Senior Manager/Manager, Research (Social Service)

Yayasan MENDAKI; Singapore; On-site; SGD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An organization dedicated to community engagement is looking for a Lead for Research and Development in Singapore. The role involves supporting research, designing evaluations, and managing financial matters that address Malay/Muslim community needs. Applicants should have a degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience, with exposure to research methods and strong leadership skills. This position requires strategic thinking and the ability to work independently while communicating effectively.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Able to think strategically and translate strategies into operational results.
• Meticulous and able to work under minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Assist HOD in establishing partnerships with research agencies.
• Conduct environmental scanning and trend analysis.
• Digest national policy trends and their implications.

Skills

Research Methods and Analysis

Data Analysis

Organizational Skills

Leadership Competencies

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Degree in any related field

Job description

Job Summary

The jobholder (2-year contract) is the Lead for Research and Development function and supports Future Ready and the Engagement Group’s HODs in the Research, Design and Evaluation of youth and employability issues, community and family engagement issues to better meet the needs of the Malay/Muslim community.

The job holder also supports the HOD in managing the team’s financial and budgeting matters.

Key Responsibility Areas

Research Areas

• Assist the HOD in establishing partnerships with research agencies, academicians and experts in the four areas of Education, Family, Youth and Employability in the Malay/Muslim Voluntary Sector as well as national level, to facilitate work in the Research and Programme Evaluation Team.
• Assist the HOD in conceptualising and developing research proposals/frameworks required to gain an in-depth understanding of education, youth and family-related issues and concerns affecting the Malay/Muslim community.
• Conduct environmental scanning and trend analysis in the areas which have an impact on the organisation’s work plan and/or Malay/Muslim community.
• Digest and communicate Research Programme Evaluation (RPE) research agenda/findings and trends to stakeholders, including MENDAKI’s management. Recommend strategies/action plans where possible to address those issues.

Stakeholder Management (Internal and External)

• Assist the HOD to lead engagements and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders such as ministries, national agencies, and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and internally with MENDAKI’s teams.
• Develop a framework of collaboration with partners/ stakeholders in data management and information sharing.

Policy Analysis and Publications

• Digest national policy trends and their implications for the Malay/Muslim Community.
• Communicate policy trends and analysis through platforms and sharing sessions (policy forums, online channels).
• Guide the research interest of the department in terms of current and future needs.
• Identify future areas of interest in the context of the Malay/Muslim Community interests.
• Publish research findings and translate trend analysis into readable annual publications i.e. Policy Digest, Rubrix, and Occasional Papers.
• Contribute authored, co‑write occasional papers.

Research, Data and Programme Evaluation Support

• Partner policy‑ops team in research, analysis and evaluation requirements.
• Manage organisational data profiling, mapping and analysis.

Other Duties

• Provide executive support for Management Meetings/ Conferences.
• Planning of the department budget (Mid‑term and Year‑end).
• Deliverables of Research & Programme Evaluation work.
• New project and initiatives to build the team’s content and capacity.

In achieving the above, the Job holder will work under the direct and close guidance of the HOD and with the support of the relevant support departments.

Requirements

• Degree in any related field from a recognised institution.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Exposure to Research Methods and Analysis.
• Exposure in Departmental Work Planning.
• Exposure to Data Analysis.
• High level of organisational skills with an ability to work well under pressure.
• Demonstrable leadership competencies, team‑oriented, interpersonal skills, creative problem solving, results‑driven and meticulous.
• Able to think strategically and translate strategies into operational and tangible results.
• Meticulous and able to work under minimal supervision.
• Organised with good Communication and Interpersonal skills.