Assistant to the director

Background

Technological innovation is speeding up, but scientific discovery is not keeping pace. The London Institute for Mathematical Sciences was founded by Dr Thomas Fink to fix this, offering a new model for how to make more ambitious discoveries faster. The last few years have seen us move into the Royal Institution, attract government recognition as an alternative to university research, and launch the world’s biggest programme to absorb Russian and Ukrainian brain drain. Now more than ever, we need a highly capable assistant to support the director.

Job

The role involves a combination of assisting and advising the director, helping and managing the scientists and staff, interfacing with the Royal Institution and external partners, and orchestrating our whole team so that everyone is pulling in the same direction. The position is full-time and offers a competitive salary. Candidates are expected to work in the building—we do not work from home. This position is a cornerstone of the London Institute with great responsibility and requires significant commitment and putting in more hours than most.

Candidate

Candidates should have high emotional intelligence, enjoy working with others and have a talent for motivating people. They should have a knack for solving new and unexpected problems. The role involves shaping and maintaining our culture, so alignment with our values is essential. Clear and concise writing is a hallmark of the Institute, so candidates should be skillful writers and keen to get better. Familiarity with science is not necessary—rather, having complementary skills is an advantage. Innate talent and drive are more important than extensive experience.

Activities

Assist and advise the director daily. ❧ Manage his time and help him read and write emails. ❧ Help prepare and submit funding applications. ❧ Buy equipment and keep our accountant updated. ❧ Manage our employees’ attendance and professional standards. ❧ Allocate office space and help plan our redecoration. ❧ Interface with the Royal Institution and important visitors. ❧ Plan and organise events, such as conferences and drinks. ❧ Help members organise trips and do other administrative tasks. ❧ Socialise with our team at our weekly drinks and regular events.

London Institute

The London Institute for Mathematical Sciences is a new kind of research organisation that is dedicated to speeding up discovery. Our focus on peak performance, full-time commitment to research and the level of support we offer our scientists empower them to make the biggest breakthroughs. ❧ The Institute is based inside the Royal Institution in Mayfair, which lays claim to 15 Nobel prizes and the discovery of 10 chemical elements and the principles of electromagnetism. ❧ You can learn more about the London Institute at our About, Values and Opinions pages.

Applying

To apply, send a CV and cover letter to at@lims.ac.uk. Short-listed candidates will be invited to visit. We are also recruiting through a headhunter that specialises in personal assistants. While there is no deadline, we are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.