Research Director - Global Governance and Security Centre

Chatham House; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading policy institute in London is seeking an established Research Director to lead the Global Governance and Security Centre. The role involves providing intellectual leadership, ensuring budget goals are met, and collaborating within the Executive Leadership Team. Applicants should have substantial policy-relevant work experience, proven fundraising success, and the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences. The position is hybrid, requiring attendance in the office most weeks, with a competitive salary of £120,000 per year and generous benefits.

Benefits

37 days annual leave

Pension salary exchange

Employee assistance programme

Parental leave

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Substantial body of influential, policy-relevant work with demonstrated impact.
• Experience developing and leading teams, embedding positive cultural change.
• Proven success in fundraising and grant proposal development.

Responsibilities

• Offer intellectual leadership on research work and commentary on reports.
• Act as a leader within the Executive Leadership Team.
• Ensure that the centre meets its budget.

Skills

Policy-relevant work

Team leadership

Fundraising

Financial planning

Complex communication

Job description

About us

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. 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, through our core teams, our global network of fellows and our invited guests.

The Role

We are seeking an established and inspiring Research Director to lead Chatham House’s Global Governance and Security Centre. This is an exceptional opportunity to provide intellectual leadership across key research programmes, increasing the depth and reach of our work in areas crucial to our mission. As part of this role, you'll also join our Executive Leadership Team, shaping the strategic direction of our institute. The role broadly 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, acting as a leader of Chatham House, through the ELT and the research directors’ meeting.
• Third, ensuring the centre hits its budget.

What We're Looking For

• A substantial body of influential, policy-relevant work with demonstrated impact.
• Experience developing and leading teams, embedding positive cultural change.
• Proven success in fundraising and grant proposal development.
• The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences, including high-level policymakers.
• A track record of financial planning and management.
• Gravitas to operate at the highest international levels.

Please see the full job description here: https://careers.chathamhouse.org/pages/research-director-global-governance-and-security-centre

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

£120,000 per year.

Contract

Permanent. 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).

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.

Application closing Date

Sunday 11 January 2026,23:59 GMT.