Senior / Researcher (Economics), Research & Strategy Management Division

We would like to invite interested applicants to apply for the position of a Senior / Researcher (Economics) in the Research and Strategy Management Division (RSM) at the Ministry of National Development (MND). As part of a dynamic and multi-disciplinary research team, you will contribute to wider policy and planning efforts to ensure that Singapore remains An Endearing Home, A Distinctive Global City. Responsibilities You will undertake economic research, using theory and empirical methods to deliver timely and incisive analytical insights that inform MND’s housing policies, and land use planning and development efforts. The increasingly complex nature of research questions will also require you to work closely with dedicated researchers that straddle the social sciences and data science. To this end, your role will entail the following: • Conceptualise, design, and execute research that informs policy and planning. This will involve primary data gathering (e.g. stated preference surveys), secondary data analysis using various empirical methods (e.g. econometrics/ quasi-experiment methods for causal analysis, structural estimation, time series, and machine-learning algorithms), and developing and managing platforms, such as recurring surveys and dashboarding tools. • Conduct think pieces that thoroughly examine housing-related topics to inform policy and planning. This will involve applying economic theories to real-world scenarios to explain market dynamics and policy mechanisms, challenge existing assumptions and offer new perspectives, as well as identify societal implications and propose feasible policies/ solutions. • Synthesise and present research insights to Policy Divisions and Senior Management. This will involve making sense of diverse data points and sources and where necessary, draw upon economic and behavioural theories, as well as academic and policy research, to meet practical policy and planning needs. • Engage colleagues and stakeholders to support research and non-research work in MND and the Government. This will involve building relationships with other divisions and agencies, and academia, and meeting administrative and functional needs in RSM and MND, such as secretariat duties. Requirements We are looking for applicants with the following traits: • At least a good bachelor’s or graduate degree in Economics; additional knowledge in relevant fields would be advantageous (e.g. Statistics and Data Science). • Strong interest in housing-related research, and ability to think creatively on how data can be used to inform policy. • Proficiency in econometrics required for carrying out complex data analysis (e.g. regression analysis and various policy evaluation methods). • Experience and ability to utilise data analytics tools to prepare and analyse data (e.g. R or Python). • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including translating and presenting research findings to address policy and planning needs. • Proactive, curious, resourceful, with good attention to detail; able to work independently and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team and manage diverse stakeholders.