Research Associate (AJI - Middle East)

About us

The Centre for Statecraft & National Security (CSNS), based within the Department of War Studies at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], is seeking a Research Associate for its Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy (AJI) programme. They will be engaged on a multi-year research project funded by the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation for Public Benefit.

About the role

The Research Associate will conduct original research and analysis aligned with AJI's core thematic interests and publish reports and other research outputs during the course of their contract.

The successful applicant will have a clear idea of potential topic proposals. We particularly welcome proposals that focus on innovative approaches and/or under-represented regions of study, as well as on areas with the potential to develop applied historical approaches to contemporary geopolitics of the Middle East, and British and American foreign policy in this region.

The Research Associate will work closely with the Centre's members and affiliates as well as with faculty, affiliates, students, and fellows from the other institutes in the AJI consortium, creating a multi-institutional, international community that spans the Atlantic. They will also be expected to contribute to the broader intellectual life of the Centre and to participate in and support AJI's wider programming, including events and other collaborative activities.

The qualified applicant will have a PhD in a field related to history or political science, with direct research experience in statecraft, diplomacy, foreign policy, grand strategy and/or geopolitics of the Middle East. They should have demonstrated skills in applied history, with a strong emphasis on policy engagement. They must be London-based.

This is a full-time post, and you will be offered a fixed-term contract for 24 months.

Research staff at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD qualified in a relevant subject area (such as diplomatic, intellectual, or military history)
• Direct, historically minded research experience in statecraft, diplomacy, foreign policy, and/or strategy, with a specific focus on the Middle East, as well as British and American foreign policy in these regions
• Track record of scholarly publications in leading academic journals or academic presses
• Fluency in Arabic, Farsi, or Urdu
• Experience in translating academic research to policy-relevant outputs
• Methodical approach to work and project planning, with attention to detail and a proven ability to manage and deliver parallel complex projects on time and at a high quality
• Demonstrable experience in the development of networks with government communities, intended to further the relationship between historical study and policymaking
• Experience in organising and running high-quality, large-scale events and engagement activities on time and on budget

Desirable criteria

• Experience in conceptualising and writing successful grant applications
• Experience in managing and reporting on project budgets
• Knowledge of contemporary debates surrounding applied history, statecraft, grand strategy, and world order, and an understanding of how policymakers have looked to history (and historians) in the past, especially within Britain and the Middle East

Further information

At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.