Assistant Professor - Knit

The School of Textiles and Design (SoTD) is currently part of an approved programme of organisational change within the University. We are preparing to transition to operate as a department within the School of Social Sciences, while retaining our distinct identity, specialist facilities and practice-based approach to teaching and research. 

As a centre of excellence in design, SoTD brings together talented students from across the globe to study collaboratively in Creative Environments, Communication and Design and Fashion and Textiles disciplines. 

With a rich heritage spanning over 140 years, the School has long been a pioneer in design innovation. Perfectly situated at the pulsating heart of Scotland's luxury textile industry, the School is a leading education and research institution with specialist resources and industry standard production equipment that are amongst the best in the UK. 

The School benefits from excellent facilities across its two campus locations in the Scottish Borders and Dubai. A recent £2.5M investment has enhanced our prestigious Scottish Borders campus, situated in a unique former mill in Galashiels, whilst our Dubai campus community enjoys state of the art facilities close to Dubai city centre.

Please visit School of Textiles and Design | Heriot-Watt University for more information. 

The Fashion & Textiles team at the School of Textiles and Design is a dynamic and interdisciplinary group, delivering undergraduate degrees in Fashion and Design for Textiles and postgraduate degrees in Fashion and Textiles Design and Fashion and Textiles Management. 

Fashion and Textiles | Heriot-Watt University 

We welcome applications for a temporary position at Assistant Professor (Grade 7) level to join the Fashion & Textiles team. This role is part-time (0.2 FTE) and is based at our Scottish Borders campus in Galashiels. Reporting to the Global Head of Fashion & Textiles, this is a teaching-focused appointment. 

The successful candidate will bring considerable expertise in Knit and be able to contribute to our taught programmes. 

Teaching and Learning 

• →Develop and deliver high quality courses in line with your expertise to enable our students to become excellent practitioners 
• →Undertake continuous professional development both through the University and externally to remain up to date with current learning and teaching practice and external influencers in our sector 
• →Share best practice in learning and teaching methodologies, working with colleagues to develop scholar 
• →Contribute to programme administration, including timetabling, assessment management, external examiner liaison, and annual programme review. 
• →Act as a point of contact for students, supporting their academic progress and wellbeing in coordination with the University's student support services. 
• →Supervise student projects, field trips and, where appropriate, placements.                       
• →Contribute to the planning, design and development of objectives and material.           
• →Select appropriate assessment methods, assess the work and progress of students on this basis and provide constructive feedback to students. 

Scholarship and Research 

• →Reflect on practice and the development of own teaching and learning skills 
• →Engage in subject, professional and pedagogy research as required to support teaching activities 
• →Contribute to scholarly project that contribute to the enhancement of the discipline 

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. 

The person requirements to successfully perform the role are as follows: 

Essential 

1. First degree in a directly relevant field 
2. Demonstrable experience in knit design and manufacture 
3. Prior experience of teaching in a higher education environment, including studio and workshop-based teaching 
4. Emotional intelligence, with a demonstrable collegiate attitude and proven interpersonal skills 

Desirable

1. A PhD or Master’s qualification in a relevant discipline 
2. Recognised teaching qualification – e.g. PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning or membership/fellowship of Advance HE. 
3. Evidence of teaching experience 

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Wednesday 12 August 2026.

We expect interviews to commence w/c 10 Aug.

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 that includes the list of publications (3) Research and teaching statements, showing their strengths in one or more of the research areas above. 

For informal discussions about the position please contact Bruce Roberts, Global Head of Discipline for Fashion & Textiles, B.M.Roberts@hw.ac.uk  

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.

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.