Policy Researcher

Khazanah Research Institute; Kuala Lumpur; Hybrid; MYR 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Institutionally funded research

Autonomy and impact

Professional growth

Cross-sector exposure

Flexible working

Job summary

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) is seeking researchers to advance policy-relevant knowledge on household wellbeing, labour, public finance and more. The role spans design, data analysis, and communicating findings to inform Malaysian policy.

We welcome applicants from fresh graduates to senior researchers. The position offers a hybrid working arrangement with opportunities for professional growth and cross-sector collaboration.

Qualifications

• Degree in economics, statistics, public policy, sociology, anthropology, development studies or related social sciences.
• Master's or PhD is an advantage.
• Familiarity with quantitative evidence and coding is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct high-impact policy research on issues facing Malaysian households, workers, firms, cities and institutions.
• Conduct literature reviews to assess existing evidence, identify research gaps and inform research design and policy analysis.
• Gather and analyse evidence using methods suited to the question: quantitative and qualitative, or mixed methods.
• Produce research papers, policy briefs, and short articles to raise public awareness.
• Engage policymakers, regulators, civil society, the media and the public through briefings and public events.

Skills

Quantitative methods

Qualitative methods

Programming (Stata R Python)

Education

Degree in economics or related social sciences

Master's or PhD an advantage

Tools

Stata

R

Python

Job description

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) was formed in 2014 and is funded by Yayasan Hasanah and Khazanah Nasional Berhad. KRI is independently governed by its own Board of Trustees and provides independent views that enrich public policy research and advocacy space in Malaysia.

KRI is dedicated to Advancing Malaysia through rigorous, evidence-based research that results in actionable policy recommendations that improve the welfare of Malaysian families, uplift their communities and drive inclusive progress.

For more information on KRI, visit www.KRInstitute.org and follow us on social media, @KRInstitute on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Khazanah Research Institute on LinkedIn and YouTube.

About the Role

KRI is recruiting researchers to work in depth on a policy area: household wellbeing and social protection, labour and human capital, public finance, firms and industry, trade and global governance, urban and spatial change, or digital systems, and use rigorous empirical methods, quantitative, qualitative or mixed, to answer questions that matter for Malaysian households.

We welcome applications from fresh graduates through to mid-career and senior researchers for the roles of Research Associate/Senior Research Associate. The level of appointment is determined by KRI on the basis of experience and demonstrated past work.

What You Will Do

• Design and conduct high-impact policy research on issues facing Malaysian households, workers, firms, cities and institutions.
• Conduct literature reviews to assess existing evidence, identify research gaps and inform research design and policy analysis.
• Gather and analyse evidence using methods suited to the question: statistical and econometric analysis of survey and administrative data; interviews, short-term ethnography, and document analysis; or mixed methods.
• Produce research papers, policy briefs, and short articles to raise public awareness.
• Engage policymakers, regulators, civil society, the media and the public through briefings, public commentaries and op-eds, and public events.
• Contribute to, and at the senior level lead, research aligned with national priorities within KRI’s research programmes.
• Collaborate internally and externally, building your research credibility and professional network in your area of specialisation on the KRI platform.

Who We are Looking For

• A degree in economics, statistics, public policy, sociology, anthropology, development studies, or related social sciences. A Master's or PhD is an advantage.
• Rigour in your chosen methods, whether quantitative (e.g. surveys, natural experiments, behavioural analytics) or qualitative (e.g. interviews, ethnography or document analysis). Whatever your method, you must be comfortable reading, interpreting and engaging with quantitative evidence. Familiarity with software and coding (e.g. Stata, R, Python or equivalent) is an advantage.
• Evidence of independent analytical work: for recent graduates, a strong thesis, dissertation or applied research project; for experienced candidates, a track record of published research, policy reports or technical work that has informed decisions.
• Clear analytical writing, evidenced by sole-authored work.
• For senior candidates, the ability to scope and lead a research project and to guide junior researchers.
• Familiarity with Malaysia's socio-economic context and data sources (e.g. Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) surveys) is an advantage.

What We Offer

• Institutionally funded research: Focus on research without the burden of grant applications.
• Autonomy and impact: Pursue research aligned with your interest or specialisation and shape policy discourse.
• Professional growth: Training, conferences, and opportunities to publish and present your work.
• Cross-sector exposure: Direct engagement with government, academia, civil society, and international research institutes.
• Flexible working: A hybrid working arrangement and a culture built on mission, evidence and public purpose.