Senior Research Analyst

Join the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and you’ll deliver for the UK internationally. That could mean helping us promote Britain and our values, building strategic partnerships, protecting our interests, or supporting Britons abroad. It’s a diverse challenge that will put you at the centre of world events, working alongside around 17,300 people in our global network of offices, bringing a completely unique perspective of personal and professional pride.

Your role with us

Join our Asia Pacific Research Group (APRG) in this exciting specialist role and you’ll work on an area of great strategic importance to the UK, informing and improving the Government’s decision-making by providing analysis and challenge, and acting as a bridge between policy makers and external specialists. As an expert on Southeast Asia with a focus on the political systems of Indonesia and Malaysia and of the political dynamics in maritime Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Nations, you’ll make a major contribution to the development of the UK’s relationship with the region.

Your work will be split into three areas – the first of these will involve political analysis, where you’ll develop and maintain close working relations with FCDO policy makers, and provide policy leads with high quality analysis and advice based on your deep working knowledge of the relevant political systems. The second area focuses on outreach and academic engagement, and involves working as a bridge between our organisation and a community of external experts, including academics, think-tanks and commentators. Diplomatic expertise is the third area of focus, where we’ll expect you to help infuse staff with subject matter expertise by running our International Academy events and training days.

Who we’re looking for

To apply for this role you must have a post-graduate degree in Southeast Asian studies or a similar subject, and experience working for a multi-lateral organisation, non-governmental or private sector organisation, think-tank or academic institution in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, or a relevant undergraduate degree plus substantial experience working on or in the region. You’ll have proven research and analytical skills, sound judgement, and the ability to think strategically, and in addition to well developed expertise on the domestic politics of Indonesia and/or maritime Southeast Asia, you’ll be capable of mastering large amounts of information quickly and drawing sound and accurate conclusions.

Committed to developing your own specialist expertise on the region and related issues, and ready to contribute towards maintaining and developing APRG’s archive of material, you’ll have the opportunity to travel in the region for the purpose of research, outreach and to support your colleagues. We place high value on foreign language skills – with this in mind there will also be the opportunity for you to learn or further develop languages such as Indonesian or Malay through our language provider.

We encourage applications from all communities, because we want to reflect the very best of 21st century Britain. Everyone here gets the support to develop their skills and capabilities as well as a range of benefits that will help you to make the most of life in and out of work. You must be a British Citizen at the time of your application, and attain Developed Vetting security clearance. For more information about this process, click here.

Use your talent and experience to shape our nation’s future, and deliver tangible improvements to millions of lives, including your own.

Total Package: London - £51,500 including a non-pensionable, non-consolidated location allowance of £5000 and a pensionable, non-consolidated specialist allowance of £4000

Milton Keynes - £48,250 including a non-pensionable, non-consolidated location allowance of £5000 and a pensionable, non-consolidated specialist allowance of £4000

Glasgow - £46,500 including a non-pensionable, non-consolidated location allowance of £5000 and a pensionable, non-consolidated specialist allowance of £4000

Contract: Permanent. You will be required to work in line with FCDO policies on hybrid working, with a minimum of 60% of your time in the office