Main purpose of the post

The overarching role of the person appointed will be to provide leadership for RUSI’s research. As part of this, the job holder will have five key responsibilities:

Maintain and deepen the Institute’s reputation for high quality and independent research, including through identifying key areas for cutting-edge research and opportunities for potential policy impact.
Work closely with research team directors on business development and fundraising, including relationship building, proposal development and securing follow-on work.
Manage the various research team Directors, helping them to deliver on RUSI’s objectives and encouraging the development of productive cross-team programmes.
Oversee the management of the teams responsible for key research support functions, including quality control of RUSI research publications, bids support, and risk management in relation to research funders and travel to high-risk areas.
Be a full member of the Senior Management Team, deputising for the Director-General when asked to do so, and playing a key role in the development of Institute-wide policy.

The successful candidate will be expected to play a key role in providing intellectual leadership the Institute. There is no single RUSI ‘line’ on contemporary defence and security issues. Instead, the Director has a key role in ensuring high standards of evidence-based commentary and research on the most important issues of the day. The Director would be expected to make their own contribution to thought leadership, through both oral and written commentary, including in the media. There will be opportunities for the Director to lead their own research, although this is not primarily a research position.

Key Tasks

Leadership of RUSI’s research activity, working closely with the Director-General;
Management of the research team directors;
Working with research team directors on business development and fundraising;
Oversight of quality control for research publications;
Contribution to the Senior Management Team in providing strategic leadership to the Institute.
The above list of duties is not exhaustive; the post-holder will be required to undertake such duties that may reasonably be expected within the scope and grade of the role.