Main Duties:

• To conceptualise, plan, lead and execute the research programme and special projects;
• To develop existing projects and create new ones in order to boost the written, oral and programmatic output of HJS, and to ensure that there is a steady pipeline of work being published in internet and physical form;
• To structure the department in order to manage research staff, increase their productivity, develop their skills and ensure that they meet agreed deadlines;
• To peer review, proof and edit research output;
• To help develop a collegial, united and inspiring atmosphere for all staff across the organisation;
• To conduct your own high quality research and writing, including contributing to drafting funding bids and proposals;
• To engage in public speaking and media commentating.

Person Specification:

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker who is highly motivated, authoritative and keen to play a leadership role as head of a research team and part of the organisation’s senior management team. They will understand the balance required between the freedom afforded by running their own division, and the need to consult with SMT colleagues when proposing decisions that have an organisational impact. They will have:

• Confident writing and speaking skills, and experience of communicating research and policy recommendations to a variety of audiences;
• Confident writing and speaking skills, and experience of communicating research and policy recommendations to a variety of audiences;
• Demonstrable expertise in at least one of the areas of HJS research, or in a topic that fits into the “Home” and “Away” conceptual basis outlined;
• Experience in policy-oriented research, demonstrated by a track record of publications and reports;
• Excellent project management skills and demonstrated ability to manage time, prioritise workload and work to fast moving deadlines.

Desirable:

• PhD;
• Fundraising or successful grant-writing experience;
• Quantitative skills in statistical or data analysis;
• Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, Farsi, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, or another regional language would be an advantage if applying with an expertise where the appropriate language would be considered helpful;
• Experience of working with policymakers.