Director and Chief Executive Officer

British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL); London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal research institute in London seeks a Director and Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic oversight and represent the organization globally. The ideal candidate will have intellectual credibility in international law and proven leadership experience to drive growth and maintain academic excellence. Strong communication skills and a strategic vision are essential for this transformative role.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership with senior management experience.
• Ability to inspire high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, financial, and operational oversight.
• Shape the future of international legal scholarship.
• Guide BIICL through pivotal moments.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic vision

Excellent communication

Entrepreneurial drive

Education

Intellectual credibility in international law

Job description

Overview

As one of the world's most influential legal institutes, BIICL combines world-class applied research with a charitable ethos to advance international law, comparative law, and the rule of law. Our research informs governments and international organizations, influences policymakers, and guides businesses across jurisdictions. Through discussion sessions, training programmes, conferences, and our International and Comparative Law Quarterly, we bridge academic excellence with real-world impact.

Following Professor Spyros Maniatis's successful tenure, we seek a new Director and Chief Executive Officer to guide BIICL through a pivotal moment in its history. Reporting to the Chair of Trustees, the postholder will provide strategic, financial, and operational oversight whilst serving as our principal representative on the global stage.

The ideal candidate will bring intellectual credibility in international and comparative law through academic scholarship, senior legal practice, or policy experience. They must be a proven leader with senior management experience, capable of inspiring high-performing teams whilst maintaining BIICL's reputation for academic excellence. Essential qualities include strategic vision, entrepreneurial drive, and the ability to secure sustainable funding through diversified income streams whilst preserving BIICL's independence and rigour.

We seek an individual who embodies our core values of integrity, collaboration, and leadership; an ambassador for the organisation while fostering a collegial culture that supports openness, accountability, and commitment to our mission. The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, able to articulate complex legal concepts to diverse audiences, and command respect at the highest levels.

This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of international legal scholarship and policy whilst leading an institution that plays a vital role in advancing the rule of law globally. The Director and CEO will have a unique platform to influence legal thinking, drive organisational growth, and ensure BIICL continues to set the standard for excellence in international and comparative law.

We hope you share our excitement about this transformative role and the opportunity to lead BIICL into its next chapter of global influence and impact. We look forward to receiving your application.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, financial, and operational oversight of BIICL and serve as the principal representative on the global stage.
• Lead BIICL through pivotal moments with intellectual credibility in international and comparative law.
• Inspire high-performing teams while upholding BIICL's reputation for academic excellence.
• Develop and execute a strategic vision with entrepreneurial drive to secure sustainable funding through diversified income streams while preserving independence and rigour.
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation, fostering a collegial culture emphasising openness, accountability, and the mission.
• Articulate complex legal concepts to diverse audiences and command respect at the highest levels.
• Shape the future of international legal scholarship and policy and drive organisational growth.

Qualifications

• Intellectual credibility in international and comparative law through academic scholarship, senior legal practice, or policy experience.
• Proven leadership with senior management experience and the ability to guide high-performing teams.
• Strategic vision, entrepreneurial drive, and ability to secure sustainable funding through diversified income streams.
• Commitment to BIICL's independence, rigour, and core values of integrity, collaboration, and leadership.
• Excellent communication skills, able to articulate complex legal concepts to diverse audiences and command respect at the highest levels.

Applications

• Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae along with a covering letter addressing the role and person specification.
• Completed applications should be uploaded at https://PLusPortal.PerrettLaver.com quoting reference number 8024.
• For informal inquiries, please contact Cathy Long at [e-mail].
• The deadline for applications is 9:00am BST on Monday 13th October 2025.

Data protection Protecting your personal data is of the utmost importance to Perrett Laver. Personal data may be stored and processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and will be shared with BIICL and clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate or assessing suitability for a role you have registered interest in.