Assistant Executive Director (Professional Practice & Capability Development)
The Salvation Army
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Job summary
The Salvation Army in Singapore seeks an accomplished, values-driven leader to strengthen practice standards and multidisciplinary care within the Children & Youth Group (CYG) of Gracehaven.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Executive Director will guide social workers, psychologists, counsellors and youth workers to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, child-centred services for at-risk children and their families.
Qualifications
- Master's degree or higher in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology or related field.
- Minimum 10 years' professional experience in social services or related human services.
- Senior leadership or professional practice leadership with accountability for quality and outcomes.
- Experience supporting vulnerable children, youths and families.
- Proven leadership of complex service environments incl. residential, community, mental health.
- Capability in developing practice frameworks, supervision models and training paths.
- Knowledge of governance, safeguarding, risk, compliance and regulatory requirements.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to engage with government agencies, regulators, funders, academics and partners.
- Strong integrity, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
Responsibilities
- Provide professional leadership across CYG's child, youth and family services.
- Guide and develop multidisciplinary teams of social workers, psychologists, counsellors, youth workers.
- Bring in evidence-informed approaches to strengthen professional capacity.
- Develop practice frameworks, supervision structures, learning pathways, reflective practice.
- Champion trauma-informed, safeguarding-conscious and relational culture.
- Uphold governance, safeguarding and professional standards.
- Collaborate with government agencies, professional bodies, sector partners to improve outcomes.
- Scan sector for trends, training opportunities and partnerships.
- Lead professional development to address complex needs, trauma and risk.
- Translate mission and priorities into measurable outcomes for children and families.
Skills
Education
Job description
The Salvation Army has been touching lives in Singapore since 1935 and we remain committed in serving the underprivileged in the community without discrimination. To us, every life is precious and we actively help those in need regardless of age, race or religion.
Throughout the years, we have established a comprehensive network of social services to meet a wide range of needs in our community. Our diverse programmes reach out to children who need care and protection, families in material need, ailing aged requiring quality nursing care and other needy segments in our society.
Our spiritual ministry also reaches out to the people in the community to provide counsel to those in need. We are there to help guide those in need towards finding their identity and purpose in life.
Since 1935, The Salvation Army has stood as a pillar of hope and transformation in Singapore. Today, its Children and Youth Group (CYG) continues that legacy by serving hundreds of vulnerable children and youth annually - providing preventive programmes, foster care, residential services, and reunification support.
Guided by the belief that every child matters and thrives best in a family setting, CYG offers a comprehensive continuum of care, including:
- Gracehaven, The Haven - Residential care for children and youth
- Gracehaven Fostering and Befriender for Families - Foster care services and family reunification support
- Kids in Play - Child development and engagement programmes
- Youth Development Centre - Life skills and development support
- Youth Mental Health Support - Psychosocial and emotional care for youth
The core values of CYG are Compassion, Collaboration, Resilience, Spirit of Excellence, Integrity, Genuine Care.
Chifley People is seeking an accomplished and values-driven professional leader to strengthen the practice standards, professional capability and multidisciplinary care culture of The Salvation Army's Children & Youth Group in Singapore.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Executive Director will serve as a leading professional voice for CYG, guiding and developing social workers, psychologists, counsellors and youth workers to deliver high-quality, ethical, trauma-informed and child-centred services for at-risk children, youths and families.
This role is less focused on corporate administration and more focused on building professional excellence, deepening sector knowledge, strengthening practice frameworks and cultivating an environment where vulnerable children and young people are genuinely accepted, embraced and cared for.
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
- Provide professional leadership across CYG's child, youth and family services, with particular focus on practice quality, professional standards and capability development.
- Guide, mentor and develop multidisciplinary teams of social workers, psychologists, counsellors, youth workers and related professionals.
- Bring in new knowledge, evidence-informed approaches and sector best practices to strengthen CYG's professional capacity and service effectiveness.
- Develop and embed practice frameworks, supervision structures, learning pathways and reflective practice processes that support professional growth and accountability.
- Champion a trauma-informed, safeguarding-conscious and relational culture where every child and youth is treated with dignity, acceptance, compassion and hope.
- Uphold governance, ethical, safeguarding and professional standards across all service areas, ensuring practice is responsible, consistent and aligned with regulatory expectations.
- Build purposeful collaborations with government agencies, professional bodies, sector partners, residential and community service providers, academic institutions and community stakeholders to strengthen learning, innovation, service integration and outcomes for children, youths and families.
- Actively scan the social service, mental health, child protection and youth development sectors for emerging practice trends, research, training opportunities and partnership models that can be adapted to strengthen CYG's professional practice.
- Lead professional development initiatives that equip staff to respond effectively to complex needs, risk, trauma, family systems and youth behaviours.
- Work closely with the Executive Director and service leaders to translate CYG's mission, values and strategic priorities into strong professional practice and measurable outcomes for children, youths and families.
