Research Consultant

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our wonderful team in Singapore as a Research Consultant
Your core responsibilities will be to lead the delivery of fee-generating client project work and client research projects as well as work closely with the wider Research and Strategy team in the delivery of Black Sun’s research programme, gathering and collating high quality market intelligence on corporate communications best practice, issues, news and trends.

**Key Responsibilities**

To provide corporate communications advice and consultancy for client-related work
- To provide best practice strategic advice on communications to clients and new business prospects, using your expertise and knowledge to drive debates and shape clients communications strategies
- To work with the account and digital teams to deliver fee-generating project work related
- to reporting and digital projects, leading the strategic development of projects, and attending client meetings and calls when required
- To complete interim assessments, peer analysis, benchmarking and content audits/guidelines, and adhoc strategy work for more complex clients, presenting this work to clients when required
- To build strong client relationships at senior level, winning their trust and confidence in your knowledge and capabilities
- To continuously build existing client relationships, identifying opportunities where possible to extend the relationship
- To support the new business process by contributing to new business proposals, providing strategic advice and also covering page plans and working with designers and the account teams on spreads

To support the delivery of Black Sun research and associated outputs
- To proactively stay informed of all industry, legislative and best practice corporate communications developments and trends, as well as any legal and regulatory changes, consultations and Government initiatives, and to share all information with internal teams
- To build Black Sun's best practice database to include a range of corporate communications examples for client and account team reference
- To research and assimilate corporate communications information into digestible content that provides greater insight into best practices
- To lead and support the wider Research and Strategy team on delivering reports and research pieces related to corporate communications driven projects. This will include supporting research collection, writing final copy and managing the production of research pieces through internal teams
- To review and write blogs on the corporate communications agenda, and to support the production of Black Sun newsletters

To develop strong internal relationships, supporting the business in meeting the corporate communications needs of clients
- To provide guidance, education, support and expertise to internal teams as required, ensuring the account teams are well equipped to drive discussions with clients
- To support and contribute to building a portfolio of tools and resources for the account teams to understand corporate communications issues and stay abreast of best practice and current thinking
- To support the delivery of internal Research and Strategy training and workshops at regular intervals, taking more of a lead of those with specific corporate communications issues
- To support the Head of Research and Strategy with mentoring the wider team to help them develop the skills needed to perform their roles to the highest standards, develop their longer term skills and competencies to maximise their potential

**Your Reporting Relationships**

The Research Consultant will report directly to the Lead Corporate Reporting Consultant.
They will also work closely with the wider Research & Strategy team, Client Account and Digital teams.

**Your qualifications and experience**
- Strong academics; Degree level qualification or above
- A minimum of 2+ years' experience working in corporate communications at a corporate level, with specific knowledge about reporting and communications
- Fresh graduates with strong credentials are welcomed to apply
- Experience in corporate communications content development and writing
- Proven, strong writing skills are essential
- Experience of working within teams and virtual teams to deliver products and services to an agreed standard
- Demonstrable ability to work with and manage key third parties, including external assurers and copywriters
- Skilled at approaching, engaging and delivering client projects, working with internal and external partners as appropriate
- Fully conversant with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

**Your personal qualities**:

- Strong interpersonal and communications skills necessary to build trust and respect both externally and internally
- A real interest in the wider corporate communications agenda
- High-quality service ethic and committed to customer service excellence
- Ambition to self-improve
- Strong ‘can do’ attitude with an inn