Programme Director – Asia-Pacific Programme

Chatham House; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37 days annual leave

Pension salary exchange

Employee assistance programme

Parental leave

Flexible working

Job summary

Chatham House is seeking an established and creative thinker to lead the Asia-Pacific programme, shaping coherent assessments of geopolitics and global implications. The role requires building influence with governments, companies and societies, expanding funding for Japan-focused work, and producing high-quality research and convenings.

The candidate will bring extensive leadership of Asia-Pacific research, a strong public profile, and a track record of impactful publications and events.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading outstanding research on Asia-Pacific topics with impact on policy.
• Established public profile and policy network with senior external figures.
• Track record of publishing high-quality work and convening influential events.
• Experience managing and motivating teams across organisational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee research programmes on Asia-Pacific developments and their policy impact.
• Drive funding growth for new work on Japan and NE Asia.
• Plan and convene high-quality research events and publications.
• Manage and develop the Asia-Pacific team across organisational boundaries to maximise impact.

Skills

Research leadership

Policy engagement

Public profile

Team leadership

Job description

Our Asia-Pacific programme provides objective and policy-relevant analysis of key political, security, economic and technological developments affecting this key region. By engaging decision-makers and experts in Asia and beyond, we identify opportunities to improve regional and international policy-making, in support of sustainable and equitable peace and development in the region.

The current programme has built strong capability on China and on India, as well as focussing on understanding the likely long-term trajectory of the region. We are keen to build on these strong foundations by expanding our funding and work on Japan and NE Asia, and to explore the web of connections within the region and to other key actors – notably the US.

We seek an established and creative thinker and leader to build on the institute’s powerful reputation and expertise. The central quality will be the ability to give a coherent and persuasive account of the geopolitics of the region and its impact on the world.

The right candidate will have the skills to further increase our influence and impact on the decisions made by governments, companies and societies, to build our funding base, particularly for new work on Japan, and to produce and oversee research and convening of the highest quality.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience leading outstanding research on Asia-Pacific related topics and of converting that into impact on policy. Expertise on China, NE Asia and/or India an advantage.
• An established public profile and policy network, with a track record of influential engagement with senior external figures.
• A record of delivering high quality publications – your own and your team’s – and of convening engaging and impactful events.
• Substantial experience in management and leadership, developing and motivating teams and working across organisational boundaries to achieve impact.

For further information about the role, please see the full job description here: https://careers.chathamhouse.org/pages/programme-director-asia-pacific-programme

Benefits

Benefits include approximately 37 days annual leave (including 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.

Salary: Competitive.

Contract: Full-time, Permanent.

Location: St James's Square, London. This is a hybrid role based in our London office. 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.

Application closing Date:Wednesday, 28 October 2026,23:59 GMT.

Visa sponsorship is available for this role.

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 anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch with [e-mail].