Established in 1947 as the British Institute of Management, CMI was founded in the wake of the Second World War to help rebuild British industry. In 2002, Her Majesty’s Privy Council granted our Royal Charter, designating CMI as the standard-bearer for the profession of management, meaning we are the only organisation able to award Chartered status. For more than 75 years, we have inspired modern managers to become successful, confident leaders. Our goal remains the same today as it was at our founding: to raise the quality and standard of management in the workplace. Having developed the very first diploma in management studies, we have remained at the forefront of management training and thinking ever since. To deliver our mission, we work with businesses and education providers, inspiring people to unleash their potential and become skilled, confident and successful managers and leaders. Right now, we have 220,000 members and more than 147,000 people currently training to be better leaders across our partner network, both in the UK and internationally.

THE ROLE

Thank you for your interest in joining CMI. We’re offering a fantastic opportunity to lead and expand our established Policy and External Affairs Directorate within a growing organisation that is truly making a difference to people’s futures. 

In a General Election year, we’re looking for an accomplished policy and external affairs director to spearhead our Policy, Public Affairs/Campaigns, Research, and Media Relations functions and continue building CMI’s influence as a UK and global thought leader on management, leadership, D&I, and more. 

In this substantial role, you will help to deliver the core purpose and mission of CMI through your responsibility for developing our policy and external affairs strategy, and by working collaboratively with other departments. This is a role that aligns closely with our corporate vision and mission: you’ll be increasing our overall visibility and impact through original, exciting thought leadership, your personal credibility, and ensuring we have a point of view that truly sets us apart. 

As this is also a role on CMI’s Executive Leadership Team, the Board will look to you to produce, refresh and execute strategic plans that ensure our objectives are met. You will focus on how we can best utilise our thought leadership and insights to prove the value of our offering, and align our policy work to corporate priorities. You will also contribute broadly to our overall strategy development and to business initiatives that assist CMI’s growth and development, while addressing opportunities and threats.

You will mentor and develop a team of 12, encouraging innovation and accountability, and ensure we recruit exceptional talent. To manage CMI’s resources effectively and responsibly, you will be someone who leads through a culture of continuous improvement, and who is focused on delivering value for money and the highest standards of quality.

As the engine room of all CMI’s thought leadership and insight, you’ll catalyse the work of our Heads of Research and Policy, identifying opportunities to develop strong relationships with Government and industry stakeholders. Your efforts will ensure we’re working as well as we can be to leverage our thought leadership and shape public policy today and in years to come.