Deputy Director (Research Coordination & Administration)

Communicable Diseases Agency; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Communicable Diseases Agency in Singapore seeks a Deputy Director to lead the execution of the national infectious diseases research agenda. You will shape strategy, supervise governance and risk management, and build a research implementation arm with partners across academia and public health.

The role requires senior leadership experience, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate complex research into policy guidance for outbreaks and endemic diseases.

Qualifications

• Degree in public health, life sciences or related discipline; minimum 15 years of relevant experience
• Proven experience in research administration and management, including governance and compliance
• Strong ability to lead strategic planning and policy development
• Minimum 5 years in senior leadership or team management roles
• Proven track record in cultivating high-value strategic partnerships with academic and public health partners
• Excellent written and verbal communication and ability to produce high-quality reports for senior stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Lead and align CDA research divisions and groups to achieve research objectives
• Develop and implement Singapore's national infectious diseases research strategy
• Oversee CDA's research operations, governance, regulatory compliance and risk management
• Drive high-priority national infectious disease research initiatives and outbreak research capabilities
• Contribute to long-term sustainability of core national research capabilities on endemic diseases
• Design and implement research training initiatives to build a skilled talent pipeline
• Cultivate partnerships with local and international centres of excellence
• Monitor and evaluate CDA research outcomes and KPIs; report to senior stakeholders
• Lead establishment and operation of CDA's research implementation arm

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Policy development

Stakeholder management

Communication (written and verbal)

Research-to-policy translation

Resilience under pressure

Education

Degree in public health, life sciences or related discipline

Job description

What the role is:

The Deputy Director plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping and advancing Singapore's infectious diseases research agenda. The incumbent will lead the implementation of CDA's research strategy, driving high-priority initiatives that generate robust evidence to inform policy decisions and evidence-based practice across major outbreaks, pandemics, and endemic infectious diseases. The role carries senior oversight responsibility for CDA's research operations, encompassing strategic planning, governance, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management. The Deputy Director will also spearhead the establishment of CDA's research implementation arm, cultivate high-value partnerships with local and international centres of excellence, and champion research training initiatives to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled research talent. Through close collaboration with CDA research divisions and relevant stakeholder groups, the incumbent will foster synergy and shared ownership in delivering CDA's research objectives.

What you will be working on:

• Lead and align CDA research divisions and relevant CDA groups, fostering synergy and shared ownership in the achievement of CDA's research objectives

• Facilitate actively to the development and implementation of Singapore's national infectious diseases research strategy

• Provide senior oversight of CDA's research operations, ensuring sound strategic planning, robust governance, regulatory compliance, and effective enterprise risk management

• Drive high-priority national infectious disease research initiatives, including building and sustaining core outbreak research capabilities that generate robust evidence to guide policy decisions and evidence-based practice during major outbreaks and pandemics

• Contribute actively to the establishment and long-term sustainability of core national research capabilities on endemic infectious diseases

• Spearhead the design and implementation of research training initiatives to systematically develop and enhance research capabilities across CDA building a pipeline of skilled research talent

• Cultivate and steward high-value strategic partnerships with local and international centres of excellence, including academic institutions, healthcare clusters, and public health agencies

• Drive the monitoring and evaluation of CDA research outcomes and KPIs, delivering regular reports to senior stakeholders

• Spearhead the establishment and operationalisation of CDA's research implementation arm, laying a strong foundation for sustainable and impactful research delivery

What we are looking for:

• Degree in a relevant field such as public health, life sciences, or a related discipline with minimum 15 years of relevant experience

• Proven experience in research administration and management, including overseeing research operations, governance, and compliance

• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, policy development

• Minimum 5 years of senior leadership or team management experience, with a track record of leading multidisciplinary teams in a complex organisational environment

• Strong leadership capabilities with a demonstrated ability to lead, align, and inspire cross-functional teams towards shared research objectives

• Proven track record in cultivating and managing high-value strategic partnerships with local and international academic institutions, healthcare clusters, and public health agencies

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical capabilities, with the ability to translate complex research findings into actionable insights and policy recommendations

• Meticulous with strong attention to detail, and excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality reports for senior stakeholders

• Resilient and composed under pressure, with the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects and deadlines simultaneously

• Independent, self-driven, and adaptable, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities

As part of the shortlisting process for this role, candidates may be required to complete a medical declaration and/or undergo further assessment

About Communicable Diseases Agency

The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) was established in 2025 as a statutory board under Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) to serve as the central authority for public health policymaking to manage and control the threat of communicable diseases. This is aimed at strengthening Singapore's public health capabilities built during the COVID-19 response to ensure a unified command and coordinated approach across all situations, from routine disease control to future outbreaks.CDA safeguards the nation from communicable diseases through disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, vaccination programs, public education, and global health collaboration. Beyond domestic activities, the CDA aims to expand Singapore’s global outreach and foster collaboration with international partners.