Growth and Innovation Associate (KTP Associate)

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative partnership between Heriot-Watt University and Falkirk FC under the UK Government-sponsored Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme. 

This full-time, 25-month fixed-term role offers comprehensive development opportunities, including business training through the national KTP programme, training on Falkirk FC systems and processes, and an annual training budget for tailored personal development. 

You will be primarily based at the Falkirk Stadium, home to Falkirk FC. The club was founded in 1876 and currently competes in Scotland’s top flight (the Scottish Premiership), having achieved back-to-back league championships and promotions in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. The project will also involve working with colleagues based at Heriot-Watt University’s Riccarton campus in Edinburgh. 

Supported by academic experts at Heriot-Watt University, you will lead a project that harnesses supporter aspiration, engagement, and consumption to develop the club as a financially strong, community-owned football club and contribute to market growth for the business. This will include, but is not limited to, embedding knowledge and expertise within the Falkirk FC team in data literacy, digital marketing, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination. 

Our latest HWU news feature is available here.

Keyword search: sport management, sport business, digital marketing, football 

We are seeking a highly driven individual to lead an innovative project that strengthens Falkirk FC’s commercial sustainability by deepening supporter connections and upskilling the club in digital, data-led, and engagement practices. You will be expected to interact with senior management, administrative staff, and supporters of Falkirk FC, as well as academics from Edinburgh Business School and the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at Heriot-Watt University. 

The role also requires you to apply your knowledge to commercial projects, driving value and impact where possible, with the ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions. 

As a valued member of our team, you can expect: 

• →A competitive salary of £28,000 per annum, with a review during the project 
• →An exciting, positive, creative, challenging, and rewarding place to work 
• →The opportunity to work with experts in sport governance, football finance, and digital marketing at Falkirk FC and Heriot-Watt University to make real improvements to how a professional football club is managed, marketed, and governed on a sustainable and inclusive basis.
• →As a KTP Associate, membership of the national Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (ktp-uk.org) scheme, including entitlement to specialist management training alongside other Associates, protected time for self-development, and a professional development budget that will support career development beyond the project.
• →Opportunity to submit a paper to an international conference 
• →Applicants will be assessed against the essential criteria rather than the key duties

1. A minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Sport Business or Sport Management) or a related discipline (e.g. Business, Management, Data Management, Analytics, Marketing), coupled with knowledge of football clubs as businesses and social institutions. 
2. Strong research and written communication skills, with experience of using data to produce reports, articles, or presentations. 
3. Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects. 
4. Excellent verbal communication skills, with experience of workshops, stakeholder engagement, or delivering oral presentations; an active listener and confident questioner. 
5. Data literacy and an understanding of how data can be used to inform strategic decision-making. 
6. A proactive, self-motivated individual capable of working both independently and collaboratively. 
7. Effective teamwork and interpersonal skills, including an understanding of roles, coordination, empathy, and organisational citizenship. 
8. Adaptable, empathetic, and resilient, with a genuine commitment to the success of the project and the ability to manage change in a dynamic environment. 
9. Ability to manage and prioritise a demanding workload, with strong time-management skills. 

1. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Sport Business or Sport Management) or a related discipline (e.g. Business, Management, Data Management, Analytics, Marketing), coupled with knowledge of football clubs as businesses and social institutions. 
2. Knowledge of the business of sport, including ownership and governance models. 
3. Advanced skills in quantitative research methods, including research design and data collection using questionnaires, interviews, or focus groups. 
4. Experience of digital marketing. 
5. Familiarity with AI, CRM systems, or predictive modelling in customer engagement. 
6. Experience of identifying market or business opportunities. 

Falkirk FC is one of Scotland’s oldest football clubs, founded in 1876, with a strong history of success including recent league titles and repeated promotions through the Scottish football pyramid. The club’s progress on the pitch is matched by an innovative approach off it, operating under a “three-legged stool” balanced ownership model that underpins long-term ambition and stability. Formalised in 2023, this model sees supporters, through the Falkirk Supporters’ Society (FSS), holding around 25% of the club alongside Patrons and other shareholders, combining democratic fan influence with sustainable investment to support continued growth and aspiration. A key strategic aim is to now build long-term financial sustainability and consolidate their position as a top-10 Scottish club through inclusive governance, digital innovation, and community value. 

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, making it one of the UK’s top universities for innovation, business, and industry. 

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, and Orkney), one in Dubai, and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in specialist areas including science, engineering, design, business, and languages. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland’s most international university, with the largest international student cohort. 

Edinburgh Business School is a mission-led, global hub of business knowledge and research. Its mission is to be a global leader in accessible, practice-oriented education and research that promotes responsible business. Its vision is to transform lives for the betterment of societies. 

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) is one of the UK’s leading centres for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity, with a focus on disciplines that contribute to a sustainable, resource- and energy-efficient society. 

Please submit your application via the Heriot-Watt recruitment system.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Thursday 18th June 2026.

Interviews are expected to take place on 02 or 03 July.

Candidates may make informal enquiries about this position to: Academic: Professor Chris Easton (C.Easton@hw.ac.uk) or Professor Stephen Morrow (S.Morrow@hw.ac.uk)  Business: Sean Skelly (sean.skelly@falkirkfc.co.uk) 

At Heriot-Watt, we are passionate about our values, which help connect our people globally and support collaboration and the celebration of success through working together. Our research programmes deliver real-world impact through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent across our global team. 

Our flourishing community offers the freedom to challenge, apply an enterprising mindset, and support partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us, and Heriot-Watt will provide a platform to thrive while supporting balance, wellbeing, and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community. 

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and creating an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated solely on the basis of relevant merit and ability. Equality and diversity are about maximising potential and fostering a culture of inclusion for all. 

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across its community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please visit our website. 

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