Director, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

Director, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

Join to apply for the Director, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy role at Royal United Services Institute

Salary Range: up to £82,000 based on skills and experience.

Location: London Office

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

About RUSI

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is the world’s oldest, and the UK’s leading, independent think tank engaged in cutting edge research in defence and security. Its mission is to inform, influence and enhance public debate on a safer and more stable world. RUSI is a research‑led institute, producing independent, practical and innovative analysis to address today’s complex challenges.

About the team

The Proliferation and Nuclear Policy (PNP) team conducts research and convenes dialogue on a range of nuclear, chemical and biological weapon matters. The team has five main programmes of work:

• Understanding deterrence and risk in the new nuclear age
• Analysing efforts to curtail the spread of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery
• Strategic and security aspects of civil nuclear power
• Understanding chemical and biological weapon threats
• Building nuclear policy networks and encouraging learning

The team’s recent work has covered UK nuclear weapons programmes and policy, Iranian nuclear futures, North Korean WMD capabilities, Russian nuclear doctrine, nuclear safety and security during armed conflict, issues related to the resilience of civil nuclear supply chains, and a range of other subjects related to nuclear deterrence, arms control and proliferation. The team also has a wider interest in other WMD issues – including chemical and biological weapons – and matters pertaining to developments in delivery systems and missile defence.

For the past twelve years, the PNP team has been the UK lead for the high‑level France‑UK‑US Trilateral Nuclear Dialogues. We are also one of the leads for the UK Nuclear Deterrence Network, in collaboration with King’s College London and the University of Leicester. Finally, we run the UK Project on Nuclear Issues, our flagship effort to develop emerging nuclear scholars and professionals, to connect them to one another and to more established voices in the field, and to provide them with a platform for their analysis.

The team’s expertise and advice are widely sought by governments, Parliament, civil society organisations and industry. Across all its programmes and lines of work, the team writes public and private analysis papers, briefs policymakers and parliamentarians, brings people together in high‑level discussions and next‑generation networks, and contributes to public debate.

Our community of partners and our audiences include officials, experts, military personnel, industry, scientists and engineers, and many of our events are also open to the public. We cooperate closely with other RUSI teams, including Military Sciences, and the Centre for Finance and Security (CFS).

About the role

We are seeking an inspiring leader with a strong background in WMD issues to provide strategic direction to our team. The post holder will have three key responsibilities:

• The Director will lead in business development; maintaining and growing the level of financial support for the programme; promoting the team’s work; and managing relationships with key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. This includes taking active steps to develop the team’s portfolio beyond nuclear issues.
• The Director will maintain and deepen the team’s reputation for high quality and independent research, including through identifying key areas for cutting‑edge research and opportunities for potential policy impact, delivering programmes of research as part of the team, and providing rigorous quality control of all outputs.
• The Director will manage and mentor our team of in‑house researchers and will represent PNP at the Management Group level within RUSI.

Key tasks

The new Director will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic direction and leadership across the team.
• Business development and fundraising for the programme.
• Overseeing delivery of PNP’s portfolio of research and other projects and maintaining and improving our standards.
• Relationship management with key individuals, organisations, and stakeholders at senior levels in the UK and abroad.
• Identifying opportunities for collaboration, both internally and externally.
• Leading, encouraging and supporting the development of staff.
• Supporting and strengthening RUSI’s reputation within the nuclear and wider WMD field.
• Ensuring diversity, equality and inclusion remain a key consideration across the team’s work and activities.

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.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven expertise on one or more aspects of WMD issues, and at least a sound understanding of nuclear weapons issues if the candidate’s primary expertise lies elsewhere.
• Track record of successful fundraising, either by bid‑writing or other methods.
• Management experience, including supervision or line management.
• Budget management, or significant involvement in financial planning and reporting.
• An understanding of the relevant stakeholders for WMD‑related research both in the UK and internationally.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain a network of influential contacts in the WMD field.
• Experience in interacting with decision‑makers and officials.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and a proven track record of communicating to RUSI’s key audiences, including policymakers and opinion formers.
• Excellent team‑working and interpersonal skills.
• Personal commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Desirable skills and experience:

• A track record of publications on WMD issues.
• Media work and public speaking.
• Monitoring and Evaluation training and/or experience.

We expect all staff to abide by and promote our RUSI’s Vision and Values (https://rusi.org/content/values) and Equal Opportunities Statement.

Benefits and Remuneration

• 25 days annual leave (rising with service).
• Generous pension contributions at 6% employer contribution.
• Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to free participation in RUSI’s world‑leading programme of events and conferences, research materials and library.
• Discretionary closure days over Christmas.
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave (depending on length of service).

Application Process

To apply, please click the apply button and follow the instructions to submit:

• Your CV.
• Cover Letter, no longer than 1 page, explaining your interest in the role and any significant relevant skills and/or experience.

The closing date for applications is 8th December 2025.

Please DO NOT submit multiple applications for this vacancy. We no longer accept applications to our recruitment mailbox; applications received in our mailbox will not be processed.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the closing date may be brought forward if needed. Early application is encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Equal Opportunity and Values

At RUSI you will be appreciated and valued. Our stakeholders, transactions, and projects are international and diverse, so we work hard to create inclusive teams that support our efforts and each other. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in our workforce and make it as diverse as the communities we serve. Our recruitment data helps us monitor the effectiveness of our recruitment practices so that we can continue to improve on creating a more diverse workforce.

We’re aware that the questionnaire may not capture the rich complexities of our backgrounds and identities, so we apologise if these are not best described. Please note that this data will be kept confidential and separated from your job application. If you are uncomfortable sharing, choose "Prefer not to say" or skip the questions entirely.

If you have any questions, please contact hr@rusi.org

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