Director Research Business Development

Join to apply for the Director Research Business Development role at Royal United Services Institute

Salary range: £90,000 – £100,000 (depending on skills and experience). Appointments are made at the bottom of the scale.

Location:

London Office

Contract:

Full time, Permanent

About RUSI

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is registered charity and an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation that serves as a think tank engaged in evidence-based research on defence, security and geopolitics. RUSI’s main activities include research, publications, hosting member and other events, training, and capacity building to develop and disseminate practical policy solutions to pressing global challenges. Our mission and values are underpinned by the ambition to build a more secure, equitable and stable world.

Main purpose of the post

We are seeking to appoint an experienced individual to spearhead RUSI’s research fundraising efforts. The successful candidate will broaden and grow opportunities for research income by identifying, pursuing, and delivering new funding for research across the Institute, while aligning with RUSI’s ongoing research priorities and strategic plan.

The postholder will lead a wide range of research business development activity, including overseeing major competitive bids to governments and multilateral bodies; developing proposals for and building relationships with foundations; building partnerships with think tanks, primes, and academia; and securing flexible funding for RUSI’s research programmes from corporate and high-net-worth individuals (working closely with the Development Director and Memberships team). They will work alongside RUSI’s research directors, subject-matter experts, and central services to support RUSI’s research groups with research fundraising and to develop cross-cutting opportunities.

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• The number and quality of new and incremental opportunities and strategic relationships initiated for research funding;
• Tangible progress towards RUSI’s strategic plan objectives, particularly in generating funding for cross-cutting research priorities;
• Consistently high-quality, reliable, and timely support to research teams, enabling them to meet funding goals and targets; and
• The strong performance and professional development of the Business Development team.

The Director of Research Business Development will lead a team including a Bids Manager and BD Coordinator. The successful candidate will report to the Director of Research and will be a member of RUSI’s Management Group and Impact Committee.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Research Funding Leadership

• Design and deliver an annual research fundraising strategy for each research group and the cross-cutting themes aligned to RUSI’s institutional priorities, in partnership with research leadership and SMT.
• Identify and prioritise high-value funding opportunities from foundations, governments, corporates, multilaterals, academic consortia, and major donors.
• Ensure funding approaches reflect RUSI’s strategic plan, research capacities, and long-term ambitions.
• Maintain oversight of major bids and cross-programmatic activity, ensuring consistent standards, strong narratives, cost recovery, and competitive positioning.
• Strengthen business development processes (e.g., go/no-go decision-making, competitive awareness, pricing, cost recovery, forward planning, and due diligence).

2. Funder & Partner Development

• Build and nurture relationships with foundations, government departments, primes, and relevant research and civil society networks.
• Work with the Director of Development and the Memberships Team to align approaches to high-net-worth individuals and corporates where research funding is relevant.
• Support research leadership in growing and stewarding their funder portfolios by identifying new opportunities and offering guidance on strategy, messaging, and relationship management.
• Work with SMT and research leadership to deliver the funding goals of the strategic plan for cross-cutting research priorities.
• Lead and oversee large, cross-Institute opportunities, including competitive…