Assistant Director, Special Projects (Contract)

SUTD (Singapore University of Technology & Design); Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

SUTD invites an Assistant Director, Special Projects (Contract) to shape the university’s campus for the future. The role translates campus development strategies into deliverable projects and programmes, leading complex initiatives across the project lifecycle with a focus on design, user experience and sustainability.

You will oversee governance, budgeting and procurement, engage academic and operations stakeholders, and guide teams and consultants to practical, high-quality outcomes that

Qualifications

• Professional training in Architecture, Civil & Structural Engineering, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Building, or related built-environment discipline.
• Preferably 12–15 years of relevant campus development and construction management experience.
• Experience leading complex campus projects across lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Translate master planning strategies into actionable project plans.
• Lead multiple campus development and strategic transformation initiatives.
• Oversee full project lifecycles from planning to handover.
• Manage governance, budgets, timelines, risks and quality.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and external partners.

Skills

Project governance

Budgeting

Procurement

Contract administration

Stakeholder management

Communication

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Architecture or Civil/Structural Engineering or Urban Planning degree

Job description

Assistant Director, Special Projects (Contract)

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced built-environment professional to join us as Assistant Director, Special Projects playing a key role in shaping and transforming the University’s campus for the future.

In this role, you will translate campus development strategies, master planning initiatives and transformation priorities into well-planned and effectively delivered projects and programmes. You will lead complex campus development, space planning and strategic transformation initiatives across the project lifecycle, balancing design aspirations, operational needs, commercial considerations and stakeholder priorities.

The role will suit someone who is forward-looking, solutions-oriented and comfortable navigating complexity, with a strong appreciation for design, user experience and the possibilities that new technologies and approaches can bring to the campus environment.

What You Will Do

Campus Development & Strategic Projects

• Translate campus master planning strategies and institutional priorities into actionable project and programme plans.
• Lead multiple campus development and strategic transformation initiatives concurrently.
• Identify opportunities to enhance campus spaces, infrastructure and facilities in support of evolving institutional needs.
• Lead feasibility studies, options assessments and business case development for new projects and initiatives.
• Develop project options and recommendations for Management consideration.

Project & Programme Delivery

• Oversee projects across the full lifecycle, from planning and feasibility through design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Manage project scope, budgets, timelines, risks, dependencies and quality requirements.
• Establish appropriate project governance, reporting mechanisms and performance measures.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, consultants, contractors and professional advisers.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, procurement policies, governance standards and contractual obligations.

Design, Innovation & Place-Making

• Champion design excellence, user experience and place-making across campus development projects.
• Bring fresh and future-oriented perspectives to the planning and development of campus spaces.
• Explore emerging technologies, new concepts and innovative approaches that can enhance campus functionality, sustainability and user experience.

• Guide project teams and consultants towards solutions that are functional, distinctive, sustainable and visually compelling.

Space Planning & Optimisation

• Lead campus space planning, optimisation and utilisation initiatives.
• Develop strategies for the effective and flexible use of existing and future campus spaces.
• Translate stakeholder requirements into appropriate planning and design solutions.
• Support longer-term campus planning based on utilisation data, institutional requirements and future development needs.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with academic, administrative, technical and operational stakeholders across the University.
• Lead stakeholder consultations and workshops to establish requirements, align expectations and build consensus.
• Engage external consultants, contractors, government agencies and professional partners.
• Navigate differing perspectives and competing priorities to achieve balanced and practical outcomes.
• Communicate recommendations and complex technical matters clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

What You Will Bring

• Professional training in Architecture, Civil & Structural Engineering, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Building, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Urban Planning, Project Management, or a related built-environment discipline.
• Preferably 12 to 15 years of relevant experience in campus development, institutional developments, infrastructure projects, consultancy, project management or construction management.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex projects or programmes across different stages of the project lifecycle.
• Strong capabilities in project governance, budgeting, procurement, contract administration and risk management.
• Strong financial, commercial and business acumen.
• Good understanding of Singapore’s public sector procurement framework, governance requirements and relevant statutory regulations.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, communication and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to balance strategic, design, technical, operational and commercial considerations when making recommendations and decisions.
• Experience in campus environments, educational institutions, public-sector developments or large-scale mixed-use developments would be advantageous.
• Professional registration with the Board of Architects Singapore, Professional Engineers Board Singapore, SISV or an equivalent professional body, and certifications such as PMP, Green Mark AP or equivalent, would be an added advantage.

The Person We Are Looking For

You are able to see the bigger picture while remaining grounded in execution. You are comfortable working through ambiguity, bringing different stakeholders together and challenging established approaches where better solutions are possible.

Above all, you combine strong project and commercial discipline with a genuine appreciation for good design, thoughtful place-making and creating campus environments that support the University’s evolving education, research, innovation and institutional needs.