At the start of the 2015–16 season, Dawson was appointed as the club's captain. He made his Scunthorpe United debut, as well as, captain, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 loss against Burton Albion in the opening game of the season. After being sidelined from the first team over a knock, Dawson suffered a knee injury that resulted him being sidelined for three months. After returning to the substitute bench from injury for a match against Sheffield United on 19 December 2015, he returned to the first team from injury, where he played 62 minutes before being substituted, in a 1–0 win over Doncaster Rovers on 26 December 2015. Despite being out of the first team on two occasions in the first team, Dawson regained his first team place and played a vital role for the side as captain throughout the season. In his first season at Scunthorpe United, Dawson went on make the total of 25 appearances in all competitions. Nevertheless, at the end of the season, he was awarded the Dave Hardy Special Award.