Senior Assistant Director, Capability Development, International Programmes & Ad

Ministry of National Development; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of National Development’s Centre for Liveable Cities is seeking a meticulous Senior Assistant Director to lead international capability development programmes, oversee procurement and finance processes, and support knowledge management and staff capability-building within the CDIA Division in Singapore.

The role requires strong programme management, stakeholder engagement with government agencies and partner organisations, plus adept financial oversight, contract administration and

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ experience in programme management, training or capability development, administration, or related fields.
• Experience handling procurement, vendor management or financial administration processes advantageous.
• Experience in training needs analysis, workshops or staff development coordination

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise and execute international capability development programmes with relevant content.
• Identify speakers and coordinate their participation, oversee programme delivery.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to support programme objectives.
• Manage procurement, vendor engagement and financial administration tasks.
• Support knowledge management, post-programme reports and lessons learned.

Skills

Programme management

Procurement

Financial administration

Stakeholder engagement

Project coordination

Attention to detail

Job description

What the role is:

The Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) seeks a meticulous, resourceful and highly organised officer to join the Capability Development, International Programmes & Advisory (CDIA) Division as a Senior Assistant Director (SAD). The officer will play a key role in the planning, delivery and operational management of international capability development programmes, while also supporting procurement, financial administration, knowledge management and staff capability-building initiatives within the Division.This role suits an officer who combines strong programme and project management skills with sound financial and administrative judgement, familiarity with general international affairs, and who is able to work effectively with a wide range of internal and external (both locally and internationally) stakeholders, including government agencies, vendors, subject matter experts and partner organisations.

What you will be working on:

International Programme Management

• Plan, organise and execute capability development international programmes, ensuring content curation is relevant, current and aligned with foreign participants' city profiles and interests.
• Develop programme outlines and identify suitable speakers and resource persons, reaching out to them to secure and oversee their participation.
• Oversee the implementation of programmes, including on-the-ground coordination, to ensure smooth delivery.
• Consolidate participant feedback and evaluation data to generate insights for continuous improvement of programme design and delivery.
• Engage and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to support effective programme organisation.

Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with government agencies, partner organisations, vendors and subject matter experts.
• Coordinate closely with speakers, facilitators and partner organisations to deliver programme objectives.
• Support cross-agency collaboration and information exchange to resolve operational or financial matters efficiently.

Procurement and Financial Administration

• Source for suitable vendors to support programme and operational needs, and seek the necessary approvals for vendor engagement.
• Process payments to vendors and service providers in a timely and accurate manner, in accordance with the official processes and requirements.
• Coordinate with internal finance teams and external partner agencies to manage cost-recovery or reimbursement claims arising from collaborative programmes.
• Perform financial verification duties, including checking invoices and supporting documents for accuracy and authenticity, tallying charging details against cost centres and account codes, and monitoring cumulative contract utilisation against approved values.

Knowledge Management

• Research and benchmark against external archival or knowledge management practices for the design and delivery of the programmes as well as post-programme follow-up milestones such as final reports and After-action Reviews.
• Liaise with relevant internal stakeholders to put in administrative and financial processes for place proper consent, documentation and compliance processes.
• Support the development of knowledge products and processes that enhance long-term organisational knowledge retention.

Corporate and Team Contributions (General)

• Contribute to division-wide operational, process improvement and corporate initiatives, including supporting internal committee or verification duties as assigned.
• Support organisation-wide events and staff welfare activities.
• Undertake other duties and special projects assigned by management.

What we are looking for:

Experience

• At least 3 to 5 years’ of relevant experience in programme management, training or capability development, administration, or related fields. Either local and/or international experience are welcome.
• Experience in handling procurement, vendor management, or financial administration processes would be advantageous.
• Experience in conducting training needs analysis, organising workshops, or coordinating staff development initiatives would be an asset.

Competencies

• Strong organisational and programme management skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Sound financial and administrative judgement, with the ability to manage budgets, vendor payments and compliance matters accurately.
• Good stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build relationships with internal and external partners, including government agencies and vendors.
• Resourceful and proactive in reaching out to external parties (e.g. academia, private sector, government agencies) to resolve issues or forge new ground.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability and resilience, with the ability to deliver on commitments even under challenging personal or work circumstances.
• Clear and sound judgement, able to synthesise information and anticipate practical considerations when implementing solutions.
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple priorities, while contributing positively to team and corporate initiatives.
• Curious and committed to continuous learning, with an interest in deepening subject-matter knowledge to enhance work outcomes.

Preferred Knowledge Areas

Candidates with familiarity in one or more of the following areas will be advantageous:

• Sustainability, Infrastructural and/or Environmental issues
• Procurement, vendor management and financial administration
• Adult learning, training needs analysis and workshop facilitation
• Knowledge management and documentation practices
• Stakeholder and partnership management across government, academia and industry

About Ministry of National Development

The Ministry of National Development (MND), the lead government agency responsible for land use planning and infrastructure development, aims to transform Singapore into an endearing home and a distinctive global city. At MND, we aspire to create a quality, vibrant and sustainable living environment for our people. We also strive to shape Singapore into a world-class city of knowledge, culture and excellence – one which keeps pace with global challenges and the rising aspirations of Singaporeans.Our Vision:An Endearing Home, A Distinctive Global CityMND's vision reflects our growing emphasis not just on physical infrastructure, but also on the softer aspects of creating emotional attachment in our people, the global talents and corporations whom we attract here. At the same time, it articulates MND's goal of building upon Singapore’s unique distinguishing characteristics to develop Singapore as a global city of knowledge, culture and excellence.Our Mission:Develop World-Class InfrastructureMND will provide quality physical infrastructure for the nation by working with our partners in the public and private sectors.Create a Vibrant, Resilient and Sustainable Living EnvironmentMND will strive to make Singapore a livelier and more exciting city, and ensure our nation is well-prepared to face the growing uncertainties and complexities. MND will also maintain the quality and resilience of our built and natural environment to ensure high standards of living, and carry out development that meets the needs of the present without compromising that of future generations.Provide Affordable and Accessible Public HousingMND will commit to support Singaporeans' homeownership aspirations and ensure public housing remains affordable and accessible.Build Rooted and Cohesive CommunitiesMND will strive to foster our citizens' attachment and love for our homeland and maintain social cohesiveness in our communities, even as Singapore continues to be an open and globalised society.