Career

Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES) is a Brussels-based think tank seeking to foster better mutual understanding between China and Europe by supporting academic research in a broad range of fields, including but not limited to business and trade, international law, maritime affairs, and global governance.

We are looking for a motivated and skilled researcher to join our team in Brussels. This position is ideal for researchers with experience in the field of international affairs, particularly in EU-China relations and policy research.

Main Responsibilities:

  • Conducting high-quality research and analysis on EU-China related developments and issues;
  • Contributing to the design, preparation, and implementation of research projects and publications;
  • Writing research reports, policying briefs, op-eds or commentaries on subjects relevant to our work;
  • Planning and organising events such as conferences, roundtables, and workshops;
  • Representing ICES at external events and participating actively in its daily operations, team meetings, and collaborative projects;
  • Performing other tasks as required by the team.
    •

    Requirements:

  • A master’s degree in one or more of the following fields: International Relations, international law, sinology, political science, economics and trade, climate governance, geopolitics, maritime affairs or ocean science/governance, or equivalent;
  • A completed PhD in the field would be an asset;
  • Demonstrated interest in EU-China studies and expertise in China-related issues and European affairs;
  • Experience of 5+ years in writing research or opinion papers, reports, and policy- oriented commentaries, preferably within a think tank, research institute, or policy- analysis environment (a completed PhD, if obtained under an employment contract, may be recognised as contributing to the experience requirement);
  • Experience in participating in and organising workshops, conferences, and other public events;
  • Strong organisational skills, reliability, capability of multitasking and working autonomously;
  • Excellent written and oral skills in English; proficiency in Chinese is an asset.
    •

    Conditions

  • Full-time contract for two years, with the possibility of extension, starting in February 2026 (negotiable); Part-time may be considered in exceptional cases.
  • Brussels-based position;
  • People from non-EU states must provide a residence and work permit, in accordance with current regulations.
    •

    Benefits

  • Competitive remuneration package in line with Belgian labour regulations, including a 13.92-month salary;
  • Transportation reimbursement for commuting between home and the office;
  • Other benefits include monthly meal vouchers and a work laptop;
  • 20 legal vacation days + 10 Belgian public holidays;
  • Flexibility for working from home (WFH).
    •

    We are looking forward to receiving your application, which should include a letter of motivation, CV, a publication list and relevant degree certificates (sent as a single PDF document), by December 31, 2025, 12:00 p.m. (CET), to info@ices-eu.org . We will review the applications on a rolling basis and start interviewing in early December.