Senior Research Fellow – China and the World

Position description

Are you a China expert who is passionate about researching China’s role in changing the world, and how other nations are reacting?

The Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House is hiring a Senior Research Fellow to study Beijing’s global ambitions, the impact and limits of China’s influence, and how the UK, US and other key partners should respond.

The role will focus on the interplay between China and its major partners and rivals, assessing the effectiveness of different countries’ policies towards Beijing, and suggesting alternative approaches where necessary.

Working closely with our existing Senior Research Fellow for China and other key colleagues, you will be expected to rove across a wide range of inter-connected issues including, but not limited to: US-China rivalry, China’s growing military and security ambitions, China’s relations in the Global South, the repercussions of Beijing’s approaches to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang, and Beijing’s efforts to elevate its global influence from multilateral organisations to technology standards-setting and human rights discourse.

The Senior Research Fellow will have deep knowledge of Chinese politics, foreign policy, economics and/or security, an extensive network of relevant contacts in China and beyond, and the ambition to ask and answer the most important questions about how China’s rise is reshaping the world.

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 do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].

Responsibilities

Strategy

• Develop, design and deliver research projects across a broad spectrum of relevant issues, contributing to the Asia-Pacific Programme’s and the Institute’s strategy;
• Elevate Chatham House and the Programme’s profile by cultivating robust links with policy-makers, experts and the media;
• Identify and pursue relevant opportunities for dissemination of research;
• Develop funding leads and partnerships;
• Generate momentum around Programme projects and seek to maximise their impact;
• Maintain and further develop the international reputation of Chatham House.

People

• Work collaboratively with team members and other colleagues to deliver effective outputs;

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships internally to develop innovative research methods, encapsulate cross-institute links and maximise research impact;

• Establish and maintain the Asia-Pacific Programme’s networks and links with relevant individuals and institutions to expand our reach, visibility and impact;
• Maintain and build on the Programme’s external support network of Associate Fellows;
• Maintain relationships with funders and other key partners , identifying engagement, partnership and funding opportunities.

Delivery

• Work with our existing China Fellow and other team members to successfully design and deliver impactful projects and initiatives with a focus on China and the world;
• Fundraise for the Programme and its projects, developing new partner relationships and maintaining existing ones;
• Produce high-quality policy research outputs, including reports, research papers, op-eds, expert comments;
• Identify and pursue opportunities to communicate and disseminate the work of the Programme through participation in internal and external events in the UK and internationally.

Qualifications

• Expertise and experience working on China with deep knowledge of the country’s politics, foreign policy, economics and/or security;
• An established leader with the authority and experience to analyse, comment and make recommendations on a wide range of China-related issues;
• Fluency in Mandarin;
• An extensive network of relevant contacts in China and beyond;
• Exceptional writing skills;
• Proven track record of effective communications through different mediums, including extensive media engagement;
• Proven experience in successfully delivering high impact programmes of work;
• A record of planning and leading research projects with tight budgets and deadlines;
• A capable fundraiser with experience securing financial support from, and maintaining relationships with, philanthropic foundations, government departments, international organisations, businesses and NGOs;
• Experience working in a highly collaborative environment, partnering with colleagues, wider teams and external partners.

About Chatham House

Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is one of the world’s leading independent policy institutes with a reputation for tackling the hardest problems of international relations that stretches back more than a century. Based in London with a global outreach, we aim to help build a secure, sustainable, prosperous and just world. We pursue our mission through convening meetings and speakers, private dialogue, world leading analysis and solutions-based ideas, and look to help the next generation as well in building a better world.

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: £65,000-£75,000 per annum. 

Contract: Full-time, 3-year fixed term contract (renewal subject to mutual review and funding).

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

Closing Date: Thursday 23 May 2024. You will be notified of the status of your application within 4 weeks of the role closing. 

Application instructions

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