Our third-party due diligence (VANTAGE) team assess our clients’ current, former or potential counterparties, looking for any issues that might pose a reputational or business risk to them, wherever they may be in the world. The work is compliance-focused and volume-driven.
Control Risks is seeking an experienced individual to manage the quality and delivery of VANTAGE work in North Asia. The Research Manager will be responsible for a team of about 15 based in Shanghai to ensure they produce clear, analytical and exceptionally well-written reports which help our Clients protect their integrity and reputation.
This role will be client-facing, and requires strong knowledge of compliance issues and due diligence. S/he will engage with Clients throughout the project cycle, from scoping to post-delivery project assessment.
S/he will support the Director in training internal and external resources in order to complete VANTAGE projects in a timely and effective manner. She will also support the Director on the strategy to grow the wider team organically and maintain optimal project margins.
We are looking for an individual with management experience. The successful candidate will have excellent communication, research and writing skills.
What you will do:
- People Management
- Manage a team of researchers, senior researchers and supervisors.
- Define, for each team member, objectives and responsibilities in line with the practice goals.
- Conduct performance reviews.
- Ensure well-being and professional development of staff.
- Recruit and train new researchers in the third-party due diligence methodology and approach – ensuring new team members go through the onboarding process.
- Leading internal training and other initiatives to ensure the efficiency and knowledge of the team.
- Project management of third-party due diligence.
- Ensure VANTAGE work is properly scoped, allocated to researchers, tracked and ultimately delivered on time and within budget.
- Communicate directly with clients in order to clarify the scope of projects, address questions, and suggest potential additional avenues of research.
- Review and approve (content and editorial) VANTAGE work, ensuring projects are of high quality and meet Clients’ specifications.
- Vendor management – liaising with external entities providing input into VANTAGE work, ensuring they are properly vetted, compliant with our policies and procedures, and that the quality of work they provide is high and adheres to our global delivery standards.
- Engage with colleagues across Control Risks to address new or joint business opportunities.
- Regional research and strategic initiatives.
- Interact regularly with other Managers and the Quality Assurance team to provide support and feedback on VANTAGE work.
- Participate in discussions with other Managers, Client Services and Product teams to provide insight on potential service/product improvement.
- Supporting VANTAGE-related technology initiatives – including case management, content authoring, and automated data collection projects – as well as overall product and proposition development, and ensuring new initiatives are actioned in the team.
Requirements
What you will bring:
Essential
- Education to degree level (minimum of a bachelor’s or equivalent experience)
- Experience in managing people, both on site and virtually
- Full fluency in written and spoken English and Mandarin is essential
- Experience in writing, researching and reviewing/editing due diligence reports; demonstrated excellence in research, writing and editing in English
- Knowledge of the socio-political environment in North and East Asia
- Experience in managing projects, especially where the project team is spread across several locations
- Strong knowledge of research techniques, databases, networks, online registers and archives and other OSINT research tools
- Experience influencing people across an organization, especially without direct reporting lines
- Proven ability to meet project deadlines
Preferred
- Knowledge of other Asian languages is an advantage;
- You have a meticulous eye for detail
- You have a clear and concise writing style
- You ensure delivery of exceptional service by focusing on the clients’ needs
- You manage and prioritise multiple tasks to tight deadlines
- You are a team player who can maintain a positive attitude under pressure
- You effectively communicate complex topics verbally and in writing
- You can manage more junior people’s work and provide constructive and meaningful feedback
Benefits
- Control Risks offers a competitively positioned compensation and benefits package that is transparent and summarised in the full job offer.
- We operate a discretionary global bonus scheme that incentivises, and rewards individuals based on company and individual performance.
- Control Risks supports hybrid working arrangements, wherever possible, that emphasise the value of in-person time together - in the office and with our clients - while continuing to support flexible and remote working.
- Working with our clients, from day one our people are given direct responsibility, career development and the opportunity to work collaboratively on fascinating projects in a rewarding and inclusive global environment.
- The Company is committed to further its diversity, inclusion and equity agenda and as an employee you have access to various business resource groups in the Company including the Company's LGBT+ network called MOSAIC, the Women's Network, and Synergy - a people network to celebrate and promote ethnic diversity at Control Risks
Control Risks is committed to a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status”
If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made in order to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate your needs.
