About The Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.
The Milken Institute's events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.
About Research At The Milken Institute
The Milken Institute's expert staff regularly releases reports featuring insights, analysis, and implementation roadmaps on topics related to finance, health, and economies. Our research team of PhD economists uses quantitative and mixed methods approaches to produce interactive tools, presentations, and publications. Our Research and Reports are typically used in the governmental, academic, corporate, and nonprofit sectors to drive informed decision-making, shape policies, and develop effective strategies to address issues or improve current practices.
About The Position
The Research team within the Milken Institute International pillar is seeking an exceptional candidate for an Associate Director position. We welcome individuals with expertise in regional science, development economics, macroeconomics, or related disciplines to help advance high-impact policy and economic research across the Asia-Pacific region.
Qualified candidates should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, an advanced degree (PhD, MBA/MS with relevant experience) in economics or a related field, and strong quantitative capabilities, including experience with statistical and economic modeling using R, Python, Stata, or similar tools. The successful candidate will work closely with the Milken Institute's Asia team in Singapore to identify research opportunities, lead analytical projects, and support the delivery of strategic initiatives. Fluency in Mandarin (native preferred) is essential for this role.
Responsibilities
- Write reports with findings and recommendations that can be shared with stakeholders
- Conduct sophisticated empirical research in international economics and regional trends
- Gather and analyze complex economic data from multiple sources (such as the IMF, World Bank, national statistical offices, and regional datasets)
- Present research findings to technical and non-technical audiences internally and externally
- Produce original research and reports on regional conditions in Asia and the Pacific, including the Milken Institute's Best Performing Cities: China report
- Collaborate closely with the Milken Institute's Asia team on identifying research opportunities and delivering work products in support of the team's programmatic work
- Promote the Milken Institute's work and research findings through interactions with the media and the press and by representing the institute at regional and global convenings
- Duties as assigned
Requirements
- Fluency in Mandarin (required; native strongly preferred)
- Knowledgeable about China's development policies and regional growth
- Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in Macroeconomics, or a related field
- A minimum of 6 years of experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative research
- A minimum of 6 years of experience with statistical analyses and programming tools such as R or Python
- Strong quantitative skills and analytical problem-solving required
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
- Proved track record of ability to manage project workflow/priorities and meet deadlines
- Independence and ability to take ownership of each project from start to finish
- Ability to work as part of a team and perform under deadline pressure
Note
We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in Singapore. Please note, we are not sponsoring employment passes or work visas at this time—being authorized to work in Singapore is a precondition of employment. This includes Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) and individuals who already hold a valid and independent work pass that does not require sponsorship from our company.
This position will work a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to your respective office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. This schedule is subject to change in the Institute's sole discretion.
The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
Please submit resume (CV) and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume (CV) and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume (CV) and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
