Deputy Director (Planning), Awards & Scholarship Directorate, A*STAR Graduate Academy

At A.STAR Graduate Academy (A.GA), our vision is to make A.STAR a global nexus for scientific talents. We are committed to nurturing and grooming talented scientists and researchers who will spearhead Singapore's ambition of becoming a world-class scientific hub. Through a comprehensive suite of undergraduate, PhD and post-doctoral scholarships, A.GA supports top-class education at both local and overseas universities/ institutions to help passionate individuals realise their full potential. We also identify talent through extensive outreach programmes and internships to nurture them into future scientific talents.

The Awards & Scholarships Directorate oversees the following: (1) strategic plans in A.GA (2) corporate planning and reporting (3) policies and frameworks related to scholarship and international awards (4) KPI tracking and reporting (5) Research Innovation Enterprise (RIE) reviews and reporting and (5) liaison and co-ordinations with external agencies.

A.GA is seeking a self-driven leader who is nimble, resilient, and possesses strong analytical thinking skills and a strong sense of duty to operationalise A.STAR/ A.GA's vision and mission. You are expected to have organisational awareness and a solid understanding of RIE policies and their impact on the RIE ecosystem in Singapore. Strong interpersonal and effective communication skills are essential for engaging a diverse set of stakeholders within and beyond A.STAR. You should also be an excellent team player with a growth mindset. In summary, you are expected to lead your team effectively and align team goals with A.GA's mission and key objectives.

Key Responsibilities

The Deputy Director is required to:

• Drive strategy development and long-term plans to achieve A.GA's strategic priorities and desired outcomes.
• Drive the development and approval of annual workplan objectives.
• Supervise corporate planning and management including budget planning and management, cash projection and management as well as quarterly reporting.
• Collaborate with Data Analytics team for analysing KPIs and Tracking Indicators as well as management reporting.
• Seek approval of relevant Manpower Funding Initiatives (FI) and associated Mid-Term Reviews from NRF and/or relevant committees.
• Support ED A.GA in re-organisation initiatives and approval of A.GA establishment.
• Manage ad-hoc and/or urgent queries/request from stakeholders.
• Liaise and co-ordinate with key external stakeholders (e.g. MTI, NRF and MOE).

Job Requirements

• 10 to 15 years of relevant working experience in either government sector or private companies
• Relevant working experience in strategic and corporate planning would be an advantage
• At least an undergraduate degree in Engineering, Science, Statistics, HR Management or equivalent would be preferred
• Strong analytical thinking skills
• Excellent leadership skills, and ability to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to translate organisational intent or goals into actionable initiatives to achieve the desired outcomes
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively
• Resilient and able to work under tight timelines
• Proficient in Microsoft applications especially PowerPoint presentation. Proficiency in Power Automate and Power BI would be an advantage