Academic Director (EXPIRED)

Academic Director of the Royal institute of Philosophy

The principal responsibilities of the Academic Director are the organising and implementation of the Institute’s scholarly and educational activities, as determined by the council and executive committee. These activities include the following:

1. The annual London lectures, typically consisting of sixteen lectures delivered each Friday between October and March.

2. The annual London Debate, hitherto held in association with London University School of Advanced Study ‘Festival of the Humanities’ at the Senate House Building.

3. The annual London Royal Institute of Philosophy lecture. The annual Cardiff, Dublin and Edinburgh annual lectures have been arranged by the Chair Professor Haldane but this responsibility would be expected to transfer to the new Director.

4. The Director is also formally responsible for the administration of the Jacobsen Postgraduate Fellowship Scheme and the Jacobsen Schools scheme, for the Institute’s own postgraduate bursary scheme, and also for the conduct of the Royal Institute’s branches. 

In these matters the Academic Director is currently assisted by the Secretary and as part of the ongoing development of the Institute the latter role is being redesignated Managing Director.

Because the Gordon Square office is the administrative centre of the Institute’s activities and the Director chairs the Friday evening lectures on the same site it is expected that a successful applicant will live within the London area or somewhere with reliable and speedy communications to London. While applicants will be able to do some of the Directorial tasks from off-site they should expect to spend at least one day a week at Gordon Square. 

The appointment will be for a period of three years. If the holder wishes to be considered for a further three year term they may apply for re-appointment.