Head, Country Engagement Group, Partnerships

HTX (Home Team Science & Technology Agency); Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two-year contract (initial)

Public safety tech exposure

Job summary

HTX is Singapore's science and technology agency focused on public safety. The Head of Country Engagement Group leads a regional team to forge S&T partnerships, engage with government, industry and academia, and co-develop dual-use tech solutions for the Home Team.

You will coordinate with HTX divisions and MHA HQ, oversee overseas trips, and drive strategic engagements with local and global partners to accelerate capabilities.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Engineering, Sciences, Technology, Business, and/or Innovation/Technology management-related fields.
• 5–7 years in S&T, innovation, or project management, or partnerships and collaboration.
• Experience leading a small team (2–3 staff).
• Experience in partnership building, business development, and account management, preferably in tech innovation.
• Public sector experience is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Support the Deputy Director in forging and cultivating strategic relations with local/global S&T partners.
• Supervise a regional country team and implement country-specific strategies for HTX’s agenda.
• Collaborate with TechX Ventures/Hatch to identify technologies from startups and accelerate innovations.
• Organise strategic engagements via steering committees, executive connects, and workshops.
• Plan Senior Management’s overseas trips with briefs, trip agendas, and talking points.
• Advance HTX’s interests through MOUs, frameworks and agreements.
• Maintain oversight of S&T trends and partnership opportunities in covered regions.

Skills

S&T fields

Innovation

Project management

International relations

Partnerships

Business development

Intellectual property management

Education

Tertiary qualification in Engineering/Sciences/Technology/Business

Job description

What The Role Is

HTX is Singapore's Science and Technology agency that brings together diverse scientific and engineering capabilities to develop transformative, operationally ready solutions for public safety. As a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs, HTX works at the forefront of science and technology to empower the Home Team with cutting‑edge capabilities. Guided by our mission to amplify, augment and accelerate the Home Team's advantage, we are committed to keeping Singapore the safest place on planet Earth.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the jobholder will lead a dynamic and enterprising team to curate and develop science and technology (S&T) partnerships for public safety and security in Singapore. As Head of one of the regional teams under the Country Engagement Group (CEG), the jobholder will work closely with local/global S&T partners across government bodies and in the industry, innovation and academia spheres to (i) gain access to deep and critical technologies to build Home Team capabilities; and (ii) co‑develop cutting‑edge solutions in the engineering, digital and science domains to address Home Team challenges.

What You Will Be Working On

• Support the Deputy Director in forging and cultivating strategic relations with local/global S&T partners. This means identifying and engaging relevant partners in the government, industry and academia sectors to drive learning and collaboration, and build trusted networks.
• Supervise a regional country team in developing and implementing actionable country-specific strategies based on HTX’s partnership needs, interests and targets to advance Singapore’s S&T agenda in public safety and security. This entails working closely with the Partnerships Strategy Management team under Partnerships’ Policy & Strategy Group (PSG), along with HTX’s divisions within the capability development, capability sustainment and capability planning pillars, as well as with MHA HQ.
• Work with HTX’s subsidiary, TechX Ventures/Hatch, to identify technologies from local and global startups and accelerate the development of innovations/dual‑use technology solutions for the Home Team.
• Organise and execute effective strategic engagements between HTX (i.e. Senior Management and Directors of Divisions) and partners through platforms such as steering committees, executive connects, exploratory workshops, and technology‑solutioning seminars, as well as engagements in informal settings.
• Oversee the planning of Senior Management’s overseas trips to the region under the team’s purview to advance S&T partnerships. This involves putting up trip assessments and recommendations, curating trip agendas and trip delegations, as well as formulating briefs and talking points for Senior Management.
• Analyse and work closely with the Framework Governance & Development team under PSG to advance and concretise HTX’s strategic S&T interests through targeted collaboration instruments, such as MOUs, frameworks and agreements.
• Maintain strong oversight of S&T trends and developments in general, and specifically in countries covered by the regional team, to effectively curate and tap on partnership opportunities with entities that match HTX’s and MHA’s interest areas

What We Are Looking For

Tertiary qualifications, preferably in Engineering, Sciences, Technology, Business, and/or Innovation/Technology management-related fields.

• At least 5-7 years of relevant experience in one or more of the following: S&T fields, innovation or project management, international relations, partnerships and collaboration, business development, intellectual property management.
• Relevant experience in leading a small team (of 2 – 3 staff).
• Relevant experience in partnership building, business development, and account management, preferably in technology innovation.
• Relevant experience with the public sector is an advantage.
• Someone with excellent organisational skills and able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, effectively, and efficiently.
• Someone with strong interpersonal skills; able to connect and build relationships with stakeholders across different levels and cultural backgrounds.
• Able to revise perceptions and improve ideas based on new information or contrary evidence.
• Adaptable to changes and able to embrace ambiguity.
• A problem-solver always seeking to find effective and creative solutions.
• Someone with a keen interest and knowledge in science and technology.
• Able to travel overseas. All new hires are appointed on a two-year contract in the first instance and will be assessed and considered for permanent tenure over time, based on performance. As part of the shortlisting process for this role, you may be required to complete a medical declaration and/or undergo further assessment. All applicants will be updated on the status of their applications within 4 weeks upon closing of the advertisement.