About us

We are an international educational charity focused on engaging audiences with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We are best known for organising Edinburgh’s annual Science Festival – the world’s first international public celebration of science and technology as a festival and still one of Europe’s largest – as well as their science education outreach programmes, Generation Science and Careers Hive, their community engagement work, climate change initiatives and international projects.

Our mission is to inspire, encourage and challenge people of all ages and backgrounds to explore and understand the world around them. Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Edinburgh Science Worldwide, we organise education events and Festivals around the globe; we are well established in the Middle East and have had or have contracts in China, India, continental Europe and the USA.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a new Director to lead the organisation and deliver our growth strategy in the coming years.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead Edinburgh Science, an international science engagement and educational charity that started the global Science Festival movement some 30+ years ago and has played a leading role in the engagement of audiences through innovative and exciting events on the subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths, particularly opening up discussions on scientific matters of public debate.

The Candidate

The Director role is a unique opportunity to lead an organisation dedicated to the view that science and technology are cultural activities, inspiring curiosity and engagement through creative content and engaging events. If you are a visionary leader with a passion for both science and creativity, we encourage you to apply and join the mission to make science accessible and exciting for all.

We are looking for someone with extensive expertise and flair in programming and the creation of immersive and engaging experiences that inspire and educate people of all ages. This role is an opportunity for a creative person with a talent for business and a love of science. The new Director will be passionate about widening engagement with STEM, ensuring that what Edinburgh Science delivers is relevant and accessible to all.

The ideal candidate will have an evident understanding of science and the wider STEM arena, an entrepreneurial mindset, demonstrable creative flair, excellent stakeholder management skills, and understand the need to prioritise both public/charitable and commercial aspects of Edinburgh Science’s work. You will have experience of delivering projects outside the UK and you will preferably have a good and broad understanding of contemporary science and related subjects.

For more information, please download the candidate information pack.

This search is being conducted exclusively for Edinburgh Science by Odgers Berndtson

We value the importance that a diversity of backgrounds and outlooks can bring to an organisation and therefore strongly encourage applications from people from all genders and cultural and professional backgrounds, who consider themselves to meet the essential criteria.

Closing date: 2nd February 2024