Applicants must meet the following essential requirements:
- A Master's degree or higher in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology or a closely related discipline.
- A minimum of 10 years' professional experience within social services, community services, residential care or a closely related human services environment.
- Substantial senior leadership or professional practice leadership experience, with demonstrated accountability for service quality, professional standards, staff development and outcomes.
- Demonstrated direct experience supporting vulnerable children, young people, families or other high-needs populations.
- Proven experience leading complex service environments, preferably involving residential, community and/or mental health services.
- Demonstrated capability in developing practice frameworks, professional supervision models, training pathways, service improvement initiatives and evidence-informed interventions.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience in governance, safeguarding, ethical practice, casework accountability, risk management, compliance and regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrated success in leading and developing multidisciplinary professional teams.
- Proven ability to engage effectively with government agencies, regulators, boards, funders, professional bodies, academic institutions and sector partners to advance practice quality, shared learning and integrated support for vulnerable children, youths and families.
- Strong ability to work collaboratively with service leaders to align professional practice, staffing capability and resources with the needs of children, youths and families.
- Demonstrated resilience, sound judgement and emotional intelligence, with the maturity to lead in complex and demanding environments.
We are seeking a professional leader who combines deep practice credibility, strategic insight and a heart for children and youths who have experienced adversity. The successful candidate will be able to raise the professional confidence, competence and cohesion of CYG's multidisciplinary teams while remaining grounded in compassion, humility and service.
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- A substantial record of leadership in social work, psychology, counselling, youth work, residential care or related child and family services.
- The ability to translate professional knowledge, research and sector developments into practical improvements in frontline practice.
- Exceptional capability in developing people, strengthening team practice, facilitating reflective learning and nurturing professional confidence across disciplines.
- Strong judgement in ethical, safeguarding, risk and governance matters, with the courage to uphold standards while supporting staff through complexity.
- Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to convene, collaborate and co-create solutions with sector partners, regulators, funders, academic institutions and community stakeholders.
- A high level of integrity, resilience, accountability, emotional intelligence and personal commitment to serving children and youths with dignity and compassion.
- A genuine commitment to cultivating a professional culture where at-risk children and youths are not merely managed, but accepted, embraced, understood and cared for.
Applicants are asked to submit a comprehensive application demonstrating clearly how they meet the essential requirements of the position.
Your application must include:
- Cover Letter — maximum 1 page Addressing your motivation for applying and highlighting the experience and leadership capability you would bring to the position.
- Executive CV — maximum 3 pages Clearly outlining your qualifications, career history, senior leadership responsibilities, achievements and relevant social services experience.
- Capability Alignment Statement — maximum 3 pages Addressing each of the Essential Qualifications & Experience requirements in this advertisement, with specific examples demonstrating your capability and achievements.
- Leadership Statement — maximum 2 pages Outlining your leadership philosophy and approach to leading complex human services, multidisciplinary teams, organisational change and service improvement.
- Professional References Provide the names and contact details of three professional referees, including preferably a current or recent supervisor, CEO, Board member or equivalent senior stakeholder.
Applications will be assessed against the essential qualifications, experience and leadership capabilities outlined above.
Shortlisted candidates may subsequently be required to participate in a structured interview process and appropriate leadership and/or psychometric assessment.
Applications that do not clearly address the essential requirements and prescribed application format may not proceed to the next stage.
The role is with The Salvation Army's Children & Youth Group in Singapore, providing services to children, young people and families experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.
The organisation operates within an international Christian service environment and is committed to compassionate care, professional excellence and positive outcomes for those it serves.
This is an opportunity for an experienced social services executive to assume a significant leadership mandate, influencing service quality, organisational capability and outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.
It offers the opportunity to shape professional practice, grow multidisciplinary capability, introduce new knowledge and strengthen a compassionate service culture within a respected international Christian organisation.
The Salvation Army
Children and Youth Group - Gracehaven Children's Home
3 Lorong Napiri Singapore 547528
By submitting this job application, I affirm that I have given to The Salvation Army true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed.
I agree that The Salvation Army (TSA) may collect, use and disclose your personal data, as provided in this application form, or (if applicable) obtained by TSA as a result of your employment, for the following purposes in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 and our data protection policy (available at our website at https://www.salvationarmy.org.sg/data-protection-policy/ ).
a) the processing of this employment application;
b) the administration of the employment with TSA; and
c) sharing of personal information to third party, including but not limited to government agencies, hospitals, vendor(s)/supplier (s), working in collaboration with TSA to support the employment.
If you are providing third party's personal data, you hereby declare that you have obtained consent from the named individual(s), for the collection, use and disclosure of his/her personal data by you to TSA, TSA business partners and other third-party service providers. I authorised the organisation to contact references provided for employment reference checks.
Please visit our website at https://www.salvationarmy.org.sg/data-protection-policy/ for further details on your data protection policy, including how you may access and correct your personal data or withdraw consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal data.
If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for denial of employment or immediate dismissal.
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