Job Description and Person Specification

 

Context

The Directors of Imago Mundi Ltd seek a new Chair in succession to Mr Tony Campbell who, after a long and distinguished period of service, has announced that he wishes to retire.

Imago Mundi Ltd is a limited company, registered with Companies House (UK), and also a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It exists to promote the study of maps and map history as an international discipline by:

1.      The publication of Imago Mundi, the only international journal published in English that covers the full chronological and spatial range of map making and map use. Its articles are peer reviewed to a high standard. 

2.      Sponsorship of the biennial International Conferences on the History of Cartography.

 

The post of Chair of Imago Mundi is not remunerated but international travel expenses are reimbursed, and he/she will be supported by an Honorary Secretary. (The role of Treasurer is currently performed by Mr Campbell, but it is intended that his successor will participate in the appointment of a new Honorary Treasurer).

The Chair is, by definition, a Director of the Company and a member of the Board of Directors. Working with the other Directors on the Board of Imago Mundi Ltd (listed at the end of this document), and the office holders, the Chair will provide leadership in the areas of responsibility identified above and expanded on below.

The Chair of Imago Mundi Ltd occupies arguably the key pro bono position in the international field of the history of cartography.

 

Specific duties of the Chair

·         As Chair, the successful candidate will become a Director of Imago Mundi Ltd.

·         Convenes and chairs the Annual Meeting of Imago Mundi Ltd as well as a meeting of the Board held at the biennial International Conference on the History of Cartography, ensuring that meetings are conducted in an inclusive, collegial manner, supportive of all points of view.

• Leads discussion for recommending and filling Board vacancies, whether by renewal of terms of serving Directors or by invitation to potential new Directors.
• Leads discussion for recommending and filling the posts of Honorary Secretary, Treasurer and Editor of Imago Mundi, in the event that posts fall vacant.
• Liaises with, has oversight of, advises and provides support to the Editor of Imago Mundi. While editorial matters are the preserve of the Editor, who reports annually to the Board, the Chair keeps abreast of matters pertaining to the journal.
• Consults regularly with the Editor of Imago Mundi and, in liaison with the other Officers, recommends levels of honoraria to be paid to the Editor and other members of the editorial team.
• Signs and is responsible for contracts with publishers (currently Taylor and Francis); and deals with publishers over business issues.
• Takes responsibility for working with Directors to establish an equitable rotation of judges for the biennial Imago Mundi Prize.
• Acts as co-ordinator of Imago Mundi Ltd’s sponsorship of the International Conferences on the History of Cartography. The Chair, assisted by the Hon. Secretary, oversees the selection process for the host of the ICHC. The Chair acts as the contact point for the conference organisers, and works with the Board to determine which Directors should serve on the paper selection panels for each conference. He/she normally attends the conference (with expenses reimbursed).

·         The Chair of Imago Mundi Ltd is a de facto international ambassador for map history and is expected to liaise with persons such as the Chair of the International Society for the History of the Map, the President of the International Cartographic Association History of Cartography Commission, the Chair of the International Map Collectors Society, the Director of the History of Cartography Project, and other international organizations related to the history of maps and mapping.

·         Imago Mundi Ltd has an established structure for philanthropic fund raising: a Development Board chaired by Director Mr Peter Barber and an ‘American Friends of Imago Mundi’ (formally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in the state of Illinois). The Chair of Imago Mundi Ltd is expected to engage with this work as appropriate.

·         The Chair oversees and, together with the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, is responsible for, interactions with Companies House and the Charity Commission for England and Wales, such as the annual filing of accounts.

·         The Board of Directors has indicated that it would welcome a strategic review of the company/charity following appointment of a new Chair, encompassing (but not limited to) the structure, activities and financial position of the organisation, ways of working, the roles of existing postholders (including the Chair), and the establishment of additional officers.

 

Person specification

·         A demonstrable personal interest in the history of maps and map-making in any period or area;

·         An awareness of the current trends and intellectual parameters in the history of maps in general, particularly as these connect with other disciplines;

·         Evidence of good communication skills, both in writing and orally to academic and lay audiences;

·         Excellent leadership skills with an ability to chair meetings in an open and collegiate manner, encouraging a range of views and being skilled at drawing out a consensus;

·         The post is available equally to a person from an academic, a library/archive, a publishing, or a business background with a strong interest in the history of maps.

 

Terms of Appointment

·         As noted, the post is not remunerated but expenses will be reimbursed;

·         The Directors would like to appoint a person who will commit to a three-year term of office, renewable for a second three-year term.

·         The post is available at a date by mutual agreement between the current Chair and the new appointment.

 

Appointment process

The Board of Directors has established a small search committee to help it make this appointment. Its members are Professor Roger Kain, School of Advanced Study (chair); Professor Alfred Hiatt, Queen Mary, University of London; Dr Carme Montaner, Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya; Dr Mary Pedley, University of Michigan; Dr Katie Parker, Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps and IMCOS (external member).

The Search Committee’s role is to advertise the post; receive expressions of interest; engage in dialogue as necessary with potential candidates; and recommend a name or names to the Board.

In light of the above, the Search Committee invites expressions of interest by emailed letter, addressing points in the job description and person specification above, and supplying a brief CV and the names of two persons who the Search Committee might ask for a confidential opinion. The above should be addressed to Professor Hiatt at [log in to unmask] and should reach him by November 1, 2021, at the latest.

If you would like to discuss the position informally and in confidence, please email [log in to unmask]

The Board of Directors is committed to principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in all it does. It welcomes expressions of interest from persons in groups currently under-represented on the Board.

The appointment will be made by the Imago Mundi Board of Directors. The Directors of Imago Mundi Ltd are:

Tony Campbell (Chair and former Map Librarian, British Library); Alfred Hiatt (Hon. Secretary; Queen Mary, University of London); James Akerman (Newberry Library, Chicago); Peter Barber (former Map Librarian, British Library); Imre Demhardt (University of Texas at Arlington); Matthew Edney (University of Southern Maine); Chris Fleet (National Library of Scotland); Tom Harper (British Library); Markus Heinz (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin); Catherine Hofmann (Bibliothèque nationale de France); Roger Kain (School of Advanced Study, University of London); Peter van der Krogt (University of Amsterdam); Nick Millea (Bodleian Library, Oxford); Carme Montaner (Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya); Anthony Payne (Independent Scholar); Mary Pedley (University of Michigan); Alexey Postnikov (Russian Academy of Sciences); Zsolt Török (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest); Sarah Tyacke (former Chief Executive, The National Archives)