Chief Executive Officer

Regional Studies Association

About the Organisation

RSA is the global community for regional and urban research, development, and policy. As a learned society for regional studies, it provides an authoritative voice for researchers, students, and practitioners from disciplines including economics, geography, political science, planning, urban sociology, transport planning, and other fields.

RSA delivers its charitable aims through knowledge exchange and policy engagement activities, its portfolio of journals and publications, its program of conferences and events, and its worldwide territorial and research networks. The RSA also runs a grant funding program and recognizes good practice in regional studies through its awards. It is an inclusive, diverse, and environmentally responsible organization.

About the role

We are an independent, global and multi-disciplinary learned society, based in the UK. We support the fields of regional studies and regional science. Our community includes those from policy and practice in addition to researchers from the fields of business and management, economics, geography, political science and planning. We have a strong policy-facing tradition.

The Association supports its international membership (85 countries) and wider community of researchers and policymakers in regional development and policy through a range of publishing, conferences, grant funding and advocacy activities. Our charitable aims and objects are to support the field, to provide a platform for the effective dissemination of research findings and to encourage discourse and engagement.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Essential Criteria:

• Proven experience of managing and leading a multi-skilled professional team and working effectively with an international community of researchers and policy makers
• Knowledge and appreciation of the international higher education landscape and membership organisations
• Demonstrable ability to multi-task, managing a complex and busy portfolio of activities, many of which are time-sensitive
• Practical understanding of organisational finances
• Understanding of company, charity, contract and employment law as it applies to the learned society sector
• Excellent interpersonal, written and spoken communication skills

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive, including pension, depending on experience
• Six months of probation

Conditions of employment

• You need to be eligible to work in the UK.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the Sussex office and remotely
• This role will involve travel both in the UK and abroad

How to apply

• Apply on our website
• To receive an information pack on this role, including details on how to apply, please send an expression of interest and an optional (but appreciated) CV or professional profile in confidence to Sally Hardy c/o [email protected]. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please get in touch with Sally Hardy at [email protected] with suitable times to talk.
• The closing date for applications is 9 am (GMT), Monday, 30th November 2026

Policies

We are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions—including recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion—are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual merit, without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

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