About the Organisation

The ASEAN Research Center (ARC) aims to become a center of intellectual activity in Southeast Asia by conducting impactful research on topics surrounding emerging markets in the ASEAN region, while the Center of Technology, Strategy and Sustainability (CTSS) aims to be a leading center of excellence and research on business strategies and technology in emerging markets and their socio-political environment. Both research centers host a flagship research project and various smaller research project each year, while actively engaging the academic, policymaking, private sector and public audiences on the research outputs from the center.

Job Purpose
The position of Communications Executive assists in implementing communication and outreach strategies to effectively promote the research work done at ARC and CTSS. The role is instrumental in creating communication materials that increase public awareness about the work we do in Malaysia and beyond. We are looking for a candidate who can create engaging social media content, make academic research topics accessible to the general public, and assist in events that contribute to the goals of the organisation.

The ideal candidate should be passionate about making academic research accessible to the general public and aware of key socioeconomic issues faced by everyday ASEAN citizens.

Key Responsibilities:

• Brainstorming and proposing content ideas for use across social media channels for the ARC and CTSS, including: LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, TikTok, and internal platforms.
• Developing visual designs for use on social media, using tools such as CapCut and Canva.
• Writing effective and engaging short and long-form copy for publication on digital and print mediums.
• Executing and identifying strategies to reach target demographics across different platforms based on social media analytics and trends.
• Liaising with ARC and CTSS researchers to understand and create written materials in line with their research goals and institution tone of voice.
• Working with team members to execute in-person events for internal and external stakeholders, such as research conferences, book launches, and
• Assisting with the development and design of concepts for publications, annual reports, presentations, and other print and electronic materials for all communication outputs.
• Conducting outreach to media organisations and academic networks to promote the coverage of work done at ARC and CTSS.

Minimum Qualification and Skills Required

• Bachelor’s degree in the humanities, communications, marketing, or any field equivalent. (We are happy to receive applications from all backgrounds as long as you are able to prove that you have the writing skills necessary.)
• Excellent command of English and Bahasa Malaysia (spoken and written).
• Basic knowledge of how to use Canva and CapCut to create graphics and videos for social media.
• Familiarity with commonly used social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and Facebook/Meta.
• A good communicator (in speaking, writing, and presenting), ability to convey complex ideas to different audiences in an engaging way.
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with other teams in the company when collaborating on projects.
• Strong attention to detail, especially with regards to writing, grammar, and flow.
• Basic proficiency of Microsoft Suite.

Preferred but not Required:

• Portfolio of writing that demonstrates mastery of spelling, grammar, and style.
• Experience creating content for digital platforms (e.g. captions, blog posts, social media, and website copy).
• Experience in SEO for written content.
• Experience in a relevant field, such as academia, communications, social media management, digital marketing, journalism, events, etc.
• Familiarity with academic research in humanities, social sciences, and environmental sustainability.