Assistant Director, Future Communications and Frontier Technology

Public Service Division; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

IMDA is seeking an Assistant Director/Deputy Director to lead Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) efforts in Future Communications and Frontier Technologies. You will guide national R&D strategies, collaborate with agencies, industry and academia, and champion high-level proposals to secure strategic investments.

You will mentor a team, build thought leadership, and represent Singapore in international tech discussions, shaping the country’s digital future.

Qualifications

• Holds at least Bachelor Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering or a related field.
• At least 15 years of experience in relevant field(s).
• Familiarity with the RIE ecosystem.
• Strategic thinker with collaborative attitude and a strong team player.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as strong presentation and engagement skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills to work with both local and overseas partners and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of national R&D strategies in Future Comms and Frontier Tech, identifying capability gaps and strategic interventions.
• Work with public agencies, industry and academia to drive RIE funding initiatives and guide research programmes.
• Champion proposals through high-level RIE approvals with senior officials, ensuring alignment with national priorities.
• Spearhead strategic technology fore-sighting and horizon scanning to anticipate disruptions and geopolitical shifts.
• Architect R&D programmes to support trusted digital infrastructure, progressive regulations, and product/service innovation.
• Drive international collaborations and position Singapore as a neutral hub for global tech dialogue.
• Represent Singapore at research forums and standards committees; establish thought leadership via blogs and papers.
• Mentor and coach the team to foster curiosity, continuous improvement and development.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Collaborative mindset

Excellent communication

Stakeholder management

Presentation skills

Familiarity with RIE ecosystem

Education

Bachelor Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering or related field

Job description

[What the role is]

IMDA is spearheading Singapore’s drive to be a world leading Digital Economy. IMDA aims to empower our companies and workforce to harness the power of digital technologies to drive innovation and foster trust in an increasingly digital world.

We are looking for an Assistant Director / Deputy Director who will play a pivotal role as part of a team in leading our Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) efforts in Future Communications and Frontier Technologies, cross-domain research, and research to business development. The successful candidate is a highly motivated leader and team player who has experience in supporting research to business strategies, developing thought leadership activities for Singapore and orchestrating international partnerships through the RIE. He/she will have opportunities to collaborate with local and international research communities and international organisations, to drive technology thought leadership.

Join us in our journey and jointly architect Singapore’s digital future.

[What you will be working on]

• Lead the development and execution of national R&D strategies in Future Comms, Frontier Tech, identifying critical capability gaps and formulating strategic interventions aligned to Singapore’s national interests
• Work with public agencies, industry and academia to drive the conceptualisation and preparation of major RIE funding initiatives, developing comprehensive theories of success and strategic frameworks to guide research programmes
• Champion these strategic proposals through high-level RIE approval processes, including presentations to platforms chaired at Permanent Secretary and Ministerial levels, ensuring alignment with national priorities and securing stakeholder buy-in for transformative research investments
• Spearhead strategic technology fore-sighting and horizon scanning to anticipate global technological disruptions and geopolitical shifts. Architect R&D programmes in frontier tech that will support IMDA in: (i) establishing trusted, future-ready digital infrastructure, (ii) developing progressive regulations, and (iii) driving digital product and service innovation whilst enabling sector-wide transformation to reinforce Singapore’s position as a Global Digital Hub
• Drive international collaborations with established key opinion leaders as well as promising/emerging researchers and research institutes. Position Singapore as a neutral hub where global tech representatives (industry, academia, govt) convene to establish new consensus on tech (e.g. global specifications and standards).
• Represent Singapore and/or IMDA at relevant research and technology forums and standards setting committees.
• Establish thought leadership in blogs, social media, and papers.
• Mentor and coach the team. Instil a culture of curiosity, compassion, continuous improvement and continuous development.

[What we are looking for]

Qualifications and Skills

• Holds at least Bachelor Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering or a related field.
• At least 15 years of experience in relevant field(s).
• Familiarity with the RIE ecosystem.
• Strategic thinker with collaborative attitude and a strong team player.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as strong presentation and engagement skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills to work with both local and overseas partners and stakeholders. Ability to convene senior stakeholders in frank discussions and forge mutually beneficial paths forward.

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Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Position will commensurate with experience.