Senior Research Fellow – Water Governance

Chatham House; London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Chatham House is looking for a Senior Research Fellow with expertise in water governance and environmental sustainability. In this role, you will lead research initiatives, engage with policymakers, and manage funding relationships to influence global water governance strategies. This position offers a chance to operate in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment dedicated to impactful research and solutions.

Benefits

37 days annual leave

Pension salary exchange

Employee assistance programme

Parental leave

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Expert in shaping innovative agendas on environmental sustainability.
• Significant experience in delivering multidisciplinary programmes.
• Engaging with policymakers and influencing decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead research on water governance and policy engagement.
• Manage funding opportunities and external partnerships.
• Ensure high standards in research outputs and communications.

Skills

Environmental sustainability

Water governance

Fundraising

Policy engagement

Leadership

Job description

Senior Research Fellow – Water Governance

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Senior Research Fellow – Water Governance

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The Royal Institute of International Affairs is an independent policy institute based in London. Our mission is to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous, and just world through improvement in international relations.

The Environment and Society Centre (ESC) provides governments, businesses and societies with the information, networks and tools to tackle environmental challenges and advance the world towards a sustainable future through independent, thought-leading research. Our research generates solutions to help mitigate, adapt and build resilience in the face of climate change and natural resource depletion.

Your role will form a critical part of our dynamic, multi-disciplinary team, taking a leading position in our work on the governance of water as a critical natural resource. You will play a leading role in our Fair Water Footprints programme, managing targeted engagement and research to affect systemic change in global trade, financing and investment in multi-national supply chains. You will be highly skilled in linking your in-depth expertise with policy and decision making communities, and will be adept in navigating relationships with key governments in the global north and south, businesses, financiers and civil society.

You will have a curiosity for interdisciplinary approaches and extensive experience in leading teams to develop ideas, translating these into funded research projects, and leading the design and delivery of projects and their interaction of a wider programme portfolio.

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 at [e-mail].

Principal Responsibilities

Strategy

• Build our strategic position as a leader on issues relating to water resource governance, in geopolitics and economics in a changing climate;
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities – crafting new research ideas, grant applications, and fostering new corporate relationships;
• Maintain strong and long-lasting relationships with foundations, government funding departments, corporate sponsors, and other significant funding sources;
• Build a presence and reputation across the house, engaging with Chatham House activities outside the Centre and positively collaborating with central operations;
• Actively contribute to the delivery of the Chatham House EDI strategy, ensuring your team also positively impact this in line with outlined goals.
  
  

Delivery

• Design and delivery of research and convening, within existing and new research projects, with a focus on water;
• Author (and where appropriate co-author) succinct, policy-relevant research and analysis;
• Generate impact by providing leadership and support to convening, research and dissemination, utilizing your knowledge of the topic and your existing network;
• Maintain and improve existing high standards and ensure the quality of convening and research outputs;
• Development of strong networks in relevant areas with policymakers, policy experts and the media, and ensuring projects gain publicity and visibility for activities and research through the website, social media, and other media channels;
• Design engagement and research processes that enables trust building a diversity of voices, expertise and perspectives;
• Build and nurture partnerships with internal and external research partners and co-create innovative research approaches that deliver recommendations for innovative solutions to environmental challenges;
• Establish and maintain the strategic relationships with experts, academia, businesses, governments and non-for-profit organisations to expand our reach, visibility and impact.
  
  

People

• Collaborate across Chatham House to optimise expertise from other thematic and regional programmes and help to mainstream sustainable resource governance issues and learning into the institute’s work on water governance;
• Establish new and maintain existing networks with key individuals, businesses, and institutions which are relevant to our research objectives and expand our reach, visibility and impact;
• Support a culture of continuous improvement, inspiring others by example;
• Contribute towards a working environment where all staff are protected from mistreatment, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, and humiliation. Staff across levels feel able to express their experiences, opinions, and concerns authentically and without fear of retaliation.
  
  

Personal SpecificationEssential Skills and Experience:

• An expert in shaping innovative agendas on environmental sustainability and water governance, ideally coupled with strong understanding of their intersection with trade, finance, and diplomacy;
• Significant experience of successfully delivering substantial initiatives or multidisciplinary programmes of work with high impact;
• A strong track record on engaging with and influencing policymakers and decision makers across different geographies in organisations of influence, including governments;
• Positive experience of collaborative teamwork, planning and decision-making, delivering projects with external partners and consultants to tight budgets and timeframes;
• A creative problem solver, with the curiosity to explore new approaches, topics and ideas and the skills to both think deeply and explore new ways of thinking;
• A capable fundraiser with experience of securing financial support from an established network of philanthropic foundations, government departments, international organisations, businesses and NGOs;
• Proficient author with consistent record of successfully leading the delivery of substantial research outputs;
• Proven track record of effective communications through different mediums – and creative in identifying and delivering unique communication opportunities.
  
  

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: £80,000 per year.

Contract: Full-time, Permanent.

Location: St James's Square, London. Chatham House operates a hybrid working environment with team members expected to attend our stunning building typically three days a week. However, please note this role may require higher levels of in person attendance, travel within the UK and beyond and attendance of events and meetings out of hours.

Closing Date: Sunday 22 June 2025, 23:59 BST.

Please avoid using AI for your application. We want to hear from you! We can tell the difference between a genuine answer and an AI-generated one. Using AI will run the risk of your application being disqualified.

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