Associate Director, Industry Partnerships, OIE

Singapore Management University; Singapore; On-site; SGD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Singapore seeks an individual to enhance research partnerships across various sectors. The ideal candidate will develop strategies, engage with both internal and external stakeholders, and facilitate meaningful collaborations. A Bachelor's degree and significant experience in relevant fields are required for this role, which offers the opportunity to drive impactful research initiatives.

Qualifications

• At least 8 to 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in research partnerships or higher education.
• Proven experience in building partnerships and strategic collaborations.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategies to grow research partnerships.
• Identify strategic engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to assess engagement readiness.

Skills

Building partnerships

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Analytical abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree

Postgraduate degree

Job description

The Office of Industry Engagement (OIE) plays a critical role in driving Singapore Management University (SMU)'s engagement with the people, public and private sectors through strategic research partnerships. Industry engagement has been identified as a key enabler for SMU to stay relevant, enhance its societal contributions and amplify real-world impact.

The role acts as a pivotal bridge and coordinator between the University and its Schools, Offices, Centres and Institutes (SOCIs) and faculty, enabling meaningful collaborations with external partners. You will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to identify strategic opportunities, build engagement pathways and support research collaborations that address real-world challenges.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategies to grow SMU's research partnerships across the people, public and private sectors in alignment with SMU's research priorities.
• Identify, assess and pursue strategic engagement opportunities that expand SMU's research impact.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including Schools, Offices, Centres and Institutes (SOCIs) to assess engagement readiness and provide support in developing impactful research collaborations.
• Facilitate and coordinate with existing SOCI-level partnerships teams to align efforts, share insights, and scale research engagement efforts university-wide. Shape and contribute to strategic planning efforts that align business development activities with SMU's research strengths and emerging opportunities.
• Develop positioning strategies and key value propositions that communicate SMU's research capabilities clearly to external partners.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to drive and organise partnerships initiatives and events to facilitate knowledge sharing and strengthen partners engagement.
• Organise and support regular engagement and planning meetings with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment on research engagement priorities and progress.
• Track and report on research partnership activities, including developing metrics and dashboards to evaluate performance, outcomes, and value-add to the University.
• Represent OIE at internal and external meetings, events, and engagements, supporting the Director in advancing SMU's research partnership agenda.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• At least a Bachelor's degree; postgraduate degree would be an advantage.
• At least 8 to 10 years of relevant work experience required.
• Prior experience in research partnerships or working within a research-intensive or higher education environment is highly desirable.
• Dynamic professional with proven experience in building partnerships or driving strategic collaborations, preferably in higher education or research environment.
• Strong understanding of the higher education landscape and its intersection with government, industry and community stakeholders.
• A proven track record in strategic planning, with the ability to align initiatives with organisation's goals.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage confidently across all levels, cultures and backgrounds.
• In-depth knowledge of national, regional, and global trends shaping innovation and business growth.
• Familiarity with key dimensions of industry partnerships including intellectual property and technology transfer, government grants, grant and contract management, and philanthropic development.
• Outstanding written and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex ideas and deliver clear and compelling presentations.
• Strong problem-solving, multi-tasking and analytical abilities with the ability to manage ambiguity and drive outcomes.
• Resourceful, independent worker and a team player, with strong collaborative and influencing skills that enables collaboration with a wide range of partners of internal and external stakeholders.

Other Information

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Candidates who do not possess the stipulated qualifications but have relevant work experience may still apply. Remuneration and appointment terms shall commensurate with qualifications and experience. SMU reserves the right to modify the appointment terms where necessary.