We are Hiring! – AIMS South Africa

Communications Coordinator

AIMS South Africa is seeking a Communications Coordinator to manage and coordinate the Centre’s communications and public engagement activities.

This is a hands-on, digitally fluent, coordination-focused role suited to a communications professional who is comfortable working independently in a small organisation. The role focuses on sourcing, shaping, and coordinating content from across the Centre rather than acting as the sole originator of stories.

The Communications Coordinator will work closely with academic staff, researchers, students, alumni, and management to ensure that AIMS South Africa’s work, people, and impact are communicated clearly, consistently, and creatively across internal and external platforms.

The role will be the sole communications function at the Centre and reports to the Centre President (or a designated senior manager).

Key Responsibilities

Communications Coordination & Planning

Coordinate and implement AIMS South Africa’s communications activities in line with institutional priorities.
Maintain a communications and content calendar covering key programmes, events, academic milestones, and public engagement activities.
Act as the central point of contact for communications-related requests within the Centre.
Balance multiple inputs and deadlines while maintaining consistency and quality.

Content Coordination, Editing & Storytelling

Proactively source stories, achievements, and content from lecturers, researchers, students, alumni, and professional staff.
Edit, refine, and adapt contributed content for different audiences and platforms while preserving the authentic voice of contributors.
Translate complex academic or technical work into clear, accessible communication for non-specialist audiences.
Prepare and publish content for the website, newsletters, reports, and social media platforms.

Digital, Visual & Platform-Based Communication

Manage and update AIMS South Africa’s website and digital platforms, including basic content updates and layout adjustments.
Coordinate and produce simple digital assets such as visuals, short videos, animations, or presentations where appropriate.
Apply sound visual judgment to ensure communications are clear, engaging, and consistent with AIMS branding.
Liaise with external designers, videographers, or developers for more complex production needs.

Media, Events & Public Engagement Support

Maintain media contact lists and assist with basic media coordination.
Support communications for Centre events, public lectures, outreach activities, and visits.
Coordinate the dissemination of announcements, achievements, and public-facing information.

Internal Communications & Administration

Coordinate internal communications, including staff updates, announcements, and newsletters.
Maintain content archives, image libraries, and communications records.
Track engagement metrics and prepare brief performance summaries to inform future communications.
Handle information sensitively and maintain confidentiality at all times.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Multimedia Design, or a related field or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum of 5 years’ relevant professional experience in a communications, content, digital, or coordination role.
Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
Demonstrated experience working with digital platforms and social media.
Basic proficiency in visual or multimedia tools (e.g. image editing, layout, video, or web content management).
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and coordinate multiple contributors.
Confidence engaging with academics, researchers, students, and senior staff.

Desirable

Experience working in an academic, research, NGO, or international organisation.
Experience editing and shaping content produced by multiple contributors.
Familiarity with website content workflows; experience with static-site platforms (e.g. Hugo) an advantage, or willingness to learn.
Exposure to UX, digital storytelling, or visual communication principles.
Interest in science, education, or development-related communication.

Term of Employment

This is a full-time, 2 year contract position, with the possibility of extension.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following as a single PDF to v acancies@aims.ac.za

A cover letter outlining relevant experience and motivation for the role
A CV (maximum 4 pages)
Proof of qualifications

Applications will be accepted until 28 February 2026 or until the position is filled, whichever occurs first. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

AIMS South Africa is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates.

Academic Director (Mathematical Sciences)

AIMS South Africa is seeking an Academic Director (Mathematical Sciences) to join its academic leadership team. This is a senior academic leadership position with substantial responsibility for shaping graduate-level mathematical sciences education at one of Africa’s leading scientific institutions.

The role combines strategic academic leadership, curriculum oversight, research engagement, and operational responsibility within a highly collaborative and international environment.

Working at AIMS

AIMS offers a dynamic, international, and mission-driven academic environment. It is a close-knit residential community in which staff, students, and visiting lecturers interact daily. Many staff members have been part of the AIMS journey since its early years, contributing to a strong sense of continuity, institutional memory, and shared purpose.

Academic Structure at AIMS South Africa

Our 90 taught Master’s students are roughly divided into two focus areas; Mathematical Sciences (50 students) and Artificial Intelligence for Science (40 students). Each focus area is managed by a different academic director, and the two academic directors work together as a team to ensure a holistic and high level of training of students at AIMS.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

Holds a PhD in the mathematical sciences
Has substantial teaching experience at graduate and postgraduate level
Thinks actively and strategically about advancing graduate mathematical education in Africa
Maintains an active and credible research profile
Can lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse academic community
Enjoys working closely with students, teaching assistants, and visiting lecturers in a residential academic setting
Can design and build innovative, high-quality academic training programmes

University experience at the level of Associate Professor or equivalent would be a strong asset.

