HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYING
PROFESSOR IN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
FURTHER PARTICULARS
1. THE POST
The School is seeking to appoint a Chair in Infrastructure Management covering any specialist topic within the
broad area of civil engineering infrastructure. The postholder will be an internationally recognised researcher and
will contribute to the University’s ambitious Focus on the Future strategy for research growth, through delivery of
internationally leading research in this field and playing a leadership role in developing collaborations with
colleagues with complementary skills and expertise.
The successful candidate will:
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be qualified to degree level in a cognate discipline with an appropriate higher degree and
preferably a PhD
have a record of achievement in research and academic scholarship at university level
be able to work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team
preferably, have experience in civil engineering practice, with membership of a relevant
professional body.
The responsibilities of the post are:
Research:
 to undertake personal research through, as appropriate:
o leading research group activities
o leading bids and tenders for external projects or contracts
o involvement in the delivery of externally-funded projects or contracts
o disseminating research outputs using a range of media. For example: academic
publications, external reports, conference presentations and short courses for
knowledge transfer.
o developing external networks nationally and internationally
o supervising research students
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to undertake work with a range of external partners and professional bodies/agencies in the
UK and overseas.
to contribute to the promotion and external profile of the School and University
Teaching:
 to ensure that the teaching for which you are responsible is informed by research in the
relevant field and develops the ability of students to engage in debate, critical discussion and
rational thinking.
 to ensure that students have an effective learning experience by providing high quality
academic guidance and advice and by enhancing their employability skills.
 to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations
 to develop relationships with industrial partners and professional bodies in the field, building
upon existing partnerships where appropriate.
and such other duties as are within the spirit of the job purpose, the title of the post and its grading.
2. THE SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The School is one of the leading built environment academic units in the UK and, for the past two decades, has
enjoyed and sustained a strong reputation internationally.
The degree courses in civil engineering are delivered from the School’s Civil Engineering programme. The
programme team currently consists of 21 members of academic staff with a wide range of research and
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYING
PROFESSOR IN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
educational interests. Two members of staff are based at our campus in Dubai. The person appointed will form
an integral part of this larger group and will be expected to participate in the School’s teaching activities,
undertake administration as required and contribute to the research portfolio of the School within a relevant
research group.
Undergraduate course provision
The Civil Engineering programme offers four BEng/MEng undergraduate courses, in Civil Engineering, Civil
Engineering with International Studies, Structural Engineering and Structural Engineering with Architectural
Design. All of the above courses are accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of
Structural Engineers. There are currently approximately 200 undergraduate students on these courses, following
the Scottish 4/5-year programme to BEng/MEng Honours Degrees. All courses are modularised on a 3-term
basis, 12 modules are taken per year. There is a considerable overlap between the various undergraduate
courses within the programme that makes for both efficient delivery and provides the basis for future expansion of
cross-delivery courses between other programmes in the School.
Postgraduate course provision
The Civil Engineering programme offers six postgraduate courses in Flood Risk Management, Water Resources
Engineering Management, Structural and Foundation Engineering and Safety Risk and Reliability Engineering.
The School has recently launched distance learning MSc courses in Civil Engineering and Civil Engineering
Project Management. There are currently approximately 100 postgraduate students registered with the
programme. Numbers of postgraduate students will be increased due to the partnership arrangements now in
place with distributed learning centres. All courses delivered in-class are taught across two semesters of one
academic year and are completed by the student producing a dissertation during the third semester.
Staffing
The School has approximately 65 academic staff including 18 professors. The Civil Engineering programme
consists of five professors, seven senior lecturers and nine lecturers, and draws on School wide academic
support from dedicated course administrators, computing officers, technicians and other administrative officers
covering postgraduate and undergraduate courses. This post would add to the existing complement within the
programme team.
Research
The School has sustained a high reputation for the international standing of its research in the civil engineering for
two decades. In the Research Assessment Exercise 2008, 90% of its work was assessed as internationally
recognised or better, with 55% in the highest grades (3* and 4*), building upon grade 4 achieved in both 1996 and
2001. Current School research activities include groups concerned with Construction Technology & Materials;
Construction Economics & Management; Drainage; Planning, Regeneration and Governance;
Environmental Science; Environment & Human Settlements; Materials & Geomechanics; Property
Economics & Finance; Structures; Housing and Urban Society; and Sustainable Water Management..
The School also has a growing profile based on public engagement and knowledge transfer (KT) activities,
particularly in the areas of sustainable construction, facilities management and limiting carbon emissions. In
particular, the School’s notable portfolio of research recently awarded under the LWEC (Living With
Environmental Change) programme, that has as its focus water management and (limiting) energy consumption
linked to climate change mitigation and adaptation, will readily contribute directly to a step change in School and
Institution-wide KT activities. In addition, the School has a significant role in contributing to the University’s
strategy, Focus on the Future, which aims to set Heriot-Watt at the forefront of research in the UK and
internationally, with an agenda that, it is anticipated, will grow the academic base by some 50% in ten years.
