Director of the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences and Professor

Position Description
Following the innovative and transformational tenure of Minhyong Kim as Director, the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Edinburgh is seeking an exceptional leader to shape our next chapter. We welcome applications from senior academics across the mathematical sciences who bring a strong research profile, a track record of commitment to the mathematical community, and the vision to advance ICMS's aims.

The Directorship and the Professorship

The successful applicant will hold concurrently the position of Director of the ICMS and a Maxwell Institute Professorship in mathematical sciences, with 60% of the time ring-fenced for the Directorship. Both full-time and part-time appointments (at least 60%) will be considered.

The professorship and the tenure of the Director is fixed-term for five years with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term of up to five years, subject to funding availability.

The Maxwell Institute is the joint mathematical sciences research institute and graduate school of the School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh and the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt. The professorship will be held at both Schools, with equal weighting and duties agreed collegially. It is expected that the duties of the post, other than those of the Directorship, will be predominantly research-oriented. The professorship will be line-managed by one of the two universities, in consultation with the other. Responsibilities as Director

The primary responsibility of the Director is for the overall quality of the scientific programme of ICMS. A secondary responsibility of the Director is for the financial sustainability of the centre, and its promotion as a centre with a high international profile and outstanding reputation. Practically these responsibilities fall into two categories.

Scientific:

• Solicit proposals and encourage proposers for ICMS workshops, with the aim of having a diverse range of high-quality workshops covering the whole range of mathematical sciences and their applications; Continue to develop the existing programme, adjusting them to emerging themes and opportunities; Monitor and nurture Knowledge Exchange activities at ICMS; Oversee an efficient and fair peer review system for assessment of proposals, working with the programme committee and the Centre Manager; Horizon-scan for new developments involving the mathematical sciences; and Innovate and identify other types of activity compatible with the ICMS remit.

Managerial and Promotional:

• Attend all meetings of the ICMS Management Committee, the ICMS Board the Programme Committee and the Mathematics for Humanity Programme Committee as an ex officio member; Provide reports to the Management Committee and ICMS Board; Ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion underlie all ICMS activities; Prepare funding proposals in conjunction with the Centre Manager and the Management Committee; Seek additional sources of funding to extend and enhance ICMS activities; Work with the Deputy Directors and the Centre Manager in raising the profile of ICMS nationally and internationally; Liaise and, where appropriate, coordinate activities with the Isaac Newton Institute and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research; With the Centre Manager, represent ICMS at the annual meeting of European Research Centres on Mathematics (ERCOM); Represent ICMS and promote its aims and objectives in various forums, national and international; and Act as line manager of the Centre Manager and the Knowledge Exchange Manager.

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the ICMS Deputy Directors Beatrice Pelloni ([email protected]) and Jacques Vanneste ([email protected]) for an informal discussion about the role.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 17.00 via email to Jane Walker ( [email protected])

Full details can be found: https://enzj.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/4845