Professor in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics - Dubai Campus

PROFESSOR IN ACTUARIAL MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS AT HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY, DUBAI CAMPUS

Grade: Grade 10, salary negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Contract Type: Part Time (at least 40% / 14 hours per week). This position is Fixed Term for 24 Months, with the potential for renewal.

Location: Dubai Campus

Application Deadline: Friday, June 19th 2026

The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences seeks a Professor in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics. We invite applications from senior academics working in the United Arab Emirates.

With a strong research profile, enthusiasm and a track record of commitment in service of the AMS community and appropriate administrative experience.

In Dubai, we have the largest branch campus of any international university in the UAE, and our university is fully licensed by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), the UAE’s federal quality assurance agency. The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS) has been delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at our Dubai Campus since its establishment in 2005.

In 2025, the School launched one of its Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics programmes, the BSc Actuarial Data Science. This has necessitated the recruitment of additional staff as the programme expands into Year 3 in the 2026-27 academic year. The programme is taught and assessed in Dubai in close collaboration with colleagues at our Edinburgh and Malaysia campuses, ensuring alignment with the University's academic standards and benefiting from its global expertise.

The BSc Actuarial Data Science programme is accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), UK, holds UCAP-Advanced Curriculum (UCAP-AC) status from the Society of Actuaries (SOA), USA, and is also accredited by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), UK.

The Department of Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics is internationally recognised for excellence in actuarial science, financial risk, applied probability, and statistics. Its reputation is underpinned by the world-leading research conducted by colleagues across our global campuses.

Purpose of the Role

We are seeking to appoint a Professor in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics on a 0.4 FTE basis to provide academic leadership and strategic direction for Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics within the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS) at our Dubai Campus. The successful candidate will contribute to the strategic development and growth of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics at the University’s Dubai Campus, working closely with colleagues at our Dubai, Edinburgh and Malaysia campuses.

The Professor will provide leadership in teaching, research, external engagement and professional accreditation activities, supporting the continued development of our actuarial programmes and strengthening links with industry and professional bodies. The role will include a focused teaching contribution at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, supervision of student projects and dissertations, mentoring of academic colleagues, and support for student recruitment and outreach activities.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active programme of internationally recognised research and scholarly activity, contribute to the University's research culture, and enhance the visibility and reputation of the Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics and the School within the UAE, the wider MENA region, and internationally.

The workload associated with teaching, research, leadership and administrative responsibilities will be proportionate to a 0.4 FTE appointment and agreed annually with the Head of School.

Summary of Possible Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics at the Dubai Campus.

• The delivery and assessment of undergraduate courses in actuarial mathematics and statistics, and related areas, commensurate with a 0.4 FTE appointment.

• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate student projects and dissertations.

• Develop and lead internationally recognised research and scholarly activities.

• Mentor and support academic colleagues, contributing to staff development and academic quality enhancement.

• Support professional accreditation activities with bodies such as the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), Society of Actuaries (SOA), and Royal Statistical Society (RSS).

• Contribute to programme leadership, curriculum development and quality assurance activities.

• Support student recruitment, admissions, outreach and employer engagement activities.

• Strengthen collaborations with industry, government and professional organisations across the UAE and wider MENA region.

• Contribute to the strategic growth and reputation of the School and University.

• Undertake administrative and leadership responsibilities appropriate to a professorial appointment and proportionate to the 0.4 FTE workload.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• PhD in Actuarial Science or Statistics, or a closely related discipline.

• Currently holding a Professorship or possessing a sustained record of achievement consistent with appointment to a Professorship.

• An internationally recognised research profile, evidenced by a substantial record of high-quality publications, research leadership, and scholarly impact.

• Significant experience of teaching and curriculum development in higher education.

• Experience of supervising undergraduate, postgraduate and/or doctoral students.

• Evidence of successful academic leadership, including programme development, research leadership, quality assurance, or staff mentoring.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.

• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with industry, professional bodies and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), or equivalent professional actuarial qualification.

• Experience of professional accreditation processes and curriculum design aligned with actuarial professional requirements.

• Experience of leading research groups, securing external funding, or managing collaborative research projects.

• Experience of working at a British university or experience of delivering British university programmes in other countries

• Established links with industry, government agencies, regulators, or professional bodies within the actuarial, financial services, risk management or data science sectors.

About the University

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant, leading-edge research and enterprise, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.

We are a vibrant, forward-looking university, well known for the quality of our degrees, with employers actively seeking out our graduates. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland’s international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to circa 30,000 students in 143 countries worldwide, have a further overseas campus in Dubai and boast the most significant international student cohort in Scotland.

At Heriot-Watt we’ve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership - where our researchers, teachers, staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.

We are proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our focus on careers delivers results and we’ve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

In addition to the Edinburgh campus, we currently have campuses in the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai, and Malaysia. For all our campuses we aim to provide stimulating, supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research, where staff and students can excel. At Heriot-Watt, we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities. Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to be.

Our values are:

• Belong

• Collaborate

• Inspire

• Celebrate

As a learning, living, and working institution, we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we each conduct ourselves as members of Heriot-Watt University. They represent what binds us together as a university community and help us to become the best at what we do. For full details on our university, please view our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/about.htm

‘How to Apply’

Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system a Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post and an updated CV.

This appointment will commence on September 1st 2026.

For any informal queries regarding this role, please contact Roselyne Okuoga ([email protected]) in the first instance.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Learn more about our benefits here: Our Dubai Campus - Heriot-Watt University (hw.ac.uk)

Heriot-Watt University Dubai is (Commission for Academic Accreditation) CAA Licensed; therefore, successful candidates will need to either provide terminal degrees attested from a UAE institution accredited by the CAA or if the degree is not from a UAE Institution, the candidate will need to have MoE (Ministry of Education) Equivalency. More info on attestation can be found here on the MoE website. The candidate is responsible for getting their degree attestations done and these should be completed within six months of joining.

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities.