The posting
About Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)
IIX (Impact Investment Exchange) is a Singapore-headquartered pioneer in impact investing, connecting capital markets with sustainable development. For over a decade, IIX has been building the infrastructure for impact — structuring innovative financial instruments, running donor-funded development programs, and developing digital platforms that serve impact investors, enterprises, and communities across Asia and beyond.
Our work spans impact-linked securities, blended finance, gender-lens investing, and climate finance — always with the goal of mobilizing private capital for social and environmental good. We are a lean, mission-obsessed team. Everyone here wears multiple hats, moves fast, and cares deeply about the work. If that energizes you, you’ll thrive at IIX.
About the role
As IIX accelerates its engagement across Southeast Asia, particularly on climate resilience, trade, and blue economy themes — this role exists to anchor IIX’s knowledge agenda and policy presence in the region. The VP, Research & Government Relations, SEA will be the founding senior hire for this function in Southeast Asia, leading thematic research, cultivating high-trust government and multilateral relationships, and serving as IIX’s expert voice across climate, energy transition, trade, and blue economy issues. Success means IIX is recognized as a credible research and policy voice in the region, with strong government relationships that open doors for IIX’s investment and advisory work.
Key Responsibilities:
Research Leadership
- Lead and produce high-quality research on climate resilience, just energy transition, trade policy, and blue economy themes across Southeast Asia — with a particular focus on the Philippines and broader ASEAN as well as Pacific regional context.
- Develop policy briefs, white papers, and thought leadership content that position IIX as a credible voice at the intersection of impact investing and sustainable development.
- Identify and close knowledge gaps on emerging themes, including climate-linked financial instruments, disaster risk finance, maritime and coastal economies, and regional trade frameworks.
- Collaborate with the global R&GR team to integrate SEA insights into IIX’s research agenda and external publications.
Government & Policy Engagement
- Build and manage senior-level relationships with government ministries, regulatory agencies, and intergovernmental bodies across Southeast Asia — with a primary focus on the Philippines and a mandate to expand regionally.
- Represent IIX in policy dialogues, government consultations, and multilateral forums on climate finance, sustainable trade, and blue economy regulation.
- Identify and develop opportunities for IIX’s research and advisory services to inform national and regional policy frameworks.
- Serve as a trusted liaison between IIX’s investment and program teams and government counterparts, enabling market entry, regulatory engagement, and policy-aligned program design.
Advisory Delivery
- Lead or co-lead advisory mandates for government and multilateral clients on topics including climate risk finance, trade-linked sustainability, coastal and marine economy development, and green investment policy.
- Design and facilitate high-level workshops, roundtables, and capacity-building programs for government stakeholders.
- Contribute to proposal development and scoping of new advisory engagements, including technical assistance programs, research projects, and policy engagement initiatives.
Investment Intelligence & Fund Support
- Produce country, sector, and regulatory research to support investment screening, pipeline development, and due diligence for IIX’s climate-focused blended finance work in Southeast Asia.
- Provide thematic analysis on climate resilience, trade dynamics, and blue economy developments that inform IIX’s investment thesis and portfolio strategy across the region.
- Assess policy and regulatory risk for active and pipeline investments — including market entry feasibility, enabling environment analysis, and government relations risk — in close coordination with the investment team.
- Monitor policy and regulatory developments across SEA markets and surface timely insights to investment and program colleagues.
Regional Presence & Collaboration
- Serve as IIX’s primary relationship holder and spokesperson for Southeast Asia research and policy audiences.
- Coordinate with IIX’s investment, sustainable finance, and program teams to ensure research and government engagement are aligned with organizational priorities.
- Represent IIX at conferences, panels, and bilateral meetings across the region.
What We’re Looking For
Experience & Skills
- 8–12+ years of experience in research, policy advisory, or government relations, with significant exposure to climate, trade, or blue economy themes in a Southeast Asian context.
- Background in Big 4 consulting, management consulting, or an equivalent advisory environment is highly valued — we are looking for structured analytical rigor, strong client management skills, and the ability to translate complex research into actionable recommendations.
- Demonstrated experience engaging with government ministries, regulatory bodies, or multilateral institutions (e.g., ASEAN Secretariat, ADB, World Bank, UNDP, NEDA, DENR, or equivalent national agencies).
- Track record of producing high-quality research outputs — policy briefs, sector reports, technical assessments — that have informed government or institutional decision-making.
- Deep familiarity with the Philippines is essential; broader Southeast Asia exposure is strongly preferred. Fluency in English required; Filipino and/or a relevant Southeast Asian language is an advantage.
- Subject matter expertise in one or more of: climate finance and resilience, trade policy and sustainability, blue economy (coastal/marine ecosystems, sustainable aquaculture, WASH infrastructure, fisheries), or disaster risk management.
- Familiarity with sustainable finance frameworks and impact measurement approaches in development and investment contexts.
The Person
- Exceptional communicator — able to write for both technical and non-technical audiences and to present with authority to senior government and institutional stakeholders.
- Analytically rigorous and strategically minded — comfortable working with ambiguity and translating data and research into clear, compelling narratives.
- Entrepreneurial and adaptable — comfortable building a regional function with lean resources and a high degree of autonomy.
- Genuine conviction that capital and policy can change the world — not just as a professional aspiration, but as a personal belief.
THE PREM FRAMEWORK
Every IIX team member is a PREM professional. We look for these qualities in everyone we hire:
P
Passionate
Mission-driven & purpose-led
R
Resilient
Thrives under pressure & ambiguity
E
Equitable
Champions fairness & inclusion
M
Maverick
Bold, entrepreneurial thinker
Why IIX
- Work at the intersection of finance and impact — your contribution directly enables IIX’s mission
- High-trust, lean team environment — minimal bureaucracy, maximum ownership
- Be the founding senior voice for SEA research and policy — a rare mandate to build something meaningful from the ground up
- Engage at the highest levels of government, multilateral institutions, and the impact investing ecosystem across Southeast Asia
- A culture that takes PREM values seriously — you will be seen, heard, and valued
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover note with the subject line: VP, Research & Government Relations — SEA. In your cover note, tell us about a research or policy engagement challenge you led — what you did, how you approached it, and what impact it had.
IIX is an equal opportunity employer.
