IOP Publishing
Chair of IOP Publishing Board
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Chair of IOP Publishing Board
Making science better, together.
A unique opportunity to join the Board of a highly influential and respected international scientific publisher.
IOP Publishing Ltd (IOPP) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Institute of Physics (IOP) which is a charity and professional body and learned society for physics, inspiring people to develop their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of physics. IOPP is a scientific publisher providing impact, recognition and value for the scientific community. Its annual revenues are circa £80m. Working closely with researchers, librarians and like-minded societies worldwide, IOPP publishes journals, conference proceedings and scientific news services. As a learned society publisher we gift-aid our operating profit to the IOP to directly support physics and the global scientific community.
The strength of IOPP sits firmly with its people. It is their depth of expertise, passion and commitment that ensures collective success. Their publishing knowledge, experience and products extend across physics, material science, astronomy and astrophysics, bioscience and environmental science.
We are now seeking an experienced and authoritative Chair of the Board, with a strong background in publishing, to lead the Board of IOPP through a period of continued transformation in scholarly publishing, shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, open research policy, technological disruption and the rapid rise of AI.
Appointed by the IOP and accountable to the IOP Board of trustees, as Chair you will provide independent leadership of the Board, ensuring its effectiveness in setting strategic direction, overseeing performance, managing risk and upholding the highest standards of governance. Working in close partnership with the IOPP Chief Executive Officer, you will foster a constructive culture of support and challenge, ensuring that IOPP is well positioned to deliver its strategy, meet shareholder expectations, and operate in alignment with the values and purpose of the Institute of Physics.
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Together with the CEO, you will also act as a key liaison between the Board and the Institute’s Council, helping to maintain strong, transparent relationships and clear accountability.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead the Board to ensure effective decision making, oversight and collective accountability
- Chair Board meetings and shape agendas to ensure appropriate focus on strategy, performance, risk and governance
- Guide the Board in developing and recommending strategy for Council consideration, and oversee delivery of agreed objectives
- Ensure robust oversight of financial performance, risk management and internal controls, including joining the IOP’s remuneration committee
- Build a strong, high performing Board, with appropriate succession planning and regular evaluation
- Support, advise and appropriately challenge the IOPP Chief Executive
- Champion IOP Publishing’s values, including its commitment to diversity, inclusion, research integrity and ESG responsibilities
About you
With a deep knowledge of academic publishing, you will bring significant experience as a Board Chair or senior Non Executive Director, with a strong track record of leading boards in complex organisations.
You will have:
- A deep understanding of corporate governance, fiduciary duties and shareholder accountability
- Experience overseeing strategy, financial performance and risk at scale
- The confidence, judgement and independence to provide effective challenge
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and facilitate inclusive, high quality debate
- An affinity with IOP Publishing’s purpose and a commitment to ethical leadership
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IOPP welcomes applicants that reflect the diversity of the scientific communities that it serves.
The recruitment process
Candidates will be asked to submit their CV and a one-page statement (500 words maximum) setting out how you meet the requirements and what, as the Chair of IOP Publishing, you would bring to the Board of IOPP. Candidates will also need to provide the name and contact details of an individual who may be contacted in support of your application and your relationship to the candidate. Short listing will be completed by Friday 14th August and candidates invited to the panel interview on the 17th August Final candidates will be interviewed by a panel comprised of Professor Paul Howarth, President IOP, Professor David Delpy, Current Chair of the IOPP Board; Tom Grinyer, IOP Group Chief Executive Officer, Professor Tara Shears, Vice President of Science and Innovation, Phillip Carpenter, current IOPP Non-Executive Director.
Every effort will be made to co-ordinate diaries to ensure an effective use of time.
Timescales
- Closing date for advertisement applications: Friday 31 July 2026
- Shortlisting completed: Friday 14 August 2026
- Panel interview: September in the IOPP Bristol Office
- Appointment made: October 2026
- New Board member to formally join the Board: November 2026
Terms
The appointment will initially be for a three-year term. The commitment is for circa 20–25 days per year. Compensation will be c£30,000 per annum. To apply please email your current resume/CV and a supporting covering letter of no more than 500 words to lorraine.jennings@ioppublishing.org
Application closing date 31 July 2026
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