Description

The Royal Institute of International Affairs is an independent policy institute based in London. Our mission is to help improve international relations in pursuit of a secure, prosperous, sustainable and just world. We do this through original research and by convening discussion, helped by our core teams and our global network of fellows. 

We have an outstanding opportunity for an established and inspiring leader to increase the depth and reach of our work in areas that are crucial to Chatham House’s mission. The Research Director – one of four who work closely with the Director in inspiring and guiding our research - will oversee three regional programmes: the Africa, Middle East and North Africa and Asia-Pacific Programmes.

These three programmes, each large and with a distinguished history and impressive recent achievements, are central to Chatham House’s mission. Together with our other regional programmes and thematic centres, they play an important role in driving the broader focus of the House on shaping the evolving world order and its rules and new alliances against a backdrop of a retreat by the US from aspects of its previous role, a desire by China to assert its influence and a search by other countries, especially in the Global South, to influence any new order that emerges.

The role, which sits within our Executive Leadership Team (ELT), falls into three areas:

• Offering intellectual leadership on research work and detailed commentary on reports, expert comments and convening of the individual programmes, and line managing the programme directors of these areas.
• Second, overseeing the budget of these programmes (which are required at least to breakeven). The research director is expected to support the programmes in fundraising and work with them to ensure credible plans for that.
• Third, acting as a leader of Chatham House, through the ELT and the research directors’ meeting. Those in these key meetings take decisions on research priorities, approve proposals and planned publications, agree the budget and pay and promotion awards. ELT members also act as joint leaders of the House, inspiring work and high standards of research, convening and behaviour.

We envision the Research Director role will take 2 days a week. There will also be an opportunity to extend this to five days, by combining this role with research work (depending on the priorities of Chatham House).

To be successful in the role, you must be a leading authority, able to offer clear intellectual framing and structuring of work, and an experienced, supportive leader and colleague. You must be able to offer clear intellectual framing and structuring of work, and an experienced, supportive leader and colleague. Given the centrality of the rise and role of China to the questions we are addressing, expertise in this area is a distinct advantage. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity and we do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch at HR@Chathamhouse.org.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Delivery

You will:

• Advance our intellectual direction, coherence and impact, focussing on the clarity and relevance of research and convening, the quality of evidence, the applicability of policy recommendations and the impact of all our work. You will work closely with teams reporting to you to pursue this strategy and high standards, and advance ideas and projects that span the House in pursuit of its key themes.
• Advance our thinking on China, working with the three programmes you oversee and the other experts throughout Chatham House and its fellows on these questions. Help the programmes consider economic implications where relevant to their recommendations.
• Write some of that work yourself.
• Maintain Chatham House’s approach to impartiality, ensuring that authors argue their way to conclusions not assert them from the start (but also ensuring that they do reach recommendations).
• Line manage the heads of the three teams, reviewing proposals, reports and proposed events, and supporting programme directors to refine and improve these as well as inspiring them to originality and creativity.
• Review teams’ budgets, supporting them in raising revenue and controlling costs.
• Work within ELT to discuss strategy and budgets; support that strategy and steps needed to achieve budgets once agreed by positive communication within the House and Council. Represent your programmes within ELT and Council, taking responsibility for its output and financial performance.
• Take part in the annual decisions on pay and promotions.
• Act as an ambassador and elevate Chatham House and the individual team profiles by external contact and by media; use receptions, conferences and other external work as a chance to bring in contacts and revenue for the House.
• Advance our EDI strategy.

People

• Lead staff in line with our mission, values and competencies, communicating and setting an example of what ‘good looks like'.
• Influence a positive working culture for colleagues, ensuring Chatham House standards of behaviours are followed.
• Establish positive relationships across the institute.
• Drive collaboration between research programmes and other departments, delivering a ‘One Chatham House Approach’ to all work.

Person Specification

Experience 
You have:

• Achieved recognition for your work, with a body of work and with demonstrated impact.
  
• An understanding of fundraising and how to bring in funding.
  
• Experience in researching and writing policy analysis and recommendations for diverse audiences and external publications. Experience of analysis of China’s role in the world and of the geopolitical and geoeconomic consequences is an advantage as is a sure-footedness in discussing economic aspects of these regions.
  
• Experience in communicating research to many audiences including high-level policy makers.
  
• Experience in formulating successful research grant proposals and collaborating with project donors and supporters.
  
• A track record of successful financial planning and management.
  
• Experience of developing and leading a large team.
• Understanding of practices relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and a commitment to implementing this throughout our research activities.

Skills 

You have:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas and messages clearly and concisely in speaking or writing.
• Gravitas and ability to operate at the highest levels internationally with a diverse mix of people.
• Organised research and data analysis skills.
• The ability to prioritise, deliver to tight deadlines and to make judgements in project delivery.
• Understanding of practices relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and a commitment to implementing this throughout our research activities.

Benefits 

This role is expected to be 2 days per week (but can be up to five if a research element – and a plan for fundraising to support that - is added to the core Research Director role). Benefits include approximately 37 days’ annual leave pro rata (inclusive of public holidays and Chatham House closure days), pension salary exchange, employee assistance programme, parental leave, flexible working, and other benefits designed to suit your lifestyle. All of this in a professional, engaging and intellectually stimulating environment.

Visa sponsorship will be considered for the right candidate.

Salary: £120,000 per year, FTE (Full-time equivalent). 

Contract: Part-time, 2 days per week, Permanent. This a part time role but has the opportunity to be extended to full-time combining this role with further research work depending on the needs of Chatham House and the individual’s capacity.

Location: Hybrid (Office/home). Chatham House operates a hybrid working environment with team members expected to attend our building typically three days a week. However, please note this role is likely to require higher levels of in person attendance, travel within the UK and beyond and attendance of events and meetings out of hours.

Closing Date: Tuesday 30 September 2025 (Midnight, UK time). 

The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.