Research Fellow (1 year contract)

About The Job

The Singapore University of Social Sciences is seeking a Fellow to advance its flagship applied research initiatives. The role involves leading and coordinating research across key strategic pillars, ensuring outputs generate meaningful social impact and align with national policy priorities. The successful candidate will contribute to and develop major research projects, support funding acquisition through compelling research narratives, and engage closely with government, social sector, and industry partners.

This position requires strong expertise in applied social science methodologies, including mixed-methods evaluation and impact measurement, alongside proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. The Fellow will also play a key role in translating research into policy-relevant insights and public-facing outputs, while contributing to teaching and university service. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a strong commitment to social impact, a track record of securing research funding, and the ability to bridge academic work with real-world practice.

What You Will Be Doing

The shortlisted candidate will work with the Assistant Provost (Research) by providing timely and effective research support to the SUSS. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate applied research initiatives across SUSS’s strategic pillars to ensure research outcomes drive social impact and align with national policy priorities.
• Secure and manage diverse funding streams by leveraging a deep understanding of the donor landscape and crafting research narratives that resonate with philanthropic and government funders.
• Support existing research projects within SUSS’s strategic pillars through technical contributions and project management, and take the lead in the development of new applied research projects from conceptualization to execution
• Serve as a core contributor or Co-Principal Investigator on major projects, providing expertise in mixed-methods evaluation, social impact metrics, and evidence-informed solution design.
• Actively bridge gaps between academia and the community by fostering high-level collaborations with government agencies, social sector organizations, and industry partners.
• Facilitate the translation of research findings into actionable policy briefs, donor reports, and public-facing narratives to enhance institutional visibility and influence.
• Deliver at least one course per academic year and contribute to university service, bringing "real-world" practitioner insights into the classroom and committee work.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree or PhD in a related Social Science discipline, with a strong emphasis on applied methodology.
• Proven record of research leadership in a practitioner setting, including the successful management of large-scale, multi-agency projects and significant budget oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to secure competitive funding and maintain long-term donor or stakeholder relationships within the Singaporean social and policy ecosystem.
• Deep experience in the "ground-level" dynamics of social research, including survey design, data collection in complex environments, and stakeholder engagement.
• Superior communication skills, with a proven track record of publishing high-impact reports, co-authoring academic work, and presenting to senior government leadership.
• Personal alignment with SUSS’s mission of social impact, evidenced by a career dedicated to addressing underserved needs and promoting lifelong learning through evidence-based practice.