DESCRIPTION

The Royal Institute of International Affairs is an independent policy institute based in London. Our mission is to help build a secure, sustainable, prosperous, and just world through improvement in international relations.
This is a time of rapid and consequential change in international security. Inter-state war has returned to prominence alongside unprecedented technological changes that are reshaping military power and homeland resilience. Defence budgets are rising, and there is renewed emphasis on deterrence, both conventional and nuclear, to preclude further wars.
International security is multi-faceted. There are acute security challenges below the threshold of conventional war, which involve grey zone, cyber and hybrid threats towards states and societies. Above the threshold of conventional war, nuclear weapons arsenals are being modernised and, in some cases, expanded. The incentives for nuclear proliferation are increasing; the calculations around the strategic utility of ballistic missiles and defences against them are changing. Approaches to conflict management and conflict resolution must adapt to these realities and to the broader geopolitical shifts taking place in world affairs.
Chatham House’s International Security Programme, a central part of our Centre for Global Governance and Security, is at the forefront of making sense of the changing international security landscape and of shaping the policy agenda. The role of Programme Director is to lead Chatham House’s work on international security, defence and strategy.
We seek an established thinker and leader to build on the institute’s powerful reputation and expertise in this area, to increase our influence and impact on the decisions that governments, companies and societies make on these fronts. This is an outstanding opportunity for an authoritative, imaginative policy expert to join us and lead one of our highest profile streams of work, helping shape these decisions.
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 HR@Chathamhouse.org.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Extensive experience covering inter-state warfare, defence adaptation and strategy, with the openness and enthusiasm to work with Chatham House’s existing subject matter experts who specialize in other areas of International Security.
• Conversant in other sub-disciplines of international security including hybrid and cyber warfare, terrorism and insurgency, and extending to conventional/nuclear deterrence and arms control.
• Flexibility of mind to think globally and beyond specific security or conflict scenarios. An enthusiasm for actively tracing the linkages between different geographies and actors.
• An established public profile and a record of delivering high quality publications and activities.
• Substantial experience in senior management, developing and motivating teams.
• A strong network of policy and funding contacts with a track record of successful fundraising.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas and messages clearly and concisely in English.
• Understanding of practices relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and a commitment to implementing this.