Research Associate

About the Position
Based in Tokyo, you will be a key member of Aurora’s Japan Research team, delivering high-quality research and insight on Japan's power and energy markets to our public and private sector clients. You will support all aspects of client engagement: helping identify issues, forming hypotheses, conducting analysis, synthesising conclusions into recommendations and presenting to senior clients. You will develop data-based strategic insights into the energy transition for both public and private sector clients.
You will work in a dynamic, stimulating, and supporting environment. You will apply your interpersonal skills to build connected, co-operative project teams, and will have opportunities to substantially influence the thinking of organisations across the energy sector. Over time, you will be able to grow into an industry expert under the guidance of directors and team leads with deep experience addressing major strategic issues in global energy markets.

The position suits an experienced analyst or associate from a strategic or economic consultancy, energy company, financial services company, or knowledge-focused firm or institution. You will combine technical ability with a strong track record of dependable performance in team-oriented environments.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop and carry out timely and rigorous quantitative analyses to enhance clients’ decision making
- Work closely with our modelling team, structuring economic problems into quantifiable analyses and deriving insights from the model results
- Monitor and assess the latest developments in Japanese power markets, energy policy, renewable energy, battery storage, and other energy transition themes.
- Contribute to our research and product development, by identifying new opportunities and expanding our capabilities
- Engage with clients to thoroughly understand their interests and gain new insights
- Communicate findings to clients in meetings, workshops and conferences, turning analysis to insight by creating compelling presentations
- Support junior colleagues and contribute to a collaborative and high-performing team environment

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required attributes:
- At least 2–4 years of experience at a major consultancy, energy company, financial services company, or other knowledge-focused firm or institution
- First class or high second-class university degree, ideally in a quantitative subject (e.g. Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Finance), coupled with a keen interest in energy markets and policy developments
- Proven ability to interpret and derive insight from complex quantitative data and information
- Demonstrated success in taking responsibility for project and process management in team-oriented environments
- Ability to communicate clearly and co-operate effectively with both technically and non-technically minded people
- Self-starting, entrepreneurial mind-set, and desire to grow the business
- Fluency in English (C1) and native or JLPT N1-level Japanese

Desirable attributes:
- Previous experience of working on energy-related projects or policy
- Leadership, management or mentoring experience demonstrated by previous roles of professional responsibility or extracurricular activities
- Demonstrated success in working together with clients
- Competence in advanced data analytics (e.g. Python, R, Matlab, Advanced Excel)
- Strong academic record, such as a Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant discipline

What we offer

Some of the benefits we include are:

- The opportunity to substantially influence major decisions in the energy sector
- Direct engagement with clients through Aurora conferences, workshops and webinars
- The opportunity to grow into a publicly visible industry expert
- A fun, informal and international work culture
- Commuting allowance
- Private health insurance
- Access to the Aurora Academy, our training programme offering a range of opportunities to develop your skills
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), offering a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7/365, covering a wide range of personal and professional aspects

The Company is committed to the principle that no employee or job applicant shall receive unfavorable treatment on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity/paternity.