Head of Digital

Job title:

Head of Digital

Company

Heriot-Watt University

Job description

Job Description:Job Title: Head of DigitalDirectorate: iNetZ+ Global Research Institute, Business & EnterpriseContract Type: Open-endedGrade and Salary: Grade 9 (£56,021 – £66,857)FTE and working pattern: 1 FTEAnnual Leave: 33 days, plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday). Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided.Purpose of Role:As the Head of Digital for iNetZ+ you will lead the development and implementation of digital twin technologies within our Impact Engineering function, overseeing a team of upto 20 digital specialists and engineers, your role will focus on advancing the use of digital replicas for complex systems and processes to optimise their performance and efficiency.You will play a pivotal role in steering the institute’s digital strategy, fostering industry partnerships, and promoting the adoption of digital twins across multiple sectors. Your expertise in digital technologies, along with strategic leadership, will ensure the successful delivery of innovative solutions that align with our overarching mission.The role involves the design, build, development and test of digital systems for industrial partners to cost, time and budget.This is a strong engineering leadership role with direct line management responsibility but also thought leadership and new technology development as well as communications responsibility.The exciting growth of our new net zero-focused institute (iNetZ+) will see many opportunities arising in the next few months in the engineering space.Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a commercial strategy for the monetisation of digital twin technologies, including identifying market opportunities, setting pricing models, and defining go-to-market plans
• Engage with key industry players and potential clients to establish partnerships and collaborations that drive commercial success and market penetration for digital twin solutions
• Work closely with the research and development teams to translate cutting-edge digital twin research into viable commercial products that address real-world needs
• Support the negotiation and closure of contracts with business partners, ensuring that deals align with the strategic and financial objectives of the institute
• Spearhead the digital twin development initiatives, ensuring successful execution according to project timelines, costs, and quality standards
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of digital, data and engineers in the design, development, and deployment of digital twins
• Act as a visionary leader, establishing the strategic direction and technological roadmap for digital twin technologies within the institute
• Collaborate with industry and academic partners to integrate digital twin solutions into various operational frameworks
• Oversee the entire lifecycle of digital twin projects, from conceptualization and development to implementation and optimization
• Ensure adherence to best practices in digital engineering and data management, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation
• Represent the institute in digital innovation forums, conferences, and seminars, showcasing our capabilities and thought leadership in digital twin technology

Person SpecificationThese are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be madeEssential * Educated to first degree or equivalent in Digital Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with a solid understanding of digital systems in engineering

• Subject Matter Expert in digital twin technology with a strong grasp on its application in an engineering context, analogous to applied engineering expertise
• Demonstratable experience in leading digital innovation projects, with hands-on application over several years and a foundational understanding of the relevant theory
• Ability to operate effectively in a complex global environment, similar to the robotics role’s requirements for international collaboration and project management
• Proven track record of managing multiple digital projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery to time, budget, and specification
• Experience in leading a team of specialists within the digital engineering field, drawing parallels to the leadership experience in the engineering or similar discipline
• Strong leadership skills, having held a senior role with direct line management responsibilities within the digital sector
• Exceptional interpersonal, influencing, and presentation skills, able to discuss and disseminate complex digital topics effectively
• Demonstrated capability to work swiftly, flexibly, and accurately in a dynamic, changing, and pressured digital innovation environment
• Experience in working closely with senior stakeholders, building effective partnerships, and managing stakeholder relationships
• Ability to research, analyze, and present complex digital engineering information effectively, with meticulous attention to detail
• High-level organizational skills, capable of prioritizing significant digital initiatives and functioning effectively under pressure
• A professional and proactive approach, demonstrating an ability to lead innovative digital projects and motivate a diverse team

Desirable * Advanced degree or professional qualification in Digital Technology or related field

• Practical experience with IoT, AI, and data analytics in the context of digital twins
• Familiarity with the academic research ecosystem and the ability to leverage research for practical digital twin applications

About our School/Directorate and Team:At Heriot-Watt University, we’re committed to using our global reach and ground-breaking innovation in teaching, research and enterprise to address challenges facing society and the planet. In particular, we’re using our expertise in energy, engineering and construction to accelerate decarbonisation, helping us to live and work more sustainably.Demonstrating our commitment, we’re creating a new global research institute that aims to connect researchers, academics, and students from across Heriot-Watt’s global campuses and across disciplines and schools with the united purpose of tackling the world’s climate emergency head-on. Our new net zero-focused institute (iNetZ+) will serve as a hub of innovation and collaboration, bringing together some of the brightest minds to conduct cutting-edge research, develop sustainable technologies and propose actionable solutions through significant international collaborations and connections with industry. Recruitment for roles in iNetZ+ will continue over the course of the next few months.How to ApplyPlease 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 until midnight on the Monday 24th June 2024. Please note interviews are expected to be help at the start of July.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-WattHeriot-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 University is also Scotland’s most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

Expected salary

£56021 – 66857 per year

Location

Edinburgh – Midlothian

Job date

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 06:03:29 GMT

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