Senior/Assistant Director, Energy Partnerships Division

Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Singapore seeks an energetic policy officer to support the nation’s decarbonisation and energy transition. You will work within the Energy Partnerships Division to shape cross-border electricity imports, regional grid development, and regional cooperation through ASEAN frameworks.

Responsibilities include engaging government and industry partners, developing strategies for financing cross-border power projects, and representing Singapore in

Qualifications

• 2 to 9 years of relevant energy-related experience or background in international relations.
• Excellent interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to think innovatively and resourcefully to navigate hurdles and find new leads.
• Analytical and critical thinking, with the ability to integrate various streams of information and translate them into strategic plans.
• Keen interest in global energy/carbon developments, regional politics, and international affairs.
• Ability to handle pressure and navigate conflicting views to broker consensus.
• Prior experience engaging foreign government and industry stakeholders; and knowledge in energy/carbon-related domains will be a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive G2G engagements, including visits, dialogues, and instruments of collaboration such as agreements and memoranda of understanding, to advance cross-border electricity trading projects.
• Develop policies and strategies to finance cross-border power transmission infrastructure; subsea power cables; and cross-border Renewable Energy Certificates support for imports projects.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with international thought leaders such as IEA, IRENA, MDBs, and local partners like Energy Studies Institute and Asia Competitiveness Institute.
• Foster collaborations with local and international partners at events like SIEW, AMEM, G20, and APEC.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Written & verbal communication

Initiative

Analytical thinking

Interest in energy developments

Stakeholder management

Public sector experience

Engaging foreign government experience

Job description

What the role is:

By joining the Energy Partnerships Division at METI, you will become part of a critical and urgent mission: to support Singapore’s energy transition by securing low-carbon electricity imports from our region and building an interconnected regional grid. Low-carbon electricity imports are one of Singapore’s ‘Four Switches’, alongside natural gas, solar, and low-carbon solutions such as hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon capture and storage.The climate crisis requires us to quickly transition to low-carbon energy sources to avoid the devastating impact of rising temperatures. Decarbonising our power sector, which contributes 40% of current emissions, is key to realising Singapore’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.Even as we take steps to secure a low-carbon energy supply, we will also need to safeguard our energy security and affordability. Navigating the energy trilemma successfully will be one of the defining policy challenges of our generation and hold far-reaching implications for our economy and society.In 2027, Singapore will take on the ASEAN Chairmanship. For the energy sectoral track, this will be an important opportunity to advance regional cooperation and drive progress on energy connectivity through the ASEAN Power Grid (APG).

What you will be working on:

METI’s Energy and Carbon (E&C) Cluster leads initiatives to reduce emissions and drive the transition to a low-carbon economy, while ensuring energy security and cost-competitiveness, and enabling Singapore to sustain economic growth. Officers in this cluster develop energy and carbon markets, plan energy infrastructure, build Singapore’s capabilities to harness low-carbon energy sources, and manage emission trajectories and carbon budgets. You will collaborate with stakeholders across Government, industry, and international partners to support sustainable economic transformation and green growth through strategic planning, policy analysis, and partnerships.The Energy Partnerships Division within the E&C cluster formulates Singapore’s energy policies and strategies, together with the Energy Market Authority, other Government agencies, academics, and private sector stakeholders.The Energy Partnerships Division takes the lead in:

• Driving Singapore’s efforts to import and deploy renewable energy from the region to realise target to import around 6GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035 to decarbonise our power system.
• Advancing energy collaboration with like-minded countries, international organisations, and think tanks to support Singapore and the region’s energy transition and energy resilience, and advocate for the APG.

Your responsibilities include one or more of the following workstreams:

• Drive G2G engagements, including through visits, working groups, dialogues, and instruments of collaboration such as agreements and memoranda of understanding, to advance the realisation of cross-border electricity trading projects.
• Develop policies and strategies to advance the financing of cross-border power transmission infrastructure; the manufacturing, deployment and protection of subsea power cables; and the recognition of cross-border Renewable Energy Certificates to support the implementation of cross-border electricity imports projects.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with international thought leaders such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Multilateral Development Banks, as well as local partners such as the Energy Studies Institute and Asia Competitiveness Institute.
• Foster collaborations with like-minded partners at:(1) Local events such as Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW)(2) Multilateral international platforms such as ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), G20, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

What we are looking for:

We are looking for a self-motivated officer who possesses a keen desire to contribute to Singapore’s decarbonisation and energy transition journey, thrives from working in a fast-moving environment, and is equipped with the following qualities and competencies:

• 2 to 9 years of relevant experience in energy-related fields or background in international relations.
• Excellent interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to think innovatively and resourcefully to navigate hurdles and find new leads.
• Analytical and critical thinking, with the ability to integrate various streams of information and translate them into strategic plans to achieve Singapore’s energy/carbon goals.
• Keen interest in global energy/carbon developments, regional politics, and international affairs.
• Ability to handle pressure and navigate conflicting views to broker consensus.
• Works well with a wide range of stakeholders, both within and beyond the Public Service.
• Prior experience engaging foreign government and industry stakeholders; and knowledge in energy/carbon-related domains, regional geopolitics, and financing instruments will be a plus.

About Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry

Working at METI places you at the heart of Singapore’s economic policy-making. We drive productivity-led growth, safeguard and expand our economic space, and build a future-ready economy where firms can thrive. Together, we create a Singapore which is a city of possibilities, a home to great firms, and a place where the world connects - with people at its heart. When you join METI, you contribute to our mission of creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans, enabling them to improve their lives and secure a better future.