School Facilities
The School enjoys facilities consistent with its location in modern, purpose-built accommodation on the Riccarton
Campus. It occupies two adjacent and linked campus buildings, namely the Arrol Building, named after the
constructor of the Forth Rail Bridge, (which can be seen from the top floor), and the Chadwick Building, named
after the Victorian social reformer.
The School is well equipped in respect of laboratories for materials, structures, building services and hydraulics
research and teaching and associated facilities and equipment.
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYING
PROFESSOR IN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
3. THE EDINBURGH RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
With financial support from the Scottish Funding Council, the Office of Science and Innovation, the University of
Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University have created six Joint Research Institutes (JRIs) within the framework of
the Edinburgh Research Partnership. The ERP was formally launched in October 2005, with six Joint Research
Institutes (JRIs) designed to broaden and strengthen existing areas of internationally recognised research
expertise within the two Universities in the following areas:
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Signal and Image Processing
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Mathematical Sciences – The Maxwell Institute
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Subsurface Science and Engineering
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Energy
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Civil and environmental engineering.
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Integrated Systems.
Financial support from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) and the
two Universities has provided the funding to launch these JRIs and has facilitated the creation of 24 new
academic posts, including twelve Chair positions between the two Universities.
The JRIs in each of these areas effectively subsume the research activities of existing academic staff,
postdoctoral research fellows, and graduate students working in these areas. Staff are employed at one of the
institutions, while postgraduate students may be jointly registered at each of the two institutions. Plans are being
developed for the launch of new MSc programmes in areas of interest to the JRIs as a major collaboration
between the two Universities.
4. GENERAL INFORMATION ON HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
Heriot-Watt University was established by Royal Charter in 1966 as a modern and predominantly technological
university, though it traces its origins back to the School of Arts in Edinburgh, founded in 1821 as a pioneering
“mechanics institute” for advanced technical education of working people, and is thus the eighth oldest higher
education institution in the UK. The name, Heriot-Watt, commemorates George Heriot – the renowned 16th
century jeweller and financier to James VI (later James I of the United Kingdom) and James Watt – the great 18th
century inventor and engineer.
Currently, the University has some 800 academic, research and related staff, and some 7,000 students, including
over 1,500 postgraduates, at its parkland campus in the greenbelt of southwest Edinburgh. The campus is also
home to the highly successful University-owned commercial Research Park, one of the first in Europe at its
inception in 1972. Heriot-Watt is a research-intensive university with nearly 90% of academic staff entered in the
Research Assessment Exercise in 2008 and nearly 90% of its work assessed as of international standard. HeriotWatt is also known for its developments in open and distance learning, including the Edinburgh Business School’s
distance learning MBA, twice awarded The Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. Distance learning and
external programmes offered by most Schools add over 10,000 further students. Heriot-Watt also has a campus
in the Scottish Borders, largely specialising in textiles and design, and a presence on the island of Orkney
associated with marine renewable energy. The University’s annual turnover is currently about £100 million.
Heriot-Watt University is organised in six academic Schools (Built Environment, Engineering and Physical
Sciences, Life Sciences, Management and Languages, Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Textiles and
Design) and two postgraduate institutes (Edinburgh Business School and the Institute of Petroleum Engineering).
The Schools and Institutes benefit from considerable devolution, supported by central services and facilities,
within a closely integrated management structure headed by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
The University is a vibrant, forward-looking institution with a distinct international flavour and a welcoming and
friendly atmosphere. The academic ethos centres on the value and practical relevance of high-quality research
and teaching, and close partnerships with business, industry and the professions. The University is one of the top
UK institutions for graduate employment and is also very successful in winning research support from industrial
sources.
There are excellent facilities on the modern attractive campuses, with residences, catering, leisure, library and
computing facilities, and student welfare services. The sports village already provides some of the best university
facilities in the country, including international-standard squash courts, tennis courts, jogging courses, a full range
of exercise classes and a Cardiovascular Suite, and is expanding to support the new sports science degrees.
From beginners to international sportspeople, everyone is encouraged to use the facilities, and tuition is available
from expert staff. Music plays a key role in campus life, from classical to traditional Scottish and folk: there is a
musician-in-residence, a University choir, an orchestra and a pipe band.
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND SURVEYING
PROFESSOR IN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
Other facilities at the Edinburgh campus include a bank, a hairdresser, a bookshop and a health service. There is
a nursery on campus for children of students and staff. Catering outlets include snack bars, self-service cafeteria,
a staff restaurant and a table service restaurant. Staff currently benefit from free car-parking facilities.
The Edinburgh Conference Centre at Heriot-Watt is one of the top conference venues in the country, catering for
over 500 events every year.
The campus at Riccarton is easily accessible by car or bike from the centre of Edinburgh (6 miles). In addition,
due to its proximity to the junctions of the city bypass (A720) with the M8 and the A71, the University is easily
reached from all major routes leading to the city. Regular buses depart from the city centre (25, 34, 45), taking
approximately 30 to 45 minutes to reach Riccarton. Edinburgh International Airport is only a 10 minute drive from
the Edinburgh campus.
July 2010