Senior Assistant Director, HR Policy

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore seeks a policy lead to review and develop People policies, ensuring they are clear, practical and aligned with Public Service directions, Whole-of-Government requirements, legislation and sound HR practice.

You will work closely with stakeholders to translate policy intent into implementable solutions, balancing organisational needs, employee experience, governance and operational impact.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of relevant HR policy experience in policy, HR planning, governance or related areas.
• Strong analytical, research and policy drafting skills with good judgement on risk, precedent and implementation impact.
• Excellent written communication, including experience preparing policy documents and senior-level briefs.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence to hold a position under challenge.

Responsibilities

• Review Public Service and Whole-of-Government directives, legislative changes and market practice, and recommend policies to simplify, retire, consolidate or create.
• Develop, review and draft People policies, frameworks and guidelines, considering Public Service directions, legislation, operational realities, fiscal implications and implementation risks.
• Conduct impact analysis before policy approval, covering affected employee groups, cost, precedent, systems and process implications, and risks.
• Benchmark A*STAR policy positions against the Public Service and comparable organisations, and use findings to inform recommendations.
• Engage stakeholders to co-develop policy solutions, test proposed changes and build support for implementation.
• Work with Workforce Services and Digital teams to translate approved policies into operational processes, system requirements and communication plans.
• Advise on policy interpretation, assess deviation requests with clear recommendations and maintain the policy library as a single authoritative source.
• Track post-implementation effectiveness and recommend improvements based on data, ground feedback and changing organisational needs.

Skills

Policy drafting

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Job description

Job Summary

You will lead the review and development of People policies at A*STAR, ensuring they are clear, practical and aligned with Public Service directions, Whole-of-Government requirements, legislation and sound HR practice. You will work closely with stakeholders to translate policy intent into implementable solutions, balancing organisational needs, employee experience, governance and operational impact.

Job Summary

You will lead the review and development of People policies at A*STAR, ensuring they are clear, practical and aligned with Public Service directions, Whole-of-Government requirements, legislation and sound HR practice. You will work closely with stakeholders to translate policy intent into implementable solutions, balancing organisational needs, employee experience, governance and operational impact.

Job Responsibilities

• Review Public Service and Whole-of-Government directives, legislative changes and market practice, and recommend policies to simplify, retire, consolidate or create.
• Develop, review and draft People policies, frameworks and guidelines, taking into account Public Service directions, legislation, operational realities, fiscal implications and implementation risks.
• Conduct impact analysis before policy approval, covering affected employee groups, cost, precedent, systems and process implications, and risks.
• Benchmark A*STAR policy positions against the Public Service and comparable organisations, and use the findings to inform recommendations.
• Engage stakeholders to co-develop policy solutions, test proposed changes and build support for implementation.
• Work with Workforce Services and Digital teams to translate approved policies into operational processes, system requirements and communication plans.
• Advise on policy interpretation, assess deviation requests with clear recommendations and maintain the policy library as a single authoritative source.
• Track post-implementation effectiveness and recommend improvements based on data, ground feedback and changing organisational needs.

Requirements

• Preferably 7 to 10 years of relevant HR experience in policy, HR planning, governance or related areas.
• Strong analytical, research and policy drafting skills, with good judgement on risk, precedent and implementation impact.
• Excellent written communication, including experience preparing policy documents and senior-level briefs.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to hold a position under challenge while remaining open to better answers.
• Familiarity with Public Service HR frameworks and Singapore employment legislation is an advantage.

All new hires are appointed on a 3-year renewable contract in the first instance.