Chief Operating Officer

Private Advertiser; Singapore; On-site; SGD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Private Advertiser is seeking an accomplished senior leader to drive the organisation’s strategic direction, governance, and financial performance across Singapore and overseas markets. The role focuses on growth, academic quality, and regulatory compliance.

You will work with the Governing Board to translate strategy into measurable outcomes, lead multi-functional teams, and ensure sustainability while expanding markets and ensuring high standards of teaching and learning.

Qualifications

• Senior management experience in higher/adult/private education sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership for growth, performance, quality.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance & compliance

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Communication & negotiation

Change management

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Education

Master’s degree or higher in Business/Management/Education

PhD preferred

Job description

Role Overview

• Provide overall operational leadership for a diversified private education organisation specialising in higher and adult education, with responsibility for organisational growth, business performance, operational excellence, and academic quality.

• Shape and execute the organisation’s long-term strategic direction while ensuring effective governance and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements in Singapore and relevant overseas markets.

• Work closely with the Governing Board and senior leadership to translate organisational strategy into measurable business and operational outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Develop and drive the organisation’s strategic direction to achieve sustainable year-on-year revenue growth, operational excellence, and long-term business sustainability.

2. Lead organisational development initiatives, including market expansion, new business opportunities, and the strengthening and optimisation of existing operations.

3. Take overall accountability for financial and commercial performance, including revenue generation, cost management, profitability, budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation.

4. Establish organisational performance targets, KPIs, and benchmarks, and ensure effective execution and accountability across multiple business units and functions.

5. Drive student enrolment, retention, progression, and overall student experience while maintaining financial sustainability and alignment with the organisation’s strategic objectives.

6. Provide strategic oversight of academic quality, ensuring high standards in teaching and learning, programme relevance, student outcomes, and alignment with industry needs and regulatory requirements.

7. Develop and implement operational strategies, processes, systems, and governance structures to improve efficiency, scalability, service quality, and overall organisational performance.

8. Ensure compliance with applicable Singapore education regulations, licensing and regulatory requirements, and SkillsFuture Singapore requirements, while overseeing regulatory compliance across relevant international operations.

9. Provide leadership and oversight across local and overseas operations, ensuring consistent standards of performance, governance, operational effectiveness, and service delivery.

10. Oversee commercial services, student support functions, corporate services, and other non-academic operations to ensure effective support of the organisation’s strategic and educational objectives.

11. Establish and maintain appropriate governance frameworks, internal controls, enterprise risk management, and business continuity plans, while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and lifelong learning.

12. Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including the Governing Board, regulators, business partners, academic and professional stakeholders, and other relevant external parties.

13. Lead, develop, and empower senior management and cross-functional teams to build a high-performing, accountable, and collaborative organisational culture.

14. Undertake additional strategic initiatives, projects, and responsibilities as assigned by the Governing Board or senior leadership.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in Business, Education, Management, or a related discipline. A PhD or equivalent doctoral qualification is preferred.

• Proven experience aligned with the scope of this role, including strategic leadership, business growth, full P&L management, organisational development, operational excellence, academic quality oversight, regulatory compliance, and leadership of complex or multi-functional organisations.

• At least 15 years of senior management experience, preferably within the higher education, adult education, private education, training, or service-based sectors.

• Professional certifications in leadership, finance, governance, education management, or a related discipline will be an advantage.

• Strong track record in business growth, market expansion, operational transformation, and translating organisational strategy into measurable outcomes.

• Strong knowledge of Singapore’s private education and education regulatory landscape, including relevant licensing, regulatory, and SkillsFuture Singapore requirements. Experience in international or cross-border education operations will be an advantage.

• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated financial, operational, and strategic management capabilities.

• Demonstrated ability to balance academic quality, student outcomes, regulatory compliance, and commercial performance.

• Experience in driving student enrolment, retention, progression, and student experience within a higher education, adult education, private education, or training environment will be an advantage.

• Experience in developing and implementing operational strategies, processes, systems, governance frameworks, internal controls, risk management, and business continuity measures.

• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing senior management and cross-functional teams, with strong stakeholder management skills and experience engaging with regulators, governing boards, business partners, and senior external stakeholders.

• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, decision-making, and influencing skills, with sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively in complex and evolving business environments.