Deputy Director, North East Asia Division

Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry; Singapore; On-site; SGD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Singapore leads the country’s economic policy-making, driving productivity-led growth and safeguarding Singapore’s economic space. This Deputy Director role sits in the North East Asia Division and will shape Singapore’s engagement with NEA economies through policy leadership and cross-agency collaboration.

You will mentor officers, develop strategic positions, and coordinate MOE-wide responses while engaging with domestic and international

Qualifications

• Experience in public policy, international relations, or trade policy.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis of economic, trade, investment, industrial and geopolitical developments in North East Asia economies.
• Formulate policy recommendations and strategic positions to advance Singapore's economic interests.
• Coordinate whole-of-government positions on North East Asia–related economic issues.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of officers and foster a culture of excellence.

Job description

What the role is:

We are the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) drives Singapore's economic growth and creates good jobs for Singaporeans by enabling a vibrant economy and fostering a globally competitive business environment. The Trade and International Economic Relations (TIER) cluster supports this by formulating Singapore's foreign economic policy and safeguarding Singapore's economic interests in the international economic arena. As a division within TIER, the North East Asia Division (NEA) sits at the forefront of Singapore's economic engagement with one of the world's most dynamic and consequential regions. NEA leads Singapore’s economic engagement with key regional partners, such as China, Japan and South Korea, which collectively play an important role in global trade, investment, technology, and innovation. NEA develops strategies and policies to strengthen Singapore's economic partnerships with North East Asian economies, identify new avenues for collaboration, and advance Singapore's interests in emerging areas such as the green and digital economies.

What you will be working on:

As a Deputy Director in the North East Asia (NEA) Division in METI, you will work with the Director to lead a team in achieving the following objectives.

Policy Development & Strategic Analysis

• Lead analysis of economic, trade, investment, industrial, and geopolitical developments in North East Asia economies.
• Assess implications of regional developments on Singapore's economic competitiveness and resilience.
• Formulate policy recommendations and strategic positions to advance Singapore's economic interests.
• Coordinate whole-of-government positions on North East Asia-related economic issues.
• Analysis and assess key issues affecting bilateral and regional economic relations.

Strengthen Bilateral Economic Relations

• Oversee Singapore's economic engagements with key North East Asian economies, including China, Japan, South Korea and others.
• Lead preparation for Singapore’s involvement in high-level bilateral meetings, official visits, economic dialogues, and joint committees. This includes representing METI in inter-agency committees, task forces, and working groups.
• Develop initiatives to deepen economic cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, innovation, sustainability, digital economy.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with both local and foreign government agencies and counterparts, industry associations, companies, research institutions and think tanks.
• Engage stakeholders to gather insights, identify emerging opportunities, and facilitate economic cooperation initiatives.
• Collaborate with overseas missions and economic agencies to advance Singapore's strategic objectives.

Mentorship

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of officers.
• Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for someone who is curious about global and regional developments, enjoys engaging diverse stakeholders, and is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to policies and partnerships that strengthen Singapore's future. The successful candidate should also be committed to mentoring and developing officers, and to foster an inclusive and supportive team environment.

• Keen interest in North East Asian economies and regional developments;
• Excellent analytical and communication skills;
• Effectively bilingual in written and spoken English and Mandarin;
• Experience in public policy, economic policy, international relations, trade policy, investment promotion, or related fields;
• Experience in leading teams and managing stakeholder relationships;
• Willingness to travel

About Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry

Working at METI places you at the heart of Singapore’s economic policy-making. We drive productivity-led growth, safeguard and expand our economic space, and build a future-ready economy where firms can thrive. Together, we create a Singapore which is a city of possibilities, a home to great firms, and a place where the world connects — with people at its heart. When you join METI, you contribute to our mission of creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans, enabling them to improve their lives and secure a better future.