Director of Migrant Futures Institute

Goldsmiths, University of London; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in London is seeking an inaugural Director for the Migrant Futures Institute. This role involves providing strategic leadership, securing the Institute's success, and building relationships with various stakeholders including NGOs and policymakers. The ideal candidate will have significant leadership experience and a strong academic background. Applications should include a CV and cover letter submitted by 11:59pm BST on Tuesday 14th October 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience of high-level leadership with international reach.
• Exceptional intellectual calibre in relevant fields.
• Demonstrable ability to work with various research interests.

Responsibilities

• Provide intellectual inspiration and strategic leadership for the MFI.
• Secure the long-term viability and success of the Institute.
• Build partnerships with external stakeholders including NGOs and policymakers.

Skills

Leadership experience

Excellent people skills

Understanding of multidisciplinary research

Job description

Overview

The Migrant Futures Institute (MFI) was created following a significant philanthropic grant from Oak Foundation to Goldsmiths, University of London. The MFI aims to foreground migrants not as problems to be managed, but as agents of social, cultural, and political transformation. Emerging from Goldsmiths’ creative and critical academic history, the MFI is bringing together researchers, artists, activists, and policymakers through concrete interventions, co-creation, and collaborative research. It builds partnerships across arts, heritage, education, and human rights sectors to reshape how we engage with migration and the movement of people, ideas and cultures.

The MFI will prioritise perspectives from migrant scholars, individuals, and communities, giving a platform to voices too often unheard. It will look to convene individuals and groups from across civil society, academia, enterprise, and beyond – locally, nationally, and internationally – to co-create cutting-edge research with real social, cultural, and policy impact. It will also offer new pathways into advanced study, research, creative work, and enterprise for people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Given the history and globally recognised strengths of Goldsmiths, the MFI is heavily inflected to contributions and interventions in the arts and culture.

Director role and responsibilities

The MFI is now looking for its inaugural Director who will have an exciting and transformational opportunity to provide intellectual inspiration and strategic leadership for the MFI and its mission. They will be responsible for securing the long-term viability and success of the Institute and work across a wide range of external stakeholders to position the organisation externally, raising the profile through building partnerships and relationships with multiple external stakeholders, specifically refugee and migrant organisations, academics, arts and cultural institutions, NGOs, government and policymakers, the private sector, media and potential donors.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will bring experience of high-level leadership with international reach and be of exceptional intellectual calibre with excellent people skills. They will demonstrable ability to appreciate and contribute to the wide range of research interests within the MFI's portfolio, combined with proven leadership experience of working in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research environments.

How to Apply

We encourage you to arrange a discussion with our search partner, Perrett Laver, to find out more about the opportunity.

How to Apply

Goldsmiths, University of London have engaged Perrett Laver to support the Search Committee with this appointment and further information can be downloaded from their website athttps://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies quoting reference 7991. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Harvir Bains at [e-mail] or +(44)20 3928 7355.

Application is by submission of a curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application, addressing the job description and person specification, and including suitable daytime and evening telephone contact details. Completed applications should be uploaded at https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/ quoting reference 7991 by the deadline of 11.59pm BST on Tuesday 14th October 2025.