Director, AI Innovation & Research Strategy

Eames Consulting; Singapore; On-site; SGD 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Eames Consulting is seeking a Director to lead AI innovation at the heart of Singapore's tech ecosystem, linking research, funding and industry to translate early-stage work into commercial impact. You will build partnerships with researchers and industry, steer funding initiatives, shape the AI research strategy, and advise leadership on global technology shifts.

This role requires fifteen+ years guiding technology programmes, strong stakeholder skills, and a track record of taking technology

Qualifications

• Fifteen or more years' experience managing technology or innovation programmes, including teams.
• Familiarity with the research and innovation funding ecosystem.
• Proven experience taking technology from research through to commercial application.
• Strong stakeholder management skills; comfortable convening senior local and international stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; a strategic, collaborative operator.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with research institutions, technology providers and industry partners; support adoption by companies.
• Assess and manage research funding initiatives; identify AI projects to move from research to commercial application with clear transition points.
• Develop and drive the organisation's AI research and innovation strategy, spotting capability gaps and shaping interventions.
• Build international partnerships with research bodies, industry leaders and emerging researchers; represent the organisation at technology forums and standards discussions.
• Establish thought leadership through papers, panels and industry engagement; advise senior leadership on global technology shifts to inform policy and strategic direction.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team, building a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Communications

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Job description

We're looking for a Director to drive AI innovation forward for a growing organisation at the centre of Singapore's tech ecosystem, by connecting research, funding and industry to help emerging AI capabilities, including their safety, governance and responsible-use dimensions, move from early-stage work through to real commercial impact.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with research institutions, technology providers and industry partners, bringing emerging AI capabilities into the organisation's ecosystem and supporting adoption by companies.
• Assess and manage research funding initiatives, identifying which AI projects (including work on safe and responsible AI adoption) are best placed to move from research into commercial application, with a clear-eyed view of where that process typically breaks down.
• Develop and drive the organisation's AI research and innovation strategy, spotting capability gaps and shaping interventions to strengthen its position in the space.
• Build international partnerships with research bodies, industry leaders and emerging researchers; represent the organisation at technology forums and standards discussions.
• Establish thought leadership through papers, panels and industry engagement; advise senior leadership on global technology shifts to inform policy and strategic direction.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team, building a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Degree in a related field; a technical background is useful but not essential.
• Fifteen or more years' experience managing technology or innovation programmes, including teams.
• Familiarity with the research and innovation funding ecosystem.
• Proven experience taking technology from research through to commercial application, including an understanding of common value-chain pitfalls.
• Strong stakeholder management skills; comfortable convening senior local and international stakeholders in frank, solutions-focused discussions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; a strategic, collaborative operator.