Director, Policy & Market Research

Key Responsibilities

Department Build & Transition

• Lead the transition of research work, staff, and live commitments from Government Relations into the new department without disrupting ongoing government and multilateral engagements
• Define the department's operating model: scope, a process for taking in and prioritizing research requests, and working interfaces with Government Relations, Business Development, Advisory, Communications, and the Data Platform team
• Own the department's budget and build a sustainable funding model, drawing on commissioned research, research grants and technical assistance funding from multilaterals and foundations, and paid market research for corporates and investors

Policy Research

• Set the policy research agenda across sustainable finance, capital markets development, climate and blended finance, gender-lens investing, and financial inclusion
• Produce policy papers, regulatory analysis, and briefings that inform decisions by finance ministries, central banks, and securities regulators, including on thematic bond frameworks, sustainable finance taxonomies, and blended finance structures
• Support IIX's government and multilateral engagements with evidence: country diagnostics, policy options analysis, and submissions to public consultations
• Track policy and regulatory developments across IIX's markets and in global and regional forums (e.g., G20, COP, ASEAN, and UN processes), and translate them into clear implications for IIX and its partners

Market Research

• Lead market sizing, landscape, and opportunity analysis for capital markets, sustainable and thematic bond markets, MSME finance, and impact investment in emerging markets
• Produce market studies that support IIX's product development, bond issuances, fundraising, and new-market entry, including investor demand and pipeline analysis
• Scope and deliver commissioned market research for corporates, multilaterals, and investors against clearly defined client questions
• Partner with IIX's Data Platform team to source, structure, and validate the impact and financial data underlying all research outputs

Research Quality & Publications

• Own methodological rigor and data integrity across all research outputs, including a peer-review process and clear standards for sourcing and disclosure
• Set the publication calendar and lead flagship publications, working with Communications on dissemination to policy, investor, and corporate audiences
• Build research partnerships with universities, think tanks, multilateral research units, and local research institutions in IIX's markets

Team Building & Leadership

• Build the department's team, starting with staff transferring from Government Relations: define roles, hire, and manage a team of Analysts, Associates, and external research partners as the department scales
• Set performance standards, career pathways, and PREM-aligned development plans for the team

Stakeholder & External Representation

• Act as the external face of IIX's research to governments, regulators, multilaterals, corporates, and media
• Present research at policy forums, conferences, and technical working groups, and brief senior officials and executives directly
• Partner with Government Relations, Business Development, and Fundraising to embed research in government, client, and donor engagements

What we're looking for

Experience & Skills

• 15+ years in policy research, market research, economic analysis, or strategy within sustainable finance, capital markets, development finance, or ESG, with substantial time focused on emerging markets
• A track record of research that has been used by governments, regulators, or multilaterals, not only internal or academic work
• Direct market research experience: market sizing, landscape, and demand analysis for financial markets or investment products
• Working knowledge of capital markets and sustainable finance instruments (green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked bonds; blended finance structures) and the regulatory environments around them
• Strong quantitative and analytical background; fluent in primary and secondary research methodology, including interviews and surveys in low-data environments
• Experience building or leading a research team and managing a research budget
• Ability to write for, and brief, senior government officials, multilateral staff, and corporate executives
• Comfortable operating across multiple emerging markets simultaneously, including standing up research in a market before IIX has an established presence there

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience at a multilateral development bank or UN agency, central bank, securities regulator, finance ministry, or policy think tank
• An existing network among governments, multilaterals, DFIs, and corporates in the Asia-Pacific region and/or Africa
• Familiarity with gender-lens investing, blended finance, or the Orange Bond/Orange Movement ecosystem
• Experience securing research funding or delivering commissioned research for government, multilateral, or corporate clients
• An advanced degree in economics, public policy, finance, or a related field
• Experience working in a small, cross-functional team in the Asia-Pacific region

THE PREM FRAMEWORK

Every IIX team member is a PREM professional. We look for these qualities in everyone we hire:

WHY IIX

• Lead a global movement advancing gender equality and climate action, with a mandate to build it into a lasting, independent institution.
• Build a legacy platform targeting 100 million lives by 2030.
• Operate at the nexus of finance, development, and advocacy.
• Work with world-leading institutions, from DFIs and governments to UN agencies and Fortune 500s.

At IIX, we seek individuals who are:

• Passionate, committed to gender equality and climate action.
• Resilient, able to navigate challenges in frontier markets.
• Equitable, dedicated to measurable social and financial outcomes.
• Entrepreneurial, bold, innovative, and able to build something new.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications are treated with strict confidentiality.

IIX is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve.