Strategic Planning Manager, Events

The Royal Institute of International Affairs is an independent policy institute based in London. Our mission is to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous, and just world through improvement in international relations.

The Strategic Planning Manager, Events is a newly created role and will serve as a key and influential member of the Chatham House Events team. This role goes beyond pure content and logistics: it requires editorial judgement, political sensitivity, and strategic insight. The postholder will support the Head of Events in ensuring that every event—whether a private roundtable or a large-scale public convening—advances Chatham House’s institutional mission, reflects the complexity of global affairs, and engages key stakeholders with clarity and impact.

This role is focused on the big picture—why events are being held, for whom, and to what strategic effect. The postholder will help shape and deliver a curated portfolio of events that harnesses Chatham House’s world-class research, responds to global trends, and capitalises on policy windows of opportunity, while also contributing to fundraising and stakeholder engagement objectives.

Acting as a bridge between research programmes and the centralised events function, the postholder will ensure that the institute’s convening power is used to maximum strategic effect. This role will work closely with the Head of Events, Head of News and Comment, and the Director’s Office, often representing the Events team, drawing on knowledge of institutional strategy and research priorities, at the Chatham House Events Committee.

Working with senior leadership, programme directors and communications colleagues, the postholder will lead the Events team’s strategic planning: shaping content that resonates with target audiences, attracts influential speakers, and reinforces Chatham House’s reputation for trusted, high-quality convening. They will be expected to challenge, refine and sense-check proposed formats and framing, with particular attention to political sensitivities, audience appropriateness, and reputational risk. The role spans a wide range of event formats - from high-level private strategy sessions and philanthropic dinners to major public conferences and international convenings.

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 at [email protected] .

Principal Responsibilities

Strategy and Delivery 

Strategic Integration

• Work with the Head of Events to shape a forward-looking events strategy, which boosts advocacy across key stakeholder groups including key funders.
• Collaborate with research programme directors and the Events team to develop an events programme which integrates Chatham House’s strategic and research priorities with timely, topical events at the forefront of public and commercial interest.
• Identify opportunities to convene on pressing international issues, using insights from research teams to shape the agenda and speaker selection.
• Ensure event content upholds Chatham House’s principles of independence, impartiality and editorial quality.
• Help position Chatham House as the go to think tank for convening events on global affairs.

Content Development and Programme Design

• Act as lead editorial voice for events, ensuring quality, clarity.
• Develop event titles and descriptions that are compelling, clear, and reflective of conducive to lively event discussions.
• Curate timely, relevant and policy-relevant event themes and formats across public, private and hybrid platforms.
• Work across research programmes and operations to align event planning with the release of major research outputs and fundraising goals and campaigns.

Event Delivery Across Formats

• Lead the planning and execution of high-stakes, high-profile convenings.
• Plan and deliver a diverse range of events, including: Thematic public or closed conferences; International events and collaborations with partner organisations.
• Adapt content formats to suit audiences, venues and strategic goals, ensuring events are engaging, inclusive and well-executed.
• Invitation-only, high-profile roundtables and dinners with policymakers, diplomats and senior stakeholders.

People

• Serve as a key liaison between the Events team and research teams, ensuring regular coordination and knowledge-sharing.
• Represent the Events team in high-level planning conversations, including at the Chatham House Events Committee, contributing to institutional event strategy.
• Support the Head of Events in liaising with the CEO and other senior leadership on event priorities and opportunities.
• Support the Head of, Production and Content leads with team development by acting as a source of guidance and editorial input for team members developing content for events.
• Support cross-team development of flagship and collaborative events, working closely with Communications and Fundraising teams.
• Work with colleagues in the Events and CRM teams to track and evaluate the performance of research-linked events, utilizing gathered audience data and feedback to refine future programming.
• Contribute to team meetings, strategic planning processes, and internal best practice sharing.
• Contribute to improving systems for cross-institutional planning, impact tracking and post-event follow-up.
• Actively contribute to the delivery of the Chatham House EDI strategy.

Personal Specification

Essential:

• Substantial experience in international affairs, policy, events, journalism, or research communications.
• Strong ability to turn complex research and policy content into impactful events.
• Experience developing and delivering event content for diverse formats and audiences, from intimate private meetings to large public conferences.
• Excellent editorial judgement and writing skills, particularly in developing titles, descriptions, and formats.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience working with senior leadership and external partners.
• Well-organised, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.

Desirable:

• Experience running events in a think tank, policy institute of government.
• Knowledge of international policy and global affairs.
• Experience working in matrixed or cross-departmental environments.
• Line management experience.

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: £50,000 per year.

Contract: Full-time, Permanent.

Location: St James's Square, London. This is a hybrid role based in our London office. The successful candidate will be expected to work onsite at least 3 days per week , with flexibility to increase this during key event periods.

Closing Date: Wednesday 6 August 2025, 23:59 BST.

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