Head of Digital

at  Heriot Watt University

Job Title: Head of Digital
Directorate: iNetZ+ Global Research Institute, Business & Enterprise
Contract Type: Open-ended
Grade and Salary: Grade 9 (£56,021 : £64,914)
FTE and working pattern: 1 FTE
Annual 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, you will lead the development and implementation of digital twin technologies within our Impact Engineering function, overseeing a team of 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 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