Research Fellows - Sustainable Leadership & Corporate Governance

ZipRecruiter; London; Remote; GBP 200,000 +; Part time

Job summary

A leading global think tank is seeking two Research Fellows to work with the Board of Directors. The role involves strategic community research, competitive analysis, and governance transition support. Ideal candidates are analytical postgraduate students with strong research skills and an interest in sustainability. While the position is part-time and flexible, it unfortunately does not offer compensation at this stage. Applications are to be submitted via email.

Benefits

High-level mentorship

Networking opportunities

Direct influence on institutional change

Qualifications

• Academic background in sustainability, corporate law, public policy or related fields.
• Experience in survey creation and audience segmentation.
• Ability to distil complex findings for senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze surveys for community insights.
• Produce competitive benchmarking reports.
• Synthesize research into strategic recommendations.
• Provide insights for governance transition.

Skills

Research design skills

Data analysis skills

Analytical writing

Interest in sustainability

Education

Postgraduate degree or PhD

Job description

Job Description

Position:

Research Fellows – Sustainable Leadership & Corporate Governance

Institution: The Sustainability Board (TSB)

Location: Remote

Commitment: Part-time, flexible (Experienced, Postgraduate, or PhD students)

About The Sustainability Board

The Sustainability Board is a London based small independent global think tank dedicated to advancing sustainable leadership and corporate governance. TSB has fundamentally influenced global best practice on sustainability board oversight. Over the past six years, our research, roundtables, and executive programmes have helped board directors, CEOs, and board advisors navigate governance preparedness for global issues such as climate change, human rights, AI, nature loss, geopolitics, and equality.

We have recently restructured and now aim to enter a pivotal growth stage, shaping our next five-year strategy, expanding our global reach, and securing sustainable funding to strengthen our independence and impact.

Role Overview

We are looking for two Research Fellows that will work closely with the TSB Board of Directors to help define the institute’s strategic future. This role will be central in reaffirming, or redefining TSB’s focus, ensuring our activities and funding model align with our mission and community needs.

The Fellows will work directly with two of TSB’s Board Members, both former CEOs of important companies, benefiting from high-level mentorship and strategic guidance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Community Research

• Design, launch, and analyse surveys for TSB’s global follower community to identify core interests (e.g., community, events, research, upskilling, policy advocacy).
• Segment findings to highlight opportunities for programme development and donor alignment.

2. Competitive Landscape & Market Analysis

• Research other leading global and non-profit institutes in sustainable leadership, corporate governance, and ESG preparedness.
• Produce a competitive benchmarking report highlighting differentiation opportunities, partnership prospects, and unmet market needs.

3. Funding Model Development

• Analyse global philanthropic and institutional funding trends for think tanks and research institutes within our focus area.
• Map potential donor bases aligned with TSB’s mission, identifying key engagement strategies and value propositions.
• Asses opportunities for dues or other income from follower and user community independent of donor and grant strategy.

4. Strategic Recommendations

• Synthesize research into a forward-looking strategy paper for the Board, outlining:
• Recommended focus areas for TSB’s future activities.
• Viable and diversified funding models.
• Stakeholder engagement opportunities for a global audience.

5. Governance Transition Support

• Provide research insights to help transition the Board of Directors into a governance-focused role ahead of appointing an Executive Director.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking an exceptionally sharp, analytical, and conscientious postgraduate student with:

• Academic background in sustainability, corporate law, corporate governance, public policy, international affairs, business, or related fields
• Proven research design and data analysis skills, including qualitative and quantitative methods
• Experience in survey creation and audience segmentation
• Strong analytical writing and presentation skills with the ability to distil complex findings for senior leaders
• Interest in global sustainability challenges and the intersection of corporate governance and systemic risk
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines

:

• Basic understanding of corporate governance, directors’ fiduciary duties, and the working of boards of directors in general
• Experience with donor or stakeholder mapping
• Knowledge of ESG frameworks and international governance trends

What You Will Gain

• Direct experience shaping the strategy of a globally recognised institute.
• Mentorship from former CEOs and exposure to senior-level leadership thinking.
• Access to senior leaders in corporate governance, sustainability, and public policy.
• A high-profile deliverable that will influence real-world institutional change.
• Networking opportunities with TSB’s board and global partners.

Duration & Compensation

• Start date: Autumn 2025 (Early September)
• Duration: Deliverable due 1st of December 2025 (with potential follow-on engagement)
• Hours: flexible around academic commitments
• Compensation: unfortunately we cannot offer any compensation at this stage, but we will give due credit to the fellows in materials and our website

To Apply:

Submit a CV, and a statement (short cover letter) outlining your interest and relevant skills, as well as a brief writing sample (max. 2 pages) to [e-mail] with subject line: LinkedIn Research Fellow Application – [Your Name]