Assistant Manager / Manager, Research

Ideas; Kuala Lumpur; Hybride; MYR 120 000 - 180 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

IDEAS is seeking an experienced Assistant Manager/Manager to shape credible, policy-relevant research informing advocacy. The role blends project and team management with hands-on research, offering opportunities to build a strong portfolio and guide teams in executing rigorous studies.

The ideal candidate has a Master’s in economics or related field and 4–7 years in policy research, with proven leadership and strong communication. Seniority may be considered for a more senior role.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in economics, public policy, public financial management, development studies, or a related field.
• 4–7 years of relevant policy research experience.
• Strong understanding of research design, methodology, and data analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management experience.
• Ability to think strategically and guide teams.

Responsabilités

• Guide the implementation of research projects from inception to completion with rigorous methodology.
• Oversee research execution, manage risks, report issues, and coordinate stakeholders.
• Identify priorities and trends with senior management to address gaps.
• Ensure outputs (policy briefs, reports, presentations) meet high standards.
• Lead the research team and provide coaching and editorial input.
• Engage policymakers, partners and funders to ensure relevance and impact.
• Represent IDEAS at meetings, conferences and policy forums.
• Collaborate with Advocacy and Events to disseminate research findings.

Connaissances

Research design

Data analysis

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Policy communication

Formation

Master’s degree in economics/public policy/public financial management/development studies

Description du poste

Experience in managing or publishing research on economic policy issues, including fiscal policy, public financial management, economic development, trade and industrial policy, and socioeconomic inclusion, would be a strong advantage.

We are seeking a motivated and impact-oriented Assistant Manager/Manager to shape credible, policy-relevant research that informs IDEAS’ advocacy. The position involves both project and team management responsibilities, stakeholder management, as well as quality assurance in the execution of research. The role offers a mix of research supervision as well as direct participation in research, with the opportunity to build a research portfolio within IDEAS. The ideal candidate would demonstrate the ability to guide team members in executing research, devise sound research methodology, and establish processes for data management and credibility.

Candidates with more extensive management and leadership experience, as well as a strong track record in relevant published policy research may be considered for a more senior role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Guide the implementation of research projects from inception to completion, including the design of research frameworks, scoping, methodology, and ensuring credibility in the execution.
• Oversee the execution of research projects to meet objectives, anticipating and mitigating key risks, reporting on issues, and facilitating coordination between internal and external stakeholders.
• With the senior management, identify research priorities, gaps, and emerging trends within the research pillar, and propose strategies to address them
• Ensure research outputs—including policy briefs, reports, and presentations—meet high standards of quality, relevance, and timeliness.
• Contribute to leading the research team by fostering a collaborative work environment while maintaining adherence to research protocols and organisational policies.
• Collaborate with research leads and guide research team members to ensure effective research processes, providing technical input, editorial feedback, and coaching where needed.
• Engage with key external stakeholders, including policymakers, partners, and funders, to ensure research relevance and impact.
• Represent the organisation at meetings, conferences, and policy forums as necessary, building a wide network with stakeholders to support research initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with the Advocacy and Events team to shape effective dissemination and advocacy strategies for research findings, including policy dialogues, public forums, media outreach, and stakeholder briefings.
• Other responsibilities that may be assigned as related to furthering the organisation’s research and advocacy strategy within the Assistant Manager / Manager’s research portfolio.

Requirements:

• A Master’s degree in economics, public policy, public financial management, development studies, or a related field.
• At least 4–7 years of relevant experience in policy research, think tanks, academic institutions, or similar settings, with experience in engaging policymakers being an advantage.
• Strong understanding of research design, methodology, and data analysis, with experience in developing well-structured datasets being a strong advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to produce policy-relevant outputs such as policy papers, briefs, and engagement decks.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management experience, including working with multidisciplinary teams and managing timelines.
• Ability to think strategically, provide constructive coaching and guidance, and adapt to dynamic policy and research environments.