Centre Manager - Global Governance and Security Centre

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 Centre Manager will play a key role in the newly formed Centre for Global Governance and Security which brings together four existing programmes (International Security, International Law, Health Security, and Digital Governance). The Centre aims to amplify the already extensive work that Chatham House conducts on global governance and security, at a moment when international rules and institutions are being questioned and reimagined, particularly by countries which want more say in a future order.

Your role will support the strategy, operation and financial management across a diverse portfolio of Centre activities and projects. You will provide comprehensive programme management support to the Centre and help guide the work of Centre Coordinators as they undertake research activities, event coordination and financial tasks.

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.

Reporting to the Centre Assistant Director, you will:

• Support the management of core Centre activities, ensuring objectives, outputs, evaluation requirements and timelines are met, and the impact of the Centre is reported.
• Support the Centre to deliver activities within given project or activity budgets, in close coordination with colleagues.
• Ensure that Centre events and convening activities are delivered professionally.
• Develop and maintain effective communications and research dissemination systems and be responsible for the coordination of cross Centre events and marketing.
• Assist in the preparation and revision of budgets for new projects and ensure budget control through effective bookkeeping of expenditures, tracking of budgets, accounting records and invoicing.
• Support the preparation of grant applications to funding bodies.
• Effective management, writing and delivery of timely and accurate narrative and financial reports to donors.
• Handle compliance with audits process, prepare reports for auditors and for Chatham House finance procedures.

Line manage Centre Coordinators, ensuring collaborative, efficient and accurate general administration for the Centre.

• Drive the professional development, promoting a training and development agenda; identifying areas that need attention and improvement.
• Empower and build a positive working culture for direct reports to thrive, ensuring good practice is shared and Chatham House standards of behaviours are followed.
• Build and maintain relationships with colleagues, funders and partners ensuring you contribute to meeting the Centre’s goals.
• Manage outreach and influencing strategies with internal and external stakeholders, consultants and partners.
• Help to establish and maintain links with key individuals, businesses, and institutions around the world working on relevant issues.
• Deputise for the Assistant Director.

Support the implementation of the Centre’s strategy and understand how this fits into Chatham House’s mission and overarching strategy.

• Assist the Assistant Director and Centre Director in developing work streams and identifying, planning and developing projects.
• Collaborate with other Programme and Centre Managers in the House to build efficiencies and resilience.
• Review and evaluate Centre practices and procedures, and lead on the agreed implementation of new processes.
• Maintain strategic relationships with experts, academia, businesses, governments and non-for-profit organisations to expand our reach, visibility and impact.
• Assist in the development of the Centre’s profile and media relations.
• Actively contribute to the delivery of the Chatham House EDI strategy.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Able to work in a busy environment and under tight timeframes, whilst completing a variety of simultaneous tasks from start to finish and to a very high standard;
• Strong experience in budgeting, financial reporting and programme management;
• Experience in supporting the successful delivery of a wide range of outputs;
• Experience in leading the coordination and delivery of high-quality events;
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail;
• Able to think on their feet, use initiative and make decisions effectively under pressure;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a collaborative approach, and able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people at all levels, internally and externally;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Good IT skills and familiarity with Office 365 suite (inc. MS Teams, Word and Outlook).

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: £46,000 per annum.

Contract: Full-time, Permanent.

Location: Hybrid (Office/Home), minimum 2 days in the office per week.

Closing Date: Tuesday 22 April 2025, 23:59 BST. You will be notified of the status of your application within 4 weeks of the role closing.

Please note: We screen candidates anonymously. We will not see your personal information before your application has been moved forward in the process. Please exclude any personal or identifiable information in your application answers including your personal statement.

The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.