ASSISTANT MANAGER / MANAGER RESEARCH

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS); Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A research and advocacy organization based in Kuala Lumpur is seeking an Assistant Manager / Manager Research to oversee and execute impactful policy-relevant research projects. Candidates should have a Master’s degree and 4-7 years of experience in policy research, with strong project management and communication skills. This role involves managing research teams and collaborating with stakeholders. The ideal candidate will contribute to shaping relevant research narratives and delivering high-quality outputs to inform public policy decisions.

Qualifications

• 4-7 years of relevant experience in policy research or think tanks.
• Strong understanding of research design and methodology.
• Excellent writing skills for policy papers and briefs.

Responsibilities

• Guide implementation of research projects from inception to completion.
• Oversee execution of research projects and coordinate with stakeholders.
• Engage with external stakeholders and represent the organization at events.

Skills

Policy research

Project management

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or related field

Job description

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) – Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur

2mo ago , from Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)

Assistant Manager / Manager Research

Experience in managing or publishing research in topical areas such as climate change, green industrial policy, socioeconomic development and inclusion, fiscal policy, or public financial management 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.

2 positions available