Assistant Director, Ecosystem Partnerships, IT&T

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC); Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) seeks a senior leader to drive the development and growth of its ecosystem partnerships, establishing strategic relationships with Queen Bees, Multipliers and other industry players to accelerate workforce transformation.

The role partners with the IT&T and Development Branch teams to design partnership strategies, governance, engagement models and performance metrics, turning partnership opportunities into company-wide transformation and worker outcomes.

Qualifications

• 12–15 years of experience in partnership development, business development, ecosystem building, stakeholder engagement, programme management or transformation-related roles.
• Strong track record in developing and managing strategic partnerships involving enterprises, industry stakeholders, government agencies or ecosystem partners.
• Experience in workforce transformation, business transformation, capability development or industry development initiatives will be advantageous.
• Experience working with large enterprises, SMEs, TACs, government agencies or technology ecosystem partners is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Partnership Strategy and Development: Develop and implement the strategy to grow NTUC's network of industry partners, including large anchor companies that can bring their supplier and business networks along ("Queen Bees"), technology and service providers that can reach companies in their ecosystem ("Multipliers"), and other industry ecosystem players.
• Own Partnership Governance and Frameworks: Own the criteria for selecting partners, the partnership models and the agreement templates used across all partnerships.
• Manage Partnership Programmes and Support Industry Teams: Manage partnerships end to end, from early conversations and onboarding through agreement signing, rollout and review.
• Lead Government and Funding Engagement: Work with government agencies and funding bodies on the design and use of company transformation funding.
• Drive Innovation in Partnership Models: Pilot and evaluate new approaches and joint arrangements. Assess what works and scale successful partnership models across industries.
• Drive Performance, Analysis and Reporting: Establish performance measures, analyse how well partnerships are converting into results, prepare reporting and strategic reviews.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Partnership development

Programme management

Job description

Pioneering workers' rights since 1961, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) unites 59 trade unions, seven trade associations, 12 social enterprises, and other enterprise partners as we create better lives for workers here in Singapore.

Our work cuts across the different ages and stages of life as we walk the ground and respond to everyday needs. Through initiatives that protect our workers at work, transform careers, manage the cost of living, help with financial resilience and health, and nurture relationships for families, we champion every worker through every touch point as we work towards better wages, welfare, and work prospects.

Because Every Worker Matters.

Summary of Role

The Industry Training and Transformation (IT&T) Department is part of NTUC's Training and Transformation Group that supports companies in workforce and workplace training and business transformation.

The Ecosystem Partnerships team sits within the Development Branch of IT&T and is responsible for building and leveraging strategic partnerships and ecosystem networks to accelerate workforce transformation, business transformation and worker outcomes.

This role leads the development and growth of NTUC's ecosystem partnerships by establishing and managing strategic relationships with Queen Bees, Multipliers and other industry stakeholders and ecosystem players. The role focuses on expanding NTUC's reach through partnership networks, developing scalable engagement models, and generating company transformation opportunities that support workforce and workplace transformation outcomes.

The role is responsible for developing partnership strategies, governance frameworks, engagement models, and performance measures to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of partnership programmes. The role works closely with Industry Training Officers (ITOs) to translate partnership opportunities into company-level transformation projects and worker outcomes.

This role reports to the Deputy Director, Development Branch, IT&T.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead Partnership Strategy and Development

• Develop and implement the strategy to grow NTUC's network of industry partners, including large anchor companies that can bring their supplier and business networks along ("Queen Bees"), technology and service providers that can reach companies in their ecosystem ("Multipliers"), and other industry ecosystem players
• Identify and secure new partners, including preparing the case for partnership. Expand the range of partners and solutions available so that more companies and workers can be reached

2. Own Partnership Governance and Frameworks

• Own the criteria for selecting partners, the partnership models and the agreement templates used across all partnerships
• Maintain the approval and review process, and keep partnership standards consistent across all industry teams

3. Manage Partnership Programmes and Support Industry Teams

• Manage partnerships end to end, from early conversations and onboarding through agreement signing, rollout and review
• Curate what partners can offer and provide matchmaking, project scoping support and templates so industry teams can move faster
• Coordinate joint initiatives where a partner works across more than one industry

4. Lead Government and Funding Engagement

• Work with government agencies and funding bodies on the design and use of company transformation funding
• Gather feedback from partners and industry teams, raise issues with the relevant agencies, and negotiate changes that unlock progress
• Design new funding schemes, incentives and initiatives that make it worthwhile for partners to participate and deliver results

5. Drive Innovation in Partnership Models

• Pilot and evaluate new approaches and joint arrangements. Assess what works and scale successful partnership models across industries

6. Drive Performance, Analysis and Reporting

• Establish performance measures, analyse how well partnerships are converting into results, prepare reporting and strategic reviews

Qualifications and Competencies

Education & Experience

• At least 12 to 15 years of working experience in partnership development, business development, ecosystem building, stakeholder engagement, programme management or transformation-related roles.
• Strong track record in developing and managing strategic partnerships involving enterprises, industry stakeholders, government agencies or ecosystem partners.
• Experience in workforce transformation, business transformation, capability development or industry development initiatives will be advantageous.
• Experience working with large enterprises, SMEs, TACs, government agencies or technology ecosystem partners is preferred.

Core Competencies / Skills

• Strategic thinker with strong partnership, ecosystem development and business development capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, relationship management and influencing skills, including engagement with senior leaders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and programme management capabilities, with a data-driven approach to decision‑making.
• Self‑driven, resourceful and outcomes‑focused, with the ability to translate partnerships into tangible business, workforce and worker outcomes.

We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.