Assistant Director (Community Partnerships)

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) is seeking an Assistant Director to steer the Community Strategies and Insights team, strengthening youth leadership and advancing Singapore’s position as a global thought leader in multiculturalism and social cohesion.

You will lead partnerships with community organisations, public agencies, RSIS, and other partners to shape research agendas, plan ICCS events, and oversee youth programmes such as the Young Leaders Programme, ensuring impact

Qualifications

• Experience in community development, multiculturalism, youth engagement, or research and grant administration.
• Supervisory experience would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Steer the SCRP with RSIS to shape its research agenda.
• Lead the planning and conduct of ICCS and related thought leadership platforms.
• Provide oversight of youth leadership initiatives, including the Young Leaders Programme.
• Build and leverage networks across public, private, and civil society sectors to sustain strategic partnerships.
• Ensure the team’s work strengthens Singapore’s standing as an international thought leader on multiculturalism and social cohesion.
• Mentor and develop officers to grow and realise their potential.

Job description

What the role is:

What The Role IsThe Community Strategies and Insights (CSI) team in MCCY’s Community Relations and Engagement Division partners community organisations, public agencies, research institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen social cohesion and advance research and thought leadership on multiculturalism, racial and religious harmony, and resilient societies.CSI’s Community Partnerships unit supports Youth Fellowship and Thought Leadership programmes linked to the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) and the Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP) with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).As the Assistant Director, you will lead the work in strengthening youth leadership, fostering cohesive societies, and advancing Singapore’s standing internationally as a thought leader in multiculturalism and social cohesion.

What you will be working on:

You will:

• Steer the SCRP with RSIS, shaping its research agenda to ensure it remains grounded in Singapore's needs and responsive to emerging challenges.
• Lead the planning and conduct of the ICCS and related thought leadership platforms, working closely with RSIS and other partners to make these marquee events a credible and influential voice in the global conversation on cohesive societies.
• Provide oversight of youth leadership initiatives, including the Young Leaders Programme, drawing on research, stakeholder engagement, and landscape scanning to ensure these programmes are impactful, relevant, and developing leaders who will carry this work forward.
• Build and leverage networks across the people, private, and public sectors to develop and sustain the strategic partnerships – with community organisations, religious institutions, civil society groups, youth networks, and academic institutions.
• Ensure your team's work is coherent, impactful, and well-positioned to advance Singapore's standing as an international thought leader on multiculturalism and social cohesion.
• Mentor and develop your officers, guiding them as they grow and realise their potential.

What we are looking for:

Work Experience

• At least eight years of experience in any of the following areas: community development, multiculturalism, youth engagement, social cohesion, partnership-building, programme management, or research and grant administration
• Supervisory experience would be advantageous

Competency Requirements

• Strong critical thinking and analytical rigour
• Clear written communication
• Ability to translate research and policy thinking into programmes and partnerships
• Skilled at building and leveraging networks across sectors
• Effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders from all walks of life

Personality Traits

• Genuinely committed to building a more cohesive society
• Organised and delivery-focused
• Culturally sensitive and intellectually curious

About Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth

We aim to build a cohesive and resilient society, deepening the sense of national identity and affinity for Singapore through strengthening community bonds, promoting of the arts and heritage, youth engagement, sports development, volunteerism and philanthropy.