Research Manager, Trade Research Program

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Research Manager, Trade Research Program

Reporting to: Program Director, Trade Research Program

I. The Hinrich Foundation

The Hinrich Foundation is a philanthropic organization focused on promoting sustainable global trade. We believe global trade requires mutually acceptable terms and balanced economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Our research program produces thought leadership essays, white papers, and deep dives on global trade issues, and drives our philanthropic mission through partnerships, roundtables, conferences, and relationships with high-level trade policy and education stakeholders around the world. Our aim is to influence global trade policy and outcomes to maximize benefits and mutual trust for the economic development of the global community.

The Foundation’s Trade Research program is recognized for its contribution to thought leadership on global trade issues. The Foundation is now strengthening its research program to make a greater contribution to the global trade dialogue, influence global trade policymaking, and encourage the development and analysis of solutions to current global trade issues.

The research program uses a blended model for research products that includes:

• In-house research articles and analyses
• External contributors, who are contractually engaged to provide thematically relevant contentStrategic partners with specific trade expertise or asset
• Co-sponsored projects with key local and global partners
• Curated content, including book reviews, data sources, key news reports and third-party papers, and related material
• hfAI, the Foundation’s public AI tool for responding to trade-related questions

The research program focuses on five key themes:

• Sustainable Trade
• Digital Trade Facilitation
• Foreign Direct Investment
• Trade and Geopolitics
• Trade Policy

The Foundation invites applications for the role of a Research Manager to join its Trade Research Program.

The successful candidate must have an understanding of trade and related macroeconomic issues, demonstrate an ability to connect with trade and trade-related policy, academic, and business circles in the Asia-Pacific region, and be aligned with the Foundation’s mission, views, and objectives.

The role would suit professionals with experience writing on, researching, and participating in trade and/or related economic issues, including those with content creation experience and/or experience in multilateral or think-tank institutions.

The Research Manager will support the Research Program Director and Program team in developing and managing the research pipeline under the Program Director’s direction and assist with the Program’s strategic partnerships and outreach activities.

II. Job Scope and Objectives

The objective of the role is to support the creation of content for the Research Program. This role helps to develop the Foundation’s network of research organizations and experts worldwide. The role will also help to develop, execute, and manage projects to grow the Research Program’s audience. Successful applicants should expect to interact productively with global organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization (WTO), ambassadors and embassy staff of all nations, senior business executives including Chief Executive Officers, high-level academics and policy schools, and established international writers of stature.

The Research Program is supported by a marketing team based in Singapore which coordinates the dissemination of research products to target audiences through media, events, and partnerships.

III. Duties and Responsibilities

A. Research generation

• Initiate, scope, and develop research projects with in-house or external researchers
• Support the Director in providing editorial guidance and review to researchers
• Help ensure quality control of research products for production and publication, which is managed by the marketing team

B. Program management

• Coordinate the pipeline of research and report weekly to the broader team
• For special or long-term research projects, develop a detailed project plan to track progress, manage delivery timelines and changes to project scope
• Report and escalate scope, quality and timeliness issues to the Program Director as needed
• Manage the relationship with the researcher, partner and all stakeholders

C. Partnerships

• Source and initiate opportunities for research and dissemination collaboration, sponsorships, and promotion
• Participate in the management of existing partnerships

D. Outreach and events

• Initiate, execute, and manage programs for promoting research, for example, webinars and other outreach initiatives
• Seek opportunities for the Foundation’s research to be presented at third-party events

E. Marketing

• Participate in the promotion of research products, supported by the marketing and communications team
• Actively engage in social media posting on trade issues and to promote the Foundation’s research products

F. Education program support

• Provide support to the Foundation’s education program as required, by providing research content for the Trade Education Center.

G. Ad-hoc projects and tasks as directed by management

IV. Qualifications & Educational Requirement

1. Minimum Bachelor’s degree in economics, political science, public policy, international relations, journalism, or related fields
2. Proficiency in office applications and social media

V. Experience Required

1. Minimum five years’ work experience
2. Experience in media, think tanks, universities, chambers of commerce, or related roles with regional or global exposure
3. A strong commitment to deadlines
4. Self-starter professionalism with the drive for taking initiative to be developed in consultation with the Program Director
5. Demonstrated experience in executing and managing content creation and outreach programs
6. Experience and interest in using digital and social media to disseminate thought leadership ideas and content
7. Project management skills
8. Recent reference checks will be conducted with two previous supervisors
9. Proficiency in using MS Office, advanced experience with MS Excel and MS Project
10. Proficiency with Adobe InDesign and AI applications is a plus, but not essential

VI. Required Criteria

1. Mature understanding of global trade and economic issues
2. Strong communication skills (written and spoken)
3. Native-level spoken and written English
4. Ability to build and work in cross-cultural relationships
5. Collaboration skills
6. Motivated self-starter

VII. Personal Traits

1. Team player
2. International outlook
3. Comfortable working with team members across multiple locations worldwide
4. Well-organized
5. Resourceful
6. Sense of timeliness and punctuality

VIII. Others

1. Location: The Central, Clarke Quay, Singapore
2. 5-day work week
3. Base salary: Commensurate with experience

We regret only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

“Personal data collected will be used for recruitment purposes only”