Executive Director, AIMS, South Africa
AIMS South Africa seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to inspire, motivate, and empower the diverse staff team, the international student body, the visiting lecturers and researchers to embrace its vision and mandate and contribute towards achieving its strategic goals. The incumbent will join the centre presidents from the five other AIMS centres in providing leadership to the continental network. Based at AIMS-SA, it is expected that the Executive Director will utilise her or his academic, research, and managerial expertise to guide the Institute to its next level of success. Adept at building partnerships and pursuing strategic initiatives, the Director will nurture a collaborative environment that promotes the pursuit of academic excellence, and contributes to the ongoing growth of the mathematical sciences in South Africa and beyond.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Vision and Leadership
▪ Develop a vision and strategic plan that guides the Institute’s future development, together with the AIMS South Africa Council, and ensure that this plan is communicated and put into action.
▪ Provide visionary leadership that promotes and supports competitive research and a relevant, up to date educational programme.
▪ Pursue mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to leveraging additional resources and fundraising to advance AIMS’ strategic development as well as the wider STEM community.
▪ Demonstrate a commitment to quality in all the Institute’s activities and inspire staff, students and visitors to pursue excellence in all they do.
▪ Operate in a spirit of collaboration and shared experience together with leadership peers in the AIMS network.
Academic Leadership
▪ Champion the direction and development of the Institute’s academic programs to bolster AIMS’ profile as a key locus of mathematical and scientific talent within South Africa and beyond.
▪ Nurture a collaborative, supportive and robust environment for scientific research and a culture of innovation.
▪ Oversee the Institute’s educational and research programmes, ensuring that they maintain integrity, align to strategy and have contemporary relevance.
Business Development and Partnership Building
▪ In consultation with partners and stakeholders, develop a business plan for AIMS South Africa’s growth as a leading institution opening opportunities in science for Africa’s youth
▪ Strengthen AIMS South Africa’s relationship with the government of South Africa to support national priorities including mathematics, science and economic development
▪ Work closely with the AIMS network to identify and to secure new partnerships which extend the AIMS funding base and broaden its impact
▪ Plan and support initiatives to grow engagement with the wider community including activities in schools, public lectures, online materials and science communication
▪ Build collaborations with industry in problem solving and relevant skills training to promote joint endeavours and to facilitate AIMS graduates’ entry into skilled, impactful employment
▪ Represent AIMS South Africa and advocate for its vision in national and international fora
Operations Management
▪ Oversee the development, implementation and delivery of AIMS South Africa’s business plan, together with the COO, taking key decisions regarding staff recruitment and responsibilities and the allocation of resources
▪ Continue to develop AIMS-SA as a model institution taking new initiatives and assisting with the growth of other AIMS centres and activities across the AIMS network
▪ Ensure team compliance with AIMS network policies and procedures as well as with all local laws and regulations
▪ Take overall responsibility for budgeting, procurement, risk management, financial reporting and future planning for the sustainability of AIMS-SA
▪ Present an annual report to the AIMS South Africa Council
Qualifications and experience
The successful candidate will meet the following criteria
▪ A research doctoral degree in the mathematical sciences or a related field
▪ Sustained leadership experience in the context of scientific innovation and training, particularly at the postgraduate level
▪ A strong research track record
▪ Interest in and ability to secure funding
▪ Experience in development, budgeting and implementation of major projects or similar undertakings
▪ Excellent communication and presentation skills in written and spoken English
▪ Evidence of effective interpersonal and relationship management skills
Desirable skills and experience
▪ Ability to network in the South African policy, philanthropy, and STEM research and education environments
▪ Demonstrated STEM education advocacy
▪ Knowledge of curricula, enrolment, management, and research trends in mathematical sciences
▪ Experience and understanding of the requirements for working with international donor funding (e.g., DFID, IDRC, USAID, World Bank, etc.)
▪ Development and coordination of educational programmes at the postgraduate level
▪ An international research reputation gained, for example, through a substantial publication record, presentations at international conferences, and sustained international collaborative activity
▪ Familiarity with digital pedagogy and learning technologies
▪ Understanding of higher education financial management practices
▪ Ability to work in a multilingual environment; some familiarity with French, Portuguese, or Arabic
Please click here to view the full job description.
Appointment and application procedure
The appointment is full-time, for five years, and is renewable for a further five-year term subject to approval by the AIMS South Africa Trust and the AIMS International Governing Board. It is available to be filled on 1 December 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and full curriculum vitae, including the names of three contactable referees, to lynn@aims.ac.za
Potential applicants may contact lynn@aims.ac.za or David Holgate (dholgate@uwc.ac.za) for further information. The closing date for applications is 10 October 2025.
AIMS is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. The position comes with a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.
AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship
Location: Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in South Africa invites applications for an Artificial Intelligence in Science postdoctoral fellowship.
This one-year appointment at AIMS South Africa is linked to a one year Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College, London, which commences on 1 September 2026. The AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at AIMS follows immediately after the Fellowship at Imperial College. Candidates are required to apply for both appointments, and the application for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship can be found on Imperial College’s website at: imperial.ac.uk/ix-ai-in-science/apply/.
The two back-to-back fellowships will provide a postdoctoral researcher a unique platform for innovation and an opportunity to conduct impactful research between the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow at AIMS South Africa aims to support an excellent researcher and accelerate the Postdoctoral Fellow in using AI to advance and disrupt Science or Engineering.
In Artificial Intelligence in Science, ‘AI’ is interpreted very broadly, e.g.: topics in Bayesian Inference and Robotics; ‘Science’ covers any typical topic in Natural Science and Engineering (Epidemiology, Biology and basic science in biomedicine are included but clinical medical themes are not covered, including conventional medical imaging). Examples include Bayesian optimization for molecular or materials design; machine learning for single cell data; physics-based ML for turbine design and astrostatistics. The fellowship is not suitable for generic AI research with general application: candidates must be aiming to substantially advance a particular area of science. Applicants could view themselves as AI researchers tackling particular pieces of science or science researchers using AI to transform their area. Extensive AI knowledge is not required, and AI training is offered.
The core requirements for the Postdoctoral Fellow are:
- Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline by 1 September 2027.
- The potential for leadership qualities in the subject, as illustrated, for example, through showing initiative on research projects.
- An outstanding research record commensurate with their level of experience as demonstrated, for example, through an outstanding thesis, publications, conference presentations, code etc.
- A proposal which is within the AI in Science research remit.
For more information please view the full job here.
Applying
Because the Fellowship is linked with an Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College, applicants should send a subset of documents that they would submit for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College to vacancies@aims.ac.za with the email heading “AI for Science Postdoctroal Felloship”.
These are:
- A full Curriculum Vitae including publications.
Additionally, please include an additional single file with:
- Publication Elaboration: a 1 page, or less, note outlining the contribution of up to three papers by the applicant. This should be suitable for a general scientific reader.
- Research Proposal Summary: a 1 page or less, summary of the proposed research suitable for a general scientific audience including the title of the research project. Particular attention will be paid to this summary. It should answer the question of why/how this application of AI will be transformative for the target area of science.
- Research Proposal: a 3 pages or less proposal that explains why and how the proposed research could be transformative for a particular area of science. It can be structured around background, a small number of hypotheses/aims, and work packages. It can be assumed that the reader will first read the Summary and so content need not be repeated.
- Kindness Statement: a ¼ page or less outline of your view on the need for kindness among scientists. The fellows will join a cohort of fellows in AI for Science with opportunities for outreach and LMIC engagement.
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.
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