Assistant Director / Senior Assistant Director, HHP MISSION Programme Office

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A*STAR's HHP MISSION Programme Office seeks a senior professional to lead strategic and operational activities within a national translational innovation programme. The role blends scientific strategy, portfolio governance, and public-sector administration to advance Singapore's biomedical research ecosystem.

The incumbent will collaborate with researchers, clinicians, industry and public-sector partners to shape programme strategy, oversee governance, budgeting, contracting and reporting, and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree and strong strategic capabilities are required.
• Experience in science administration, portfolio management or biotechnology funding is essential.
• Ability to translate scientific insights into translational and programme strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational workstreams within the PO.
• Develop and refine operating models, governance, and administrative systems.
• Coordinate budgeting, procurement, contracting and risk management.
• Engage with researchers, clinicians, industry and public-sector stakeholders.
• Prepare materials for Steering and Oversight Committees and reporting bodies.
• Monitor portfolio progress, milestones and resource use.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Portfolio governance

Scientific landscaping

Public sector administration

Education

PhD in biomedical sciences or related field

Job description

HHP MISSION Programme Office

(Scientific Strategy, Portfolio Governance & Operations)

Overview

HHP MISSION is a national mission-oriented translational innovation programme under the HHP domain, designed to catalyse high-risk/high-reward biomedical innovation aligned to Singapore’s economic value capture (EVC) agenda. The MISSION Programme Office, hosted in A*STAR, serves as the core enabling function that ensures rigour, coherence, and disciplined execution across a complex, multi-institutional national programme.

Job Description

HHP MISSION Programme Office

(Scientific Strategy, Portfolio Governance & Operations)

Overview

HHP MISSION is a national mission-oriented translational innovation programme under the HHP domain, designed to catalyse high-risk/high-reward biomedical innovation aligned to Singapore’s economic value capture (EVC) agenda. The MISSION Programme Office, hosted in A*STAR, serves as the core enabling function that ensures rigour, coherence, and disciplined execution across a complex, multi-institutional national programme.

The role of AD/SAD at the HHP MISSION PO will combine scientific and operational strategy, ecosystem intelligence, public sector administration and operational execution. The role will work closely with the broader Singapore research ecosystem to identify emerging scientific and translational opportunities, assess Singapore’s areas of competitive advantage, and translate these insights into a focused strategy for research programmes with the potential for meaningful translational and commercial impact.

In parallel, the role will support the day-to-day implementation of MISSION, including programme governance, funding calls, project and programme monitoring, stakeholder coordination, reporting and operational follow-through.

As a senior member of the Programme Office, the incumbent will take ownership of assigned workstreams, as well as provide guidance to junior team members. The role requires someone who can move comfortably between scientific analysis, strategic thinking and hands-on programme operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Programme Office Leadership & Coordination
• Support the Head of the Programme Office as a senior member of the PO, leading strategic and operational workstreams, providing oversight, mentorship and direction to junior team members, and driving initiatives from planning through implementation and follow-through.
• Support the establishment and continuous refinement of Programme Office operating models, processes, governance frameworks and administrative systems required to support a large-scale national mission-oriented programme.
• Develop and maintain templates, guidance materials and internal processes to ensure consistency, efficiency and rigour across MISSION activities.
• Work closely with corporate functions and external stakeholders on programme-wide operational matters, including budgeting, finance, procurement, legal, intellectual property, contracting and risk management.
• Support the development of funding, contracting and partnership strategies to ensure effective programme delivery while balancing flexibility, accountability and public-sector requirements.
• Build relationships with peer organisations globally and monitor leading practices from mission-oriented innovation agencies and funders, including organisations such as ARPA-H, ARIA, Wellcome Leap and other similar initiatives, to inform the continued evolution of MISSION's operating model and programme management approaches.
• Anticipate emerging strategic and operational issues and support the broader priorities of the Portfolio Director and Head of the Programme Office.
• Portfolio Governance, Management & Execution
• Support the Portfolio Director and Head of the Programme Office in the strategic oversight and management of the overall MISSION portfolio.
• Lead the preparation of high-quality materials, analyses, decision papers and briefing documents for the Steering Committee, Oversight Committee and other governance bodies.
• Monitor and synthesise portfolio-level progress, risks, milestones, outcomes and resource utilisation across MISSION programmes, highlighting key issues and recommendations for leadership attention.
• Support portfolio planning, prioritisation and decision-making processes, ensuring alignment with MISSION objectives, national priorities and economic value capture outcomes.
• Coordinate portfolio-level reporting and performance monitoring, including the consolidation of programme updates into coherent strategic narratives for senior stakeholders.
• Support annual and multi-year budget planning, forecasting and resource allocation exercises associated with the MISSION portfolio.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Communications
• Develop and maintain strong relationships across Singapore's biomedical research, healthcare, innovation and economic development ecosystem, engaging researchers, clinicians, industry, investors and public-sector stakeholders through consultations, workshops, roadshows and other engagement activities to support MISSION's strategic objectives and strengthen ecosystem connectivity.
• Support the preparation of strategic communications, presentations, speeches and updates for senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Develop and execute MISSION's strategic communications strategy, including the positioning and communication of MISSION's objectives, priorities, achievements and impact to local and international audiences.
• Scientific Strategy, Landscaping & Ecosystem Intelligence
• Lead and manage scientific, technology, translational and industry landscaping activities to identify opportunities relevant to MISSION, taking into consideration unmet need, competitive landscape, capability strengths and gaps, potential partners and pathways to impact.
• Assess global developments alongside Singapore's scientific capabilities, ecosystem strengths and translational opportunities to identify areas where Singapore may have a differentiated right to win.
• Synthesise scientific, ecosystem and industry intelligence into actionable strategic insights to support portfolio strategy and future MISSION priorities.
• Support horizon-scanning and foresighting activities to inform long-term portfolio positioning.
• Programme Development Support
• Provide strategic, scientific and operational support to Programme Directors in the development and implementation of MISSION programmes.
• Support Programme Directors by identifying relevant ecosystem capabilities, potential collaborators, programme partners and other strategic inputs where required.
• Coordinate preparation of programme materials, reviews, meetings and follow-up actions in support of Programme Directors and programme teams.
• Work with Programme Directors, programme fellows and other programme-specific resources to ensure effective coordination and execution of programme activities.
• Support the monitoring of programme progress, deliverables and risks, escalating key issues through appropriate governance channels where required.

Qualifications And Experience

• Advanced degree, preferably PhD or equivalent, in biomedical sciences, life sciences, bioengineering or a related discipline.
• Approximately 5-8 years of relevant experience in science administration, strategy, portfolio management, innovation programme management, biotechnology/ pharmaceutical industry, research funding or a related field.
• Strong understanding of biomedical science and the ability to rapidly assess unfamiliar scientific areas and synthesise complex information into clear strategic insights.
• Experience in scientific and technology landscaping, ecosystem analysis, competitive intelligence, portfolio strategy or related activities would be advantageous.
• Experience supporting or managing complex, actively managed programmes in a dynamic innovation environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across researchers, clinicians, industry, investors, government agencies and senior leadership.
• Familiarity with Singapore's biomedical research, healthcare, innovation and economic development ecosystem would be highly advantageous.
• Experience with public-sector research funding, governance, budgeting, contracting or partnership management would be advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex workstreams, manage multiple priorities and provide guidance to junior colleagues.