About Chatham House

We are a policy institute based in London known for rigour and vigorous independence, with a reputation built on more than a century of convening, research and proposals to solve the world’s most intractable problems. We do this through original research and by convening discussion, through our core teams, our global network of fellows and our invited guests.

At this extraordinary time in international relations, there is tremendous demand for our work. Governments, companies, civil society organisations and individuals come to us to help advance arguments and proposals about the order of the world that may emerge from the immense shifts now underway – from the rivalry between the US and China to the questions about whether arms control, security, migration, new technology and the environment will be governed by agreements.

We are now seeking a Head, Events Programming who will shape the direction and detail of the Chatham House events programme. Reporting to the Head of News and Comment and liaising closely with the Director/CEO, you will work closely with our events and fundraising teams to ensure that our convening reflects institutional priorities, maintains editorial quality and enhances our reputation for trusted, policy-relevant dialogue. This role is crucial to the institution’s influence, reputation and global presence and ensuring each event works towards our greater goals, contributing to the overall Chatham House strategy.

This role focuses on the conception and design of event content (with a separate team focused on production). Your deep understanding of international affairs - the most urgent topics, the trends and the political sensitivities - will be matched by your skill in framing questions and debates, pushing for answers and your skill in communicating the results and bringing in audiences in a fast-changing landscape of media and social media.

The successful candidate will work across the house, so must have the desire and skill to build strong relationships, especially across our research, events production, communications and fundraising colleagues to develop an engaging portfolio that attracts leading speakers and reaches and grows the institute's diverse global audience. Increasing that audience will be part of the responsibility of the Head, Events Programming, working closely with the Head of News and Comment.

Key responsibilities

• Design and deliver a coherent annual event programming plan, firmly aligned with institutional strategy and research priorities.
• Curate compelling and timely event topics in collaboration with research colleagues and other internal and external partners.
• Frame event questions, titles and narratives that advance Chatham House’s mission and enhance public understanding.
• Ensure that events effectively reach key audiences, including policymakers, business leaders, the media, and the wider public, and that speaker and panel selections reflect strong diversity and inclusion.
• Maintain awareness of emerging global issues and trends to inform planning and ensure our convening remains relevant.
• Work with the communications team on event promotion and post-event amplification to maximise reach and influence.
• Partner with the Head of Events Production to evaluate performance, identify trends and make informed decisions about the use of resources, tracking key metrics.
• Identify inefficiencies in processes and streamline them.
• Contribute to Chatham House's EDI principles. Work with our corporate teams, ensuring what we sell aligns with our core strategy, and we are attracting the best speakers and guests.
• Represent Chatham House at relevant external events and maintain relationships with moderators, speakers and institutional partners.
• Create a working environment where all staff are protected from mistreatment, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, and humiliation.

Person Specification

Essential

• Strong editorial and analytical judgement, with the ability to sense-check proposed events and determine when a topic, format or speaker is appropriate for Chatham House.
• Alertness to political and regional sensitivities; sophistication in framing a debate to bring out differences of opinion and highlight controversies for discussion.
• Skill in the selection and briefing of moderators to produce a debate that illuminates differences of opinion.
• Demonstrated experience in event programming or convening on international policy issues.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams and with senior stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, able to balance multiple priorities under pressure.
• Sound understanding of global policy, political and economic trends.
• Commitment to the values of independence, rigour and inclusion.
• Experience in managing or mentoring staff or contributing to team development.
• Understanding of reputational risk and institutional positioning.

Desirable

• Experience in events promotion, audience growth and marketing communications.
• Familiarity with audience engagement strategies and digital event formats.
• Experience of working within a think tank, media organisation, political organisation or similar public policy environment.

Application link: https://careers.chathamhouse.org/jobs/7003479-head-events-programming

We are an equal opportunity employer; we value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is any way we can improve your application experience, please contact us on HR@chathamhouse.org.