Head, Strategy & Product Innovation

DesignSingapore Council; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

DesignSingapore Council is seeking a dynamic leader to head the Strategy and Product Innovation (SPI) division, reporting to the Group Head of the Sector Development Group. You will shape strategic direction and advance the Design 2035 Masterplan, ensuring its execution remains relevant and impactful in a changing landscape.

You will also steer a portfolio of products and incentive policies that drive positive outcomes for the design sector.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in strategic and product development, including budgeting and planning.
• Proven leadership with track record of 5+ years in management roles.
• Strong interpersonal skills for engaging diverse stakeholders.
• Passion for design and its ecosystem in Singapore.
• Analytical mindset with ability to translate data into strategy.
• Excellent verbal and written communication to articulate vision.
• Experience with futures thinking or long-range planning is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead Strategic Planning to shape DesignSingapore Council's direction and grow the Design 2035 Masterplan.
• Oversee Product Innovation to develop incentive policies and design-led programmes.
• Manage budgets, partnerships, and cross‑divisional collaboration to deliver outcomes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team management

People development

Design passion

Analytical thinking

Communication

Futures thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Summary

Dsg is looking for a passionate candidate to head up the Strategy and Product Innovation (SPI) division, reporting to the Group Head for the Sector Development Group. As the Head, you will lead the division in shaping Dsg's strategic direction and advancing the Design 2035 Masterplan, ensuring its effective implementation and continued relevance in a changing landscape. You will also steer a portfolio of products and incentive policies aimed at driving positive impact and lasting outcomes for the design sector.

Summary

Dsg is looking for a passionate candidate to head up the Strategy and Product Innovation (SPI) division, reporting to the Group Head for the Sector Development Group. As the Head, you will lead the division in shaping Dsg's strategic direction and advancing the Design 2035 Masterplan, ensuring its effective implementation and continued relevance in a changing landscape. You will also steer a portfolio of products and incentive policies aimed at driving positive impact and lasting outcomes for the design sector.

About DesignSingapore Council Pte Ltd (Dsg)

DesignSingapore Council’s (Dsg) vision is for every Singaporean to use design at work or in life, shaping Singapore to be a liveable, loveable, and limitless nation by design. As the national agency that promotes design, our mission is to develop the design sector, help Singapore use design for innovation and growth, and make life better in this UNESCO Creative City of Design. The Dsg is a subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board.

About The Strategy & Product Innovation (SPI) Division

The SPI division plays a crucial role in driving the strategic direction of the organisation, with a mandate to chart the future of the design sector and position Singapore as a leader in innovation through design. Central to this mission is the effective implementation and delivery of the Design 2035 Masterplan, supported by a robust portfolio of products that not only align with Dsg’s Design Masterplan but also deliver measurable impact across the design industry, empowering the sector to innovate, grow, and achieve long-term success. The division comprises of two teams:

• Strategic Planning team is responsible for long-term planning and strategy development. Specific work entails overseeing the implementation, review and refinement of Design 2035 Masterplan, driving Strategic Futures initiatives, and managing research as needed to support Dsg’s interests.
• Product Innovation team collaborates with Dsg's business divisions to address both internal and client-facing needs. By employing design-led approaches, the team develops effective incentive policies and product offerings that support the business divisions in promoting the adoption of design across both design and non-design sectors.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Planning

• Strategic Collaboration: Work closely with Dsg Senior Management and Advisory Board to set direction, identify focus areas, and prioritise efforts to strengthen Dsg’s thought leadership in the design sector, aiming to build a robust design ecosystem in Singapore.
• Strategic Planning and Delivery: Lead the management, development and execution of Strategic Planning initiatives, such as partnership development, white papers, strategy reviews, toolkits, and workshops. This includes driving the implementation of the Design 2035 Masterplan and supporting Dsg divisions in translating strategies into actionable workplans, refining programmes and initiatives as needed.
• Research Leadership: Drive and manage research workstreams within the organisation, including those led by SPI and proposed by other divisions, where needed.

Product Innovation and User Experience

• Product Innovation and Development: Oversee the collaboration with Dsg’s business divisions to evaluate and enhance the range of product offerings that more effectively support the growth of the design sector in alignment with the Design 2035 Masterplan. This includes developing and reviewing Dsg-led programmes and optimising incentive policies in partnership with agencies like EDB, ESG, STB and SWDA to align with the needs of clients and stakeholders.
• Design-Led Research and Advocacy: Lead the engagement with internal and external stakeholders to conduct customer and product discovery through interviews, workshops, and prototyping to visualise and communicate ideas. Synthesise insights to recommend design interventions that address system constraints and support decision-making processes.
• Product Outreach and Management: Direct the creation of effective marketing and outreach strategies in collaboration with Dsg’s business divisions and communication teams in promoting Dsg’s products and services. Ensure the successful development, evaluation, and management of Dsg’s programmes and initiatives, including budget oversight, target setting, and outcome reporting.

Requirements

• Extensive Experience: At least 10 years in strategic and product development, including expertise in research, budgeting, process development, and strategic planning. Experience in futures thinking and work-planning facilitation is a plus.
• Leadership and Team Management: Proven ability to lead and manage teams effectively with a track record of at least 5 years in leadership roles. Skilled in guiding projects, motivating team members, collaborating across units, and driving results through strategic oversight and collaboration.
• People Management and Development: Exceptional interpersonal skills for engaging with diverse stakeholders and translating complex strategies into clear, actionable insights. Proactive, methodical, and a self-starter with excellent communication skills, adept at fostering professional growth and development within teams.
• Passion for Design: Deep enthusiasm for the design and creative ecosystem in Singapore, with a commitment to advancing its growth and development.
• Analytical and Strategic: Strong analytical skills for interpreting data and developing strategies, with an inquisitive mindset to challenge existing assumptions and improve approaches.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate product vision, strategies, and requirements to stakeholders, team members, and customers. Ability to facilitate discussions and negotiations to drive alignment.