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 independent, thought-leading research to provide evidence to governments, businesses and societies on how to tackle environmental challenges and advance the world towards a sustainable future. It looks at the political and economic obstacles to positive environmental outcomes and argues for international and regional agreements and dialogue to make progress.
We are looking for a Senior Research Fellow to lead our work on the energy transition and climate mitigation, one of ESC’s central strategic pillars of research. Our environmental work requires someone with deep expertise in the energy transition, climate risks and their interaction with geopolitics and geoeconomics who can lead and shape this workstream within the wider Environment and Society Centre. The work is likely to look at the geopolitical implications of transition from fossil fuels, and to generate advice and analysis on the existing, and future, global governance and environmental standards required in key areas like critical minerals supply chains and low carbon technologies. Working closely with our Global Economy and Finance team, the work will also look at the effectiveness of climate finance and other mechanisms such as loss and damage funds in driving implementation of climate and energy policy. The work has a truly global perspective, working closely with Chatham House teams in Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Asia as well as Europe and North America.
In this role, you’ll play an integral part in the leadership team that leads ESC, working closely with other Centre leads and the leadership of Chatham House overall. You will contribute to developing and implementing the strategic direction of ESC’s work, ensuring that it produces high quality analysis on how to keep the energy transition on track, advancing decarbonisation through cooperation, and shaping international debates.
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 [email protected].
Principal Responsibilities
Strategy and Delivery
- Support the Centre’s Director and the Director of Chatham House by shaping a strategy for the climate and energy transition work that has intellectual depth and rigour, focuses on influence, aligns with Chatham House’s mission and is integrated with the work of country, governance and economics teams.
- Lead the design and delivery of new projects and initiatives in collaboration across ESC’s thematic leads and across Chatham House.
- Generate impact by providing leadership and support to convening, research and dissemination, using your existing network.
- Take responsibility for the quality of convening and research on your topics. Raise Chatham House’s profile through development of strong networks with policymakers, policy experts and the media, ensuring projects gain visibility through the website, social media, and other media channels.
- Actively contribute to the delivery of the Chatham House EDI strategy including recognition of the importance of a diversity of opinions in discussion.
Funding and Finance
- Lead in the delivery of new funding opportunities – crafting new research ideas, grant applications, and fostering new corporate relationships.
- Build and maintain relationships with project funders; take responsibility for the timely and efficient delivery of work and the overall profitability of the stream of work within the Centre.
- Collaborate closely with internal fundraising teams to enhance Chatham House’s financial security.
- Work with Centre’s Director and Assistant Director on financial management with fundraising strategy and budgetary control to ensure that Centre financially breaks even
People
- Work with the Centre’s Director to ensure structure and work plans that provide the team with a clear research direction and so that team members understand how they contribute to our purpose and mission
- Deputise for the Director of the Centre as required.
- Build and foster productive and positive relationships across the institute, ensuring Chatham House standards of behaviour and collaboration are embraced.
- Influence a positive working culture for colleagues, ensuring Chatham House standards of behaviours are shared and followed. Line manage and project manage research staff.
Personal Specification
Essential Skills and Experience:
- An established and influential leader working on climate and low carbon energy transition, with a strong background in economic and geopolitical analysis
- Experience in BRICS+ emerging economies
- Proven experience in successfully delivering substantial initiatives or multidisciplinary programmes of work with high impact
- A proficient author with a consistent record of successfully leading the delivery of substantial research outputs
- An effective fundraiser with a track record of securing financial support from an established network of philanthropic foundations, government departments, international organisations, businesses, and NGOs
- A strong track record on engaging with and influencing policymakers and decision makers in organisations of influence
- A proven leader, with the ability to successfully develop, lead and motivate teams towards wider goals
- 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 Financial acumen or willing to develop this skill further
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: £90,000 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 6 July 2025, 23:59 BST.
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