Job Description

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) is a policy research think-tank in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. IPS is looking to hire a Research Assistant for Policy Lab, a unit that will incubate strong social change ideas and see them through implementation in partnership with policymakers and civil society. The Research Assistant will have the opportunity to acquire research skills, domain knowledge on social issues and engage diverse stakeholders from the people, private and public sectors.

This role will focus on supporting design research and the prototyping of an Inclusive Business Incubator. For more background, see https://futurereadysociety.sg/inclusive-business-incubator/

The job scope includes:

• Applied Research: 1) Environmental scans and evidence-reviews; 2) Data collection and analysis.
• Academic and Business Writing: Clear and concise writing for: 1) Short-form concept papers to communicate ideas to potential partners; 2) Detailed reports to stakeholders and academic papers that communicate the findings of studies; 3) Short-form opinion or think pieces written for public consumption
• Project Management and Admin: To support the completion of projects by keeping track of milestones, reporting to stakeholders, and coordinating across partners. The work will involve procurement and interactions with finance, HR and legal teams.   
• Organising Workshops and Events: This role involves mainly the conceptualisation, curating of speakers and liaison with partners or funders

Applicants should:

• Have at least a bachelor’s degree in business or a relevant social science discipline from a reputable university.
• Be intellectually curious and possess strong research skills, preferably with a background and keen interest in social issues and social policy.
• Have a strong command of the English language and be able to write in a clear and engaging manner, with a passion for grammar, detail, and accuracy
• Be resourceful in getting things done and be able to meet deadlines by managing projects and multiple partners so that tasks are completed in a timely fashion

What you can expect from the job:

• The Research Assistant will have the opportunity to work with academics, government and the non-profit sector to incubate actionable social change projects or engage in policy experiments to test hypotheses about what works.
• You will be able to build a research portfolio by co-authoring research reports, opinion pieces and journal articles related to these projects for the purpose of communicating results or public education.
• The Research Assistant role will offer good grounding for a fresh graduate who is seeking to develop a career in the fields of public policy or social science research whether in academia, the public service or the private sector.

To apply:

Please upload the following documents via NUS Career Page or email justin.lee@nus.edu.sg directly.

• One-page cover letter (with a brief statement of relevant research experience
• Curriculum vita
• Two writing samples (min. 500 words)
   

Your cover letter should include details such as your highest qualifications, last drawn salary, expected salary and reasons for leaving your last/current position. Please also state when you expect to be able to begin work if this position is offered to you.

(We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.)

More Information

Location: Bukit Timah Campus

Organization: Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Department : Institute of Policy Studies

Job requisition ID : 29138