Are you a researcher on India and South Asia with a passion to analyse the region’s challenges and opportunities and explain them to the wider world?
The Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, one of the world's leading independent policy institutes, is hiring a Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow (dependent on experience) for South Asia to help us fulfil our mission to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world.
You will be expected to critically examine the prospects for India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and beyond, assessing India’s ambitions for regional and global leadership and its relationships with major powers such as China, Russia, the UK and the US. You will also be expected to monitor and analyse key developments in other important regional countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
This is a broad brief and you will need to join the dots between diverse but inter-connected areas such as domestic politics, the economy, climate change and international relations.
This role is based in London, where we practice hybrid working, with employees expected to work from the office at least 2-3 days per week.
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 with
Main Responsibilities
The main responsibilities will vary between Research Fellow and Senior Research Fellow level, as indicated below:
Strategy
- Assist in the design and delivery of research projects that contribute to programme and institute strategic goals, with a clear view of target audience(s) and potential for impact;
- Produce high quality policy-relevant research outputs for publication by the institute;
- Enhance programme and institute networks for research and influence through establishing and maintaining links with key policy-makers, experts, journalists, businesses, and regional and global institutions;
- Prepare applications, and help secure project funding;
- Formulate and write research grant proposals, develop funding leads and relationships, and create momentum around programme projects (Senior Research Fellow);
- Develop, design and deliver new research projects contributing to the programme strategy (Senior Research Fellow);
- Contribute in shaping the programme and the institute’s strategy for covering South Asia (Senior Research Fellow);
People
- Build relationships and work collaboratively with your programme team, across the institute and externally for the development and execution of projects;
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to evaluate funding needs, identify opportunities and build relationships; draft research concept notes and grant proposals;
- Work with colleagues and external partners to develop innovative research methods, capture synergies across the institute and maximise impact;
- Share learning and insights across the programme and institute as opportunities arise;
- Establish and maintain networks and links with key individuals and institutions, working on our focus areas;
Delivery
- Communicate analysis, insights and policy recommendations based on research to target audiences, including policy makers, media and opinion formers;
- Produce timely, policy-focused research products including long-form papers, shorter briefing notes, op-eds, video explainers and charts;
- Contribute to the design and delivery of programme events, conferences and roundtables;
- Moderate and speak at events as required
- Collaboratively formulate and draft research grant proposals;
- Monitor and evaluate project impact and ensure that target audiences are fully engaged;
- Help maintain an overview of accurate budget management (including research, events and publications);
- Raise project, programme and Chatham House profile through the development of strong networks with policy-makers, policy experts and the media (Senior Research Fellow);
- Successfully deliver projects by defining objectives and outputs, setting and meeting timelines and overseeing budget management (Senior Research Fellow);
- Oversee field research, ensuring proper planning and arrangements, and ensuring proper conduct and safety of teams in the field (Senior Research Fellow).
Requirements
Experience
- Experience researching geopolitics, politics and/or economics in India and the broader South Asia region, whether in an academic, busi