Assistant Director (Defence Relations & Protocol)

MINDEF; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MINDEF in Singapore seeks a professional to coordinate with the Policy Office and foreign military attachés to oversee hospitality elements for visiting senior officials, ensuring engagements meet the highest standards of protocol.

You will vet hospitality plans, oversee official engagement finances, and respond quickly to ad-hoc requests while maintaining formal relations with foreign officials and MINDEF/SAF principals.

Qualifications

• Education in international relations or related fields.
• 6+ years in international/defence relations and/or protocol is advantageous.
• Meticulous attention to event planning, protocol and financial governance.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with senior officials from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Vet and oversee the execution of hospitality plans
• Oversee finances for official engagements and ensure expenditure aligns with guidelines
• Anticipate and respond to ad-hoc requests and changes from MINDEF/SAF principals and their guests
• Maintain cordial and professional relationships with foreign military attachés, embassy officials, and senior MINDEF/SAF officials

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Event planning

Diplomatic liaison

Education

International Relations

Political Science

Defence Studies

Southeast Asian Studies

History

Philosophy

Communications

Media

Job description

What the role is:

You coordinate with the Policy Office and foreign military attachés and embassy officials to oversee the planning and organisation of hospitality elements offered to foreign senior officials visiting Singapore, ensuring that all official engagements are executed to the highest standards of protocol.

What you will be working on:

• Vet and oversee the execution of hospitality plans
• Oversee finances for official engagements and ensure that expenditure is in accordance with guidelines
• Anticipate and respond to ad-hoc requests and changes from MINDEF/SAF principals and their guests to ensure seamless event execution
• Maintain cordial and professional relationships with foreign military attachés, embassy officials, and senior MINDEF/SAF officials in the course of work

Challenge(s)

• Anticipating and responding swiftly to the needs and changes
• Managing multiple concurrent engagements and coordinations across diverse stakeholders, ensuring all official events proceed in full accordance with established plans and requirements

What we are looking for:

• Education in International Relations, Political Science, Defence and Strategic Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, History, Philosophy, Communications, or Media
• At least 6 years of experience in international/defence relations and/or protocol is advantageous
• Meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the areas of event planning, protocol, and financial governance
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally and build rapport with senior officials from diverse cultural and diplomatic backgrounds

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

About MINDEF

The mission of MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces is to enhance Singapore's peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor. The Defence Executive Officer (DXO) scheme is the non-uniformed career scheme of MINDEF that offers myriad opportunities in various job functions, such as corporate communications, cyber security, data analytics and visualisation, defence policy, finance, HR, psychology, and more. Embodying the same level of commitment towards defence, DXOs work together with their military counterparts to contribute to MINDEF/SAF's mission and ensure Singapore's security and stability. United by this common cause, our lines of defence complement each other to secure the prosperity and progress of our nation.