International and African diaspora candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

The Academic Director (Mathematical Sciences) is responsible for the academic leadership, effective operation, and continuous development of the Mathematical Sciences programme. Responsibilities include:

Academic Leadership and Curriculum Management

Collaborate with academic peers to contribute to the ongoing growth, relevance, and quality of AIMS’ academic programme
Provide direction and oversight to the academic community, including students, visiting lecturers, and teaching assistants
Lead and participate in the selection and appointment of lecturers and teaching assistants, in collaboration with partner universities and other stakeholders
Manage the established curriculum on a day-to-day basis, including scheduling and coordination of lectures, regular interaction with lecturers, students, and teaching assistants, and coordination with colleagues to support an effective learning environment
Ensure that teaching and learning activities meet AIMS’ academic standards and align with its mission
Attend and contribute to AIMS network-wide meetings with Academic Directors at other AIMS centres

Research Leadership and Academic Development

Oversee students’ research projects, ensuring that proposed topics are academically sound and appropriate
Ensure the production of high-quality research outputs by teaching assistants and academic staff under supervision
Develop and pursue a research agenda at AIMS, including the initiation of research programmes, workshops, and thematic activities
Foster a vibrant and supportive research culture within the Mathematical Sciences programme

Partnerships, Fundraising, and External Engagement

Together with the Centre Director, the Academic Director (Artificial Intelligence), and AIMS researchers, identify, establish, and nurture relationships with national and international universities and institutions
Provide academic input and support during project proposal development, fundraising initiatives, and the preparation of related documentation
Contribute to fundraising and partnership-building activities, particularly through the development of funded exchange programmes for lecturers and students
Act as an academic representative and ambassador for AIMS in relevant academic and international forums

Operations and Institutional Leadership

As a senior manager at the Centre, participate in and contribute to the development of the Centre’s operational plans and budgeting processes
Be a visible ambassador of AIMS’ organisational policies, values, and practices, taking corrective action with students, academic staff, or volunteers when required
Liaise closely with the operations team to ensure that essential tools, systems, and resources are in place to support academic and learning objectives
Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and well-functioning residential academic environment

Application Process

Prospective candidates must submit the following documents as one PDF file to v acancies@aims.ac.za

A detailed curriculum vitae
A cover letter motivating the application

The closing date for applications is 28 February 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Resident Researcher in Machine Learning

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa is looking to hire a skilled and motivated Machine Learning Researcher to join our team in Cape Town. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing innovative machine learning algorithms and models to analyze satellite imagery, Earth observation and remote sensing data (e.g. acoustic monitoring and camera traps). Use cases could include disease modelling and prediction, and wildlife monitoring tasks. Recent trends in deep learning open up large potential for impactful research by harnessing the vast data volumes related to Earth observation and remote sensing. The researcher will have a flexi-role: work closely with CLIMADE (https://climade.health/africa/) on projects related to climate change and the spread of vector borne disease, and contribute to research in machine learning for ecological tasks.

What we are looking for:

Ph.D. in machine learning, computer science or related field.
Experience in collecting and processing satellite data, e.g. Sentinel-2 or Landsat-8.
A track record of research and scientific discovery, including publications related to deep learning.
An ability to communicate research to scientific and public audiences.
Experience in developing, debugging and publishing research code.

What you will do:

You will lead and pursue a long-term ambitious research agenda related to machine learning using Earth observation data (focusing on arboviral diseases in Africa) or with remote sensing data (audio, camera traps).
You will share research findings clearly and efficiently both internally at AIMS and externally to the research community and public, verbally and in writing.
You will enjoy working in a multi-cultural pan-African environment, 50 metres away from Cape Town’s #1 surf spot.

If you love making connections between people and ideas, if you love starting new things, enjoy scientific freedom, and you are excited about the idea of advancing machine learning in Africa, then this job is for you. AIMS has a social mission. There are opportunities to participate in activities related to AIMS and the research centre.

Application process:

To apply, please e-mail the below documents in three pdf files to our recruitment team at: ml-positions@aims.ac.za:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Cover letter detailing your relevant experience and planned research agenda
Proof of Ph.D. completion

There is no application deadline, and the position will be filled when a suitable candidate is found.

Questions about the position may be addressed to ml-positions@aims.ac.za.

DISCLAIMER: AIMS South Africa reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications. AIMS also reserves the right not to make an appointment to the position as advertised. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

AIMS ECOSYSTEM