Role: Senior Technician : Fashion
Grade and Salary: Grade 6 (£31, 236 - £36,636)
FTE and working pattern: Part-time (21 hours per week), Fixed Term 11 months
Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)
Location: Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels
Purpose of Role
This role will provide specialist technical support to our Fashion and Textiles discipline. The role holder will be supporting teaching, running specialist skills workshops and ensuring the safe operation of relevant facilities. The role-holder will require strong skills in pattern cutting and garment construction, and relevant industry experience (e.g. experience in a sample room, design studio or academic workshop).
This post is fixed term to 30 June 2027 and reports to the Senior Technical Services Manager.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Working largely autonomously with academic and technical colleagues and students, the role holder will:
Support in the delivery of classes and tutorials, through providing technical demonstrations and input. They will draw on their specialist skills in pattern cutting (including flat pattern drafting, 3D draping and pattern modification) and garment construction (including machinery proficiency with industrial sewing machines, toile construction and finishing techniques)
Establish strong working relationships to understand user need and to support in ensuring that the requirements of teaching programmes and research activities are understood, assessed, and prioritised.
Support in the planning and management of a multi-user environment, including the use of specialist resources and equipment.
Plan, set up and prepare work areas in accordance with course leader requirements.
Performing a range of duties required to support the overall functioning of the team and to assist in the operation of a clean and safe working environment, e.g. preparation for classes and activities, waste disposal, manual handling of heavy or fragile equipment.
Monitoring changes, trends and developments in area of expertise and engage in training/refresher training to maintain the required knowledge and skills base.
Understanding and monitoring of health and safety practices for the work area environment. Ensuring safe working practices and procedures are implemented for apparatus/equipment/machinery/safety and storage of substances/hazardous substances, and that there is appropriate use of required PPE for self and others.
Writing or contributing to risk assessments and Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) according to standards set by legislation and professional bodies, as well as providing general health and safety information.
Occasionally deputizing for other colleagues to cover emergencies, sickness or annual leave.
Mentoring, training and instructing less experienced colleagues
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
- Educated to SCQF Level 7-8 (HNC/HND) OR an Apprenticeship in a relevant subject PLUS relevant work experience
Relevant industry experience - : e.g. experience in a sample room, design studio or academic workshop
- Pattern cutting skills, including flat pattern drafting, 3D draping and pattern modification, and the ability to work with a wide variety of different fabrics
- Expertise in setting up, operating and troubleshooting industrial sewing machines (overlockers, lockstitch, coverstitch etc)
- Expertise in producing toiles to test the fit and aesthetics of a garment, and in finishing techniques (knowledge of commercial finishing methods including hems, facings, interfacings, zip insertions, and lining construction)
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to break down complex 3D concepts into easy-to-digest, step-by-step demonstrations and instructions for diverse student groups with varying skill levels
- Ability to ensure a safe, organized workshop environment, including machinery and equipment maintenance and knowledge of health and safety protocols.
- Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Teams, and Outlook and with knowledge of virtual learning environments
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Desirable
- Relevant degree
Experience of supporting teaching
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How to Apply
Applications can be submitted up to 23:55 (UK time) on the 16th of August 2026.
Please submit your CV via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.
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/ .
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-Watt University
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.
School of Textiles & Design
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.
