Assistant Director (Safety & Health)

DSO National Laboratories; Singapore; On-site; SGD 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

DSO National Laboratories is seeking an Assistant Director (Safety & Health) to lead the Workplace Safety & Health function across R&D and Corporate divisions in Singapore. You will mentor four Safety Officers, drive the WSH strategy, ensure compliance with MOM regulations, and partner with R&D leaders to embed safety into projects.

You will champion a proactive safety culture, manage budgets, and provide escalation for incident investigations, near‑misses and root‑cause analyses

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HSE management experience.
• 3–5 years in a high-hazard R&D, pharmaceutical, or advanced manufacturing setting.
• Proven track record of leading safety or technical teams.
• MOM Registered Workplace Safety & Health Officer (WSHO) certification; Fire Safety Manager (FSM) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Safety & Risk Management across the organisation.
• Develop and implement the Workplace Safety & Health Management System.
• Lead hazard identification, risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate Business Continuity and Emergency Preparedness & Response Plans.
• Prepare quarterly Safety Reports to DSOMC.
• Plan and review annual safety budgets and training needs.
• Lead and coach a team of Safety Officers.
• Act as safety advisor to DSOMC and translate WSH requirements into practical strategies.
• Handle incident investigations and root-cause analyses to prevent recurrence.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Crisis management

Technical communication

Education

Degree / Masters in Occupational Safety & Health or related field

Job description

Job Description

DSO National Laboratories (DSO) is Singapore’s largest defence research and development (R&D) organisation, with the critical mission to develop technological solutions to sharpen the cutting edge of Singapore's national security. At DSO, you will develop more than just a career. This is where you will make a real impact and shape the future of defence across the spectrum of air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.

Job Description

DSO National Laboratories (DSO) is Singapore’s largest defence research and development (R&D) organisation, with the critical mission to develop technological solutions to sharpen the cutting edge of Singapore's national security. At DSO, you will develop more than just a career. This is where you will make a real impact and shape the future of defence across the spectrum of air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.

The Corporate Policies and Services (CPS) Division is responsible for Procurement, Partnership, Finance and Estate Management matters. CPS supports management to meet strategic objectives, partners divisions to meet their business needs, and safeguard DSO’s organisational interests.

People are DSO’s greatest asset. You will get to realise your career aspirations and develop your own niche either as a deep technical expert or a leader in the team. With frequent career dialogues and a robust training and development framework, we will provide you with the necessary development tools for you to reach your potential. You will also be recognised and rewarded through competitive remuneration packages and scholarship opportunities.

Assistant Director (Safety & Health)

The AD(S&HD) appointment serves as the primary role as the company appointed Workplace Safety & Health Officer. You will manage DSO workplace safety and health systems and ensure compliance. You will direct the overarching workplace safety strategy across all R&D and Corporate divisions. You will lead, mentor, and manage a team of 4 Safety Officers to foster a proactive, incident‑free, and highly compliant safety culture.

In This Role, You Will

• Strategic Safety & Risk Management
• Develop and execute the organisation's overarching Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Management System including Fire Emergency Response and Preparedness, aligning it with DSO's operational needs.
• Spearhead complex hazard identification, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies especially for high-risk research activities.
• Work with R&D Divisions to establish robust Business Continuity and Emergency Preparedness & Response Plans (EPRP) tailored to respective R&D operations.
• Review and prepare quarterly Safety Report to DSOMC highlighting safety state of affairs and safety initiatives to support continuous improvements.
• Project, plan and review annual operating budget to support sustained maintenance for all safety equipment and training needs.
• Leadership & Team Management
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate a team of dedicated Safety Officers, setting clear KPIs, providing ongoing training, and managing daily operational workloads.
• Act as the primary safety advisor to DSOMC, translating highly technical WSH requirements into practical business / operational strategies.
• Act as the escalation point for incident investigations, near‑miss evaluations, and root‑cause analyses and endorse mitigation measures to avoid recurrence.
• Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
• Ensure compliance to national WSH regulations (e.g., MOM legislation etc).
• Coordinate regular workplace safety inspections, and compliance checks alongside authorities and regulatory bodies.
• Safety Culture & Innovation
• Champion a proactive safety‑first culture across all Divisions, balancing psychological safety with stringent safety protocols.
• Review and integrate safety protocols smoothly into the R&D life cycle, minimizing project delays while ensuring zero safety incident

Job Requirements

• Degree / Masters in Occupational Safety & Health / Workplace Safety and Health / Engineering / Engineering Science / Environmental Occupational Health / Manufacturing Management / Safety Management/Safety, Health & Environment Management / Safety, Health & Environmental Tech / Science / Security & Fire Safety Management
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive HSE management experience, ideally with 3-5 years in a high-hazard R&D, pharmaceutical, or advanced manufacturing setting.
• People Leadership: Proven track record of successfully leading, supervising, and developing safety or technical teams.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional stakeholder management, crisis management, and technical communication skills.
• Certification: Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Registered Workplace Safety & Health Officer (WSHO) certification. Fire Safety Manager (FSM) certification is highly preferred.