Events Coordinator

The Royal Institute of International Affairs is an independent policy institute based in London. Our mission is to help improve international relations in pursuit of a secure, prosperous, sustainable and just world. We do this by providing independent analysis and advice, and convening meetings of the people and organisations that can bring about change.

Convening at Chatham House is our highest profile activity which underpins our global reputation and influence, advancing our mission and reflecting the complexity and importance of changing international affairs. It includes public events with well-known speakers, panels and private roundtables as well as our flagship conferences. Whether conducted in public or in private under the Chatham House Rule, it is a central way in which we secure influence and explore and advance arguments.

We have an exciting opportunity for a proactive and highly organised Events Coordinator to build on their experience and play a key role in delivering Chatham House’s programme of sponsored and institutional events.

As part of the Events team, you will coordinate the planning and production of a range of events, from smaller member briefings and private roundtables to, on occasion, larger commercial conferences. Reporting to the Head of Event Production, you will take ownership of assigned events from initial delivery planning to driving post-event evaluation, ensuring a professional, seamless and high-quality experience for all participants.

You will work closely with colleagues across the institute including Catering, AV and Facilities, as well as with speaker offices and external partners, to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of events that reflect Chatham House’s values of independence, inclusivity and excellence.

We are an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity and we 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] .

Principal Responsibilities

Planning and Coordination

• Support the Head of Event Production and Event Producers in delivering the annual events programme.
• Take responsibility for planning and producing a portfolio of smaller-scale events, managing logistics, speaker engagement and delivery.
• Contribute to the coordination and delivery of larger institutional conferences when required.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date event information across the CRM and other shared systems.
• Assist with budget tracking and supplier costs where relevant.

Event Delivery

• Lead on the logistics of assigned events, including room setup, AV coordination, catering, registration and online hosting.
• Act as a main point of contact for speaker coordination, preparing and sending speaker invites, briefing materials and ensuring all logistical details are confirmed.
• Build and update event pages on the website as required.
• Support the delivery of major conferences by managing specific elements such as registration, session logistics or speaker and delegation liaison.
• Coordinate post-event follow-up, including feedback collection, evaluation and thank you correspondence.
• Support the oversight of student ambassadors and temporary event staff.

Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across Events and Fundraising, the Director’s Office, Research Programmes, Catering, AV and Facilities to ensure coordinated delivery.
• Liaise with the Marketing and Communications teams on event promotion and audience engagement to ensure campaigns are timely and meet logistical needs.
• Share learnings and contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and systems across the events function .
• Contribute to the delivery of Chatham House’s EDI strategy.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Experience

• Significant experience supporting and coordinating the delivery of events in a professional or policy environment.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident communicator with strong written, verbal and relationship management skills and the ability to work with senior stakeholders.
• A collaborative and positive team player who can take initiative and work independently when required.
• Experience using CRM or event management systems.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office and virtual event platforms such as Zoom.

Desirable Experience

• Experience delivering or supporting conferences, roundtables and other events.
• Understanding of GDPR and data protection principles.
• Interest in international affairs and the work of think tanks or policy institutes.

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: £32,000 per year.

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Location: St James's Square, London. Hybrid – Minimum 3 days per week in the office, with flexibility around event requirements needed

Application deadline: Wednesday 19 November 2025, 23:59 GMT. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Please avoid using AI for your application. We want to hear from you! We can tell the difference between a genuine answer and an AI-generated one. Using AI will run the risk of your application being disqualified.

Please retain a copy of the job description for your records following the submission of your application.