Chief Operating Officer

EPM Scientific; Singapore; On-site; SGD 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

EPM Scientific is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer to join the leadership team and strengthen operational capabilities. The COO will translate business strategy into execution, establish scalable processes, and lead multidisciplinary teams in a fast-moving life sciences environment.

With 10+ years in life sciences leadership, you will drive budgeting, partnerships and governance to support growth and product development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a scientific, engineering, healthcare or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience within the life sciences, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical industry, with substantial experience in a senior leadership capacity.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary operations and translating corporate or development strategies into successful execution.
• Exposure to product or technology development, operational scale-up and regulated environments within the life sciences sector.
• Experience establishing processes, systems and organisational capabilities within a growing or evolving business would be highly advantageous.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, resource allocation, strategic planning and managing external partnerships.
• Entrepreneurial and hands‑off leadership style, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment with evolving priorities.
• Bilingual

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO and leadership team to translate corporate priorities into clear operational plans, budgets, milestones and performance objectives.
• Provide oversight of core business operations and ensure effective coordination across scientific, technical and corporate functions.
• Establish scalable operating processes, governance structures and performance management frameworks to support future organisational growth.
• Oversee key development programmes, ensuring effective management of timelines, resources, budgets, risks and external partners.
• Support the development of operational capabilities required to progress the company's technologies and future product opportunities.
• Manage strategic external relationships and evaluate partnership opportunities that support the company's development and growth objectives.
• Oversee operational budgeting, resource planning and performance monitoring to ensure effective utilisation of financial and organisational resources.
• Build and develop high-performing teams, promoting accountability, collaboration and strong execution across the organisation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational leadership

Budgeting & finance

Cross-functional collaboration

External partnerships

People management

Entrepreneurial mindset

Bilingual

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in science/engineering/healthcare or related

Job description

Our client is a growing life sciences company developing innovative technologies and solutions for the healthcare sector. As the business enters its next phase of development, they are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join the leadership team and strengthen the organisation's operational capabilities.

The COO will be responsible for translating business strategy into effective execution, establishing scalable operational processes and ensuring that key development programmes progress successfully. This is a broad leadership position requiring a combination of strategic thinking, operational discipline and hands‑on execution within a dynamic and evolving organisation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO and leadership team to translate corporate priorities into clear operational plans, budgets, milestones and performance objectives.
• Provide oversight of core business operations and ensure effective coordination across scientific, technical and corporate functions.
• Establish scalable operating processes, governance structures and performance management frameworks to support future organisational growth.
• Oversee key development programmes, ensuring effective management of timelines, resources, budgets, risks and external partners.
• Support the development of operational capabilities required to progress the company's technologies and future product opportunities.
• Manage strategic external relationships and evaluate partnership opportunities that support the company's development and growth objectives.
• Oversee operational budgeting, resource planning and performance monitoring to ensure effective utilisation of financial and organisational resources.
• Build and develop high-performing teams, promoting accountability, collaboration and strong execution across the organisation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a scientific, engineering, healthcare or related discipline; additional business or management qualifications would be advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience within the life sciences, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical industry, with substantial experience in a senior leadership capacity.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary operations and translating corporate or development strategies into successful execution.
• Exposure to product or technology development, operational scale-up and regulated environments within the life sciences sector.
• Experience establishing processes, systems and organisational capabilities within a growing or evolving business would be highly advantageous.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, resource allocation, strategic planning and managing external partnerships.
• Entrepreneurial and hands‑off leadership style, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment with evolving priorities.
• Bilingual