Director - Research

Overview

This role focuses on producing unique macroeconomic, foreign exchange (FX), and rates market research across Emerging Asian economies, offering actionable investment insights to guide clients through market trends and opportunities. The director will enhance Barclays' thought leadership, foster strong institutional client partnerships, and advance the firm's research presence in Asian markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research coverage of Emerging Asia FX and rates markets, developing unique perspectives on macroeconomic, policy, valuation, flow, and technical factors.
• Create high-conviction trading ideas involving FX, government bonds, money markets, swaps, futures, and cross-market relative value opportunities.
• Design proprietary analytical frameworks and quantitative models to improve forecasting, scenario planning, risk evaluation, and idea generation.
• Publish prompt, insightful, and commercially relevant research combining rigorous analysis with clear client investment guidance.
• Conduct thematic research on important regional and global macroeconomic topics such as monetary policy, capital flows, geopolitics, and structural changes.
• Examine central bank policies, fiscal trends, balance-of-payments, and investor flows across Asia to identify emerging risks and opportunities.
• Collaborate with economists, equity and credit strategists, and global macro teams to create integrated cross-asset perspectives.
• Maintain strong relationships with institutional investors including asset managers, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, banks, and corporates.
• Represent Barclays' research views via client meetings, roadshows, conferences, webinars, media, and other forums.
• Work closely with sales and trading teams to ensure research is relevant and actionable, aligning with client needs.
• Contribute to expanding the research franchise through innovation, thought leadership, and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Adhere to the highest standards of analytical rigor, regulatory compliance, and professional ethics.

Required Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience in FX strategy, rates strategy, macro research, economics, or trading roles, focused on Asian markets.
• Strong knowledge of Emerging Asia macroeconomics, central bank policy, FX and local rates markets, and cross-asset dynamics.
• Proven record of producing actionable investment ideas and effectively communicating views to institutional investors.
• Advanced quantitative and analytical skills, including econometric modeling, forecasting, scenario analysis, and strategy formulation.
• Ability to form original viewpoints, challenge consensus, and translate complex analyses into clear investment recommendations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities for impactful client research and senior-level presentations.
• Proficiency in programming and data analysis, especially Python; experience handling large datasets and quantitative research.
• Experience leveraging AI, data science, and emerging technologies to boost research efficiency, modeling, ideas, and client interaction.
• Sound commercial judgment and market insight, identifying relevant themes and client-relevant opportunities.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced global context, juggling multiple priorities and meeting tight deadlines.
• Experience working collaboratively across functions and geographies in a large financial institution.
• Fluent English is mandatory; Mandarin or other Asian languages are beneficial.

Preferred Attributes

• Recognized reputation among institutional investors and market participants.
• Effective client engagement skills with a record of building an investor franchise.
• Intellectual curiosity, independent thought, and passion for financial markets.
• Entrepreneurial approach to innovating research products and analytical tools.
• Strong leadership with willingness to train and develop team members.

Additional Accountabilities and Leadership Expectations

• Manage research function contributing to strategy and policy, overseeing complex strategic projects potentially impacting business-wide initiatives.
• Lead and mentor teams or manage organizational-wide projects, acting as a technical expert and thought leader.
• Provide expert advice to senior management and committees influencing decisions beyond own function.
• Coordinate resourcing, budgeting, and policy within the sub-function.
• Ensure compliance and regulatory adherence, escalating breaches appropriately.
• Engage with external bodies including regulators on behalf of Barclays when needed.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of industry theories, market trends, and functional integration within Barclays.
• Apply advanced analytical problem-solving in complex scenarios.
• Negotiate and influence stakeholders internally and externally at senior levels.
• Serve as a primary contact for key clients and cross-functional counterparts representing Barclays.
• Demonstrate leadership behaviors focused on listening authentically, energizing, aligning, and developing others.
• Embody Barclays’ core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, alongside the Barclays Mindset to Empower, Challenge and Drive.