Centre for International Security and Economic Strategy (CISES)
Chief of Staff
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
⚠️ Note on Compensation: All positions at CISES, including this Chief of Staff role, are structured as voluntary, unpaid opportunities
About CISES
The Centre for International Security and Economic Strategy (CISES) is an independent British think tank operating at the intersection of economics, security, and geopolitics. With a global network of over 130 analysts and staff across research, editorial, events, and outreach initiatives, CISES connects rigorous policy analysis with strategic decision-making. All roles at CISES are structured on a voluntary and flexible basis.
Role Overview
CISES is seeking a highly organised and proactive Chief of Staff to work directly alongside the Director of Policy. In this executive operations role, you will serve as the organisational anchor for the think tank, driving operational efficiency, streamlining publication pipelines, and facilitating coordination across our four thematic programmes and functional teams.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious early-career professional, Master’s student, or undergraduate student looking to gain high-level management experience in a fast-growing policy environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Executive Operations: Work closely with the Director of Policy to manage executive priorities, track organisational milestones, and streamline internal communications.
- Workflow and Output Management: Oversee progress of publication and operations across the organisation.
- Cross-Team Coordination: Act as the connective tissue between Programme Directors, Editorial, Events, Outreach, and Digital Communications teams to ensure aligned execution of initiatives.
- Administration and Onboarding: Maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), oversee recruitment workflows and templated communications, and coordinate onboarding with programme leads.
- Organisational Governance: Organise leadership meetings, track actionable deliverables, and triage incoming strategic enquiries.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Qualifications and Skills
- Strong background in operations, project management or academic focus in international relations, economics, or a related field.
- Exceptional organisational skills, with proficiency in tracking systems such as Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, Asana, or similar tools.
- Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to exercise a high degree of discretion, manage competing priorities, and operate independently in a remote-first setting.
- Highly motivated and collaborative mindset suited to a dynamic, peer-driven team environment.
What We Offer
- Direct leadership exposure, working alongside senior policy leaders and research experts.
- Hands-on experience managing operations within an established policy think tank network.
- A flexible, remote arrangement designed to fit alongside current studies or professional commitments.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location