and will be expected to be based in Scotland when not travelling. The role requires regular domestic and international travel to engage with stakeholders, but the core responsibility is to oversee the development of the team and invest in University relationships.

The Assistant Principal will advocate for the Advancement team at the highest levels, including but not restricted to the University’s trustees, major donors, the Vice Chancellor, the University Executive, and the trustees of the University’s foundations in the USA and Norway. The successful candidate will be a proven leader in stakeholder management and advocacy, able to command the respect of University leaders and donors, and to develop the University’s academic and professional leaders as successful fundraisers.

Hear from Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice-Principal, and Ruth Moir, University Secretary, in the video below as they discuss the Assistant Principal Advancement opportunity.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the Advancement function, reporting to the Vice Principal (Operations and Governance).
• Work directly with the Vice Chancellor, University Executive, and trustees to develop and deliver an ambitious advancement and alumni strategy for Heriot-Watt University, which both raises the University’s reputation and impacts positively in delivering our institutional strategic outcomes.
• Deliver operational excellence in Advancement, with responsibility for ensuring high standards of legal and governance work, operational management, financial stewardship and customer service are delivered, protecting and enhancing the University’s reputation at all times through the work of the team.
• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing Advancement team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
• Develop and lead national and international fundraising activities aligned with University priorities and the incoming Strategy 2035.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting:

• Responsible for providing effective governance reporting and management information designed to drive and track the performance of the Advancement Function. Ensuring that there are clear performance metrics, driving continual improvement and embedding world-class fundraising and alumni relations practices.
• Attending Executive and Court Committees as required to lead and report on progress against the Advancement and Alumni Strategy.

Fundraising:

• Personally cultivate and secure major gifts from donors, philanthropists, corporate partners, and trusts worldwide, leveraging the strengths of the University’s senior team and delivering success outcomes in line with the University’s strategy and priorities, putting people at the heart of everything it does.
• Provide leadership, guidance and support to the Shaping Futures Campaign which was launched in 2024, and to its Campaign Director as the campaign enters its final phases, and a successful conclusion.

Leadership:

• Advocate for the Advancement team, representing the University at senior level with internal and external stakeholders, including trustees, major donors, and the boards of the University’s USA and Norway foundations.
• Champion the evolution of alumni relations, ensuring innovative engagement with global alumni and influencers.
• Serve as a role model, coach, and mentor to the Advancement team, supporting career development and realising potential.
• Develop the University’s leaders as successful fundraisers, providing training, guidance, and strategic support.
• Collaborate with academic and professional services colleagues to leverage networks and create new external relationships.

Operational Excellence:

• Responsible for ensuring effective delivery of the design and implementation of efficient processes to support stewardship, compliance, and governance of all gifts.
• Responsible for the operational management of the team, line with University values and policies and procedures.
• Lead on technical advancements across the function, including data management, prospect research, and digital engagement.
• Ensure compliance with University policies, and best practice in operations.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience in stakeholder management and advocacy at the highest levels, including with trustees and major donors.
• Excellent communicator, with strong oral delivery skills and demonstrable personal impact
• Proven ability to lead, develop, manage and inspire large teams in a complex organisational environment.
• Significant experience in fundraising and stewardship, including leading major campaigns and securing substantial gifts.
• Track record of developing leaders as successful fundraisers.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to command respect and influence at all levels.
• Experience in developing and implementing efficient processes for stewardship and compliance.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as required, with a primary base in Scotland.

Desirable:

• Experience working with international foundations and cross-border fundraising.
• Postgraduate qualification(s).

Special Requirements

• The role is based at the Edinburgh campus, with the expectation that the postholder will be based in Scotland when not travelling, to encourage a strong culture of in-person presence on campus
• Domestic and international travel is required.
• Occasional out-of-hours and weekend work may be necessary.

How to apply

The closing date for applications is Monday 20th April 2026.

Applications should be submitted via www.upsallinternational.com

For further information, please contact Ruth Gardner at ruth@upsallinternational.com

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Due diligence

Due diligence will be carried out as part of the application process, which may include searches carried out via internet search engines and any public social media accounts.

Equality of Opportunity 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 underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website.