Assistant Director (Defence Relations Protocol & Hospitality) - DIS

MINDEF; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in Singapore is seeking a role that leads protocol and hospitality for the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS). You will oversee defence relations with countries under your charge, coordinating liaison with foreign partners and Singapore's partners.

You will manage events, immigration, and finances for official visits, guiding your team to maintain high standards of hospitality and professional relationships with foreign military attachés and embassy staff.

Qualifications

• Education in International Relations, Political Science, Defence Strategic Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, History, Philosophy, Communications and Media, or a related field is preferred.
• At least 6 years of experience in defence relations and/or protocol, or related fields is preferred.
• High level of maturity and interpersonal skills to meet the demands of networking with foreign armed forces and embassy officials.
• Quick thinking with excellent verbal communication skills.
• Highly effective planning and organisational skills.
• Creative problem-solving, decision-making, strategic thinking, and knowledge management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the growing multitude and scale of bilateral defence relations activities for the DIS leadership.
• Oversee the planning and organising of local hospitality elements offered to foreign senior officials visiting Singapore.
• Manage all hospitality matters, immigration arrangements, and finance management for visits.
• Provide guidance to the team in the execution of events.
• Oversee the finances for official visits, ensuring that expenditure is in accordance with MINDEF hospitality guidelines.
• Serve as the main point-of-contact for foreign military attachés and embassy officials.
• Serve as the main point-of-contact between the DIS, Government Ministries, and Statutory Boards.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Planning and organisational skills

Strategic thinking

Education

International Relations or related field

Job description

What the role is:

You will lead your team in protocol and hospitality matters for the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS). You are directly responsible for the defence relations and protocol matters pertaining to countries under your charge, establishing and strengthening Singapore's defence relations with foreign partners.

What you will be working on:

• Manage the growing multitude and scale of bilateral defence relations activities for the DIS leadership


• Oversee the planning and organising of local hospitality elements offered to foreign senior officials visiting Singapore


• Manage all hospitality matters, immigration arrangements, and finance management for visits


• Provide guidance to the team in the execution of events


• Oversee the finances for official visits, ensuring that expenditure is in accordance with the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) hospitality guidelines


• Serve as the main point-of-contact for foreign military attachés and embassy officials


• Serve as the main point-of-contact between the DIS, Government Ministries, and Statutory Boards

Challenge(s)

• Anticipating and responding to the needs, changes, and ad-hoc requests and coordinations required by the DIS principals and their guests to ensure that events are executed to the highest standard of hospitality


• Ensuring that all coordinations are in place and all official events are executed in accordance with the plan and the requirements of the DIS principals and their guests


• Maintaining cordial and professional relationships with foreign military attachés, embassy officials, and senior MINDEF and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officials in the course of work

What we are looking for:

• Education in International Relations, Political Science, Defence Strategic Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, History, Philosophy, Communications and Media, or a related field is preferred


• At least 6 years of experience in defence relations and/or protocol, or related fields is preferred


• High level of maturity and interpersonal skills to meet the demands of networking and interacting with foreign armed forces, external agencies, and foreign military attachés and embassy officials


• Quick thinking with excellent verbal communication skills


• Highly effective planning and organisational skills


• Creative problem-solving, decision-making, strategic thinking, and knowledge management skillsOnly 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.