Director - Research

Barclays; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclays Asia FX & Rates Strategy Research team seeks a senior strategist to deliver differentiated macro views and actionable trade ideas across Emerging Asia FX and local rates markets. The role combines macro rigor, quantitative modelling, and client engagement to shape Barclays' research agenda.

The successful candidate will work with economists, cross-asset strategists, and sales teams to publish timely research, generate high-impact investment ideas and mentor junior staff while

Qualifications

• Significant experience in FX and rates strategy with a macro focus on Asian markets.
• Proven ability to generate differentiated investment ideas and communicate to institutional clients.
• Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities, including econometric modelling and forecasting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with client-facing presentation experience.

Responsibilities

• Senior role in Emerging Asia FX and rates research, developing differentiated macro views.
• Generate high-conviction trade recommendations across FX, government bonds, money markets, swaps and cross-market ideas.
• Develop proprietary analytical frameworks and models to enhance forecasting, scenario analysis and risk assessment.
• Publish timely, insightful research with clear investment implications for clients.
• Drive thematic research on regional macro issues, capital flows, geopolitics and structural market developments.
• Collaborate with economists, equity/credit strategists and global macro teams to deliver cross-asset views.
• Build strong relationships with institutional investors and represent Barclays at client meetings and events.
• Mentor junior team members and ensure high standards of analytical integrity and regulatory compliance.

Skills

FX strategy

Rates strategy

Macro research

Econometrics

Python

Data analysis

AI & data science

Client engagement

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Purpose of the Role

To generate differentiated macro, FX and rates research and actionable trade recommendations across Emerging Asian markets, helping clients navigate market developments and identify investment opportunities. The role will contribute to Barclays' thought leadership, strengthen institutional client relationships, and enhance the firm's research franchise across Asian markets.

Job Description

Barclays is seeking an experienced senior strategist to join its Asia FX & Rates Strategy Research team. The successful candidate will combine deep macroeconomic expertise, quantitative rigour and strong market intuition to deliver high-conviction investment views across Emerging Asia FX and local rates markets. The role requires a recognised market practitioner with a strong track record of producing differentiated research, developing actionable trade recommendations, and engaging with institutional investors. The successful candidate will work closely with economists, cross-asset strategists, sales and trading teams, while playing a leading role in shaping Barclays' research agenda across Asia.

Key Responsibilities

• Senior role in research coverage of Emerging Asia FX and rates markets, developing differentiated views on macroeconomic, policy, valuation, flow and technical drivers.
• Generate high-conviction trade recommendations across FX, government bonds, money markets, swaps, futures and cross-market relative value opportunities.
• Develop proprietary analytical frameworks and quantitative models to enhance forecasting, scenario analysis, risk assessment and idea generation.
• Publish timely, insightful and commercially relevant research that combines rigorous analysis with clear investment implications for clients.
• Drive thematic research initiatives on key regional and global macroeconomic issues, including monetary policy, capital flows, geopolitics and structural market developments.
• Analyse central bank policy, fiscal developments, balance-of-payments dynamics and investor flows across Asia to identify emerging market opportunities and risks.
• Collaborate closely with economists, equity strategists, credit strategists and global macro teams to deliver integrated cross-asset investment views.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional investors, including asset managers, hedge funds, sovereign investors, banks and corporate clients.
• Represent Barclays' research views through client meetings, roadshows, conferences, webinars, media engagement and other external forums.
• Partner closely with sales and trading teams to ensure research remains relevant, actionable and aligned with client requirements.
• Contribute to the development of the broader research franchise through thought leadership, innovation and mentorship of junior team members.
• Maintain the highest standards of analytical integrity, regulatory compliance and professional conduct.

Required Skills And Experience

• Significant experience in FX strategy, rates strategy, macro research, economics, trading or related financial market roles, with a strong focus on Asian markets.
• Deep understanding of Emerging Asia macroeconomics, central bank policy, foreign exchange markets, local rates markets and cross-asset interactions.
• Demonstrated track record of generating actionable investment ideas and communicating investment views to institutional investors.
• Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities, including experience in econometric modelling, forecasting, scenario analysis and market strategy development.
• Proven ability to develop differentiated views, challenge consensus thinking and translate complex analysis into clear investment recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-impact client-facing research and deliver compelling presentations to senior investor audiences.
• Strong programming and data analysis capabilities, particularly in Python, with experience in quantitative research and working with large datasets.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI, data science and emerging technologies to enhance research productivity, modelling, idea generation and client engagement.
• Strong commercial judgement and market awareness, with the ability to identify themes and opportunities that matter to clients.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced global environment, managing multiple priorities while delivering to tight deadlines.
• Experience collaborating across functions and regions within a global financial institution.
• Fluency in English is required. Mandarin or another Asian language would be advantageous.

Preferred Characteristics

• Established reputation among institutional investors and market participants.
• Strong client engagement skills and experience building a successful investor franchise.
• Intellectual curiosity, independent thinking and a passion for financial markets.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a desire to develop innovative research products and analytical frameworks.
• Strong leadership qualities with a willingness to mentor colleagues and contribute to team development.

Purpose of the role

To produce and deliver Research with differentiated market insights and actionable ideas to Barclays Clients.

Accountabilities

• Analysis of market, sector, corporate and/or economic data to help develop investment theses for your coverage universe to produce best in class Research.
• Research may range from individual company or sector notes, through to long dated thematic reports.
• Presentation of Research views to Barclays Clients; this can be through direct, face to face and virtual interactions, Research hosted events and written communications.
• Engagement with Markets, Client Strategy and other stakeholders, to raise awareness of your Research both to Clients and internally. Prioritise interaction with the most relevant and valuable Clients for your Research.
• Provision of insights and Research views to internal Clients to help them navigate financial markets and risks.
• Collaboration with the Supervisory Analyst, Compliance and other stakeholders to ensure Research is produced and delivered to Clients and internal stakeholders in a compliant manner.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide.
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions.
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others. All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.