Associate Director, Project Development

Temasek Foundation; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Temasek Foundation seeks an Associate Director, Project Development to identify and shape new ideas, translating concepts into implementable initiatives. You will build relationships with TF and external stakeholders, from communities to senior leaders, and oversee workstreams from concept to implementation.

You will research trends, evaluate feasibility, and develop actionable recommendations, while aligning projects with TF priorities and ensuring sustainability and impact across programmes.

Qualifications

• Degree holder with at least eight years of experience in project or programme development.
• Strong research and analytical skills with ability to translate insights into practical ideas.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to see the big picture and turn ideas into workable projects.
• Experience taking projects from early ideas through to implementation.
• Strong stakeholder management, including engaging senior government, institutional and corporate leaders.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Research social, economic, environmental, technological and philanthropic trends relevant to TF.
• Identify emerging issues and ecosystem gaps and develop informed recommendations.
• Develop new ideas and projects aligned with TF priorities, turning early-stage ideas into concepts with defined outcomes.
• Shape concepts and assess relevance, feasibility, impact, scalability and sustainability.
• Identify and engage stakeholders and potential partners across communities, government, institutions and corporate leaders.
• Translate strategic concepts into implementation plans with workstreams and milestones.
• Serve as a connector across TF teams and curate cross-cutting opportunities.
• Bring colleagues together across domains to evolve concepts into broader TF initiatives.

Job description

Temasek Foundation (TF) supports programmes that connect people, uplift communities, protect the planet, and strengthen capabilities in Singapore, Asia and beyond. Our programmes aim to create positive outcomes for individuals and communities today and for future generations.

We are seeking an experienced, intellectually curious and resourceful individual to join Temasek Foundation as Associate Director, Project Development. This role identifies, researches, shapes and develops new ideas and projects that advance TF’s strategic and philanthropic priorities. It translates emerging opportunities and broad concepts into coherent, implementable initiatives. The incumbent should be able to see the big picture, connect ideas and turn them into action, while building strong relationships across TF and with external stakeholders, from communities and practitioners to senior leaders and C-suite decision-makers.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research, Insights & Opportunity Development

• Research social, economic, environmental, technological and philanthropic trends relevant to TF, synthesising data and diverse perspectives into clear insights, implications and opportunities.
• Identify emerging issues, unmet needs and ecosystem gaps where TF can play a meaningful or catalytic role and develop informed recommendations.

Ideation & Project Development

• Develop new ideas and projects aligned with TF’s priorities, turning early-stage ideas into clear concepts with defined outcomes, stakeholders and implementation approaches.
• Shape concepts and assess their relevance, feasibility, impact, scalability and sustainability, setting out a clear path from idea to implementation.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development

• Identify and engage relevant stakeholders and potential partners, building strong relationships across communities, government, institutions and corporate leaders.
• Represent TF in exploratory discussions, consultations and external engagements to build partnerships and advance potential opportunities.

From Concept to Implementation

• Translate strategic concepts into implementation plans that connect research, stakeholder needs, TF priorities, partners and resources.
• Develop workstreams, milestones and decision points, working with relevant TF teams to move concepts effectively into implementation.
• Serve as a connector across TF teams, drawing on a strong understanding of TF’s portfolio and institutional knowledge to identify how capabilities, networks, knowledge and programmes can reinforce one another.
• Bring colleagues together across domains to develop integrated approaches and curate cross-cutting opportunities that could evolve into broader TF initiatives or platforms.

REQUIREMENTS

• Degree holder with at least eight years of relevant experience in project or programme development, research, strategy, innovation, public policy, philanthropy, consulting or related fields.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to grasp new or complex topics and translate insights into practical ideas.
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to see the big picture, connect issues and turn ideas into workable projects.
• Experience taking projects from early-stage ideas through to implementation.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence engaging people at different levels, including senior government, institutional and corporate leaders.
• Strong writing, communication and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare concept papers, proposals and management presentations.
• Able to work through ambiguity, exercise sound judgement and bring structure to issues without clear solutions.
• Collaborative, resourceful and comfortable working across teams and areas of work.