The British Foreign Policy Group occupies a unique position in the thought leadership space.   It focuses on Britain’s place in the world, but in the context of its direct impact on domestic policy and the people – and businesses – of the nations and regions of the UK.

Founded in 2018, it has developed a strong reputation for pioneering work in this area. This has included working with Government to engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the country. It produces regular reports and shorter pieces on the policies, relationships and issues of greatest importance to the UK from the evolving relationship with China to climate change and from AUKUS to the Arctic. It has hosted debates with leading political and diplomatic figures and commentators.  It co-chairs, along with the British Council, the UK Soft Power Group.

The BFPG is a non-partisan not-for-profit think tank and is part of Strategy International, a unique group of well-established independent networks delivering insights, connections and opportunities for businesses and organisations employing over 1.5 million across the UK and considerably more globally. An important part of these networks’ activity is a focus on the strategic interface between business and government at home and overseas.

Our vision is for BFPG to grow its range of activities, consolidating its position as a key thought leader at the interface between geopolitics and the UK’s domestic and economic policy.  As part of this engagement with key domestic constituencies we envisage BFPG playing a greater role enhancing understanding between business and the foreign policy world.

BFPG is a small but flexible organisation in which the Director will play a decisive role. S/he will be supported by a growing number of both Senior Research Fellows who are experts in fields of direct relevance to the organisation (currently soft power and trade policy) and in-house researchers who are typically at an early stage in their careers. Given its interest in the interface between policy and business (eg in supply chain resilience), BFPG can also leverage collaborative opportunities with other parts of the SIL group.

The Director

The Director will lead all the work of BFPG under the guidance of the Non-Executive Chairman, Tom Cargill (CEO, Wilton Park) and the Chairman of SIL, Peter O’Kane. There is also an Advisory Board led by two Hon Presidents, Baroness Stewart of Edgbaston and Sir Simon Fraser.

The Director will be responsible for all the Group’s content and for developing a range of activities and initiatives. Many of these will be in partnership with other organisations, so the Director will need to develop and maintain close productive relationships with a wide range of thought leaders and donors, mostly in the UK but also overseas.

S/he will ensure that the Group is financially sound and growing, through developing revenue streams to match the organisation’s ambition to make a strong impact. This will involve identifying and promoting the value BFPG can offer to business as well as to government and foundations.

The Director will be personally accountable for leading and convening a productive, impactful and happy team and – as a member of the SIL senior leadership – for promoting collaborative relationships across the wider group.

We are now seeking a new Director with:

• Foreign policy and social research experience, gained in think tanks, academia and/or government and who is at home operating both in the broader foreign policy community and engaging with key domestic communities .  S/he should have an interest in UK foreign policy, including prosperity/trade/innovation, as well as the interface with domestic politics and public opinion. S/he should be able to demonstrate the ability to research, write and present on their specialist areas.
• An entrepreneurial approach, keen to find new ways to deliver impact – and to finance it.  Fundraising experience – or at least evidence of the necessary mindset – is essential.  Ideally the Director will be familiar with developing relationships with businesses as well as Government/NGOs.
• A leader with the interpersonal and managerial skills to motivate a diverse team from early career professionals to contract expert advisers.
• A natural collaborator without ego who thrives on finding ways to work with colleagues at all levels and across out group’s entities.

If you wish to express your interest, please send a full CV together with a covering letter setting out your qualifications for the position and your ideas on how you would work to achieve the ambitions set out above. Applications should be sent to jobs@bfpg.co.uk

Applications will close at 12pm on 16th January 2023.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.