Job description
Join the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) as a Senior Assistant Director - Project Management, CSPO. This leadership role shapes how we plan and allocate space, manage complex portfolios, and deliver high-impact research facilities in Singapore. You will combine strategic portfolio governance with product ownership to drive initiatives from concept through to completion, ensuring they align with science goals, user needs, and enterprise priorities.
As part of the leadership team, you will partner with researchers, facilities, IT, safety and procurement to define roadmaps, set milestones, and optimize resource use. You will steward the CSPO backlog for critical projects, translate research strategy into implementable work, and ensure benefits realization is tracked with clear metrics. You will champion best practices in agile delivery, risk management, and governance while maintaining rigor in cost control and schedule discipline.
In this role you will cultivate strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, managed through clear communication, transparent reporting, and strong negotiation skills. Your work will influence workspace design, lab and office layouts, compliance with health and safety standards, and sustainable facility planning to support cutting-edge R&D programs.
We are seeking a results-driven leader who mentors teams, motivates cross-functional excellence, and demonstrates a proven track record of managing complex programs in a research or technology environment. If you thrive on turning strategic vision into delivered outcomes, you will find this role both challenging and rewarding.
Responsibility
- Lead strategic planning for A*STAR workspace and R&D facility design, ensuring alignment with research priorities and enterprise goals.
- Oversee end-to-end project portfolio management, including scope, schedule, budget, risk, and governance across multiple large-scale initiatives.
- Manage and prioritize the CSPO backlog, collaborating with researchers and leaders to translate strategy into actionable roadmaps.
- Drive cross-functional delivery by coordinating facilities, IT, safety, procurement, and external partners to meet milestones on time and within budget.
- Establish and monitor KPIs, provide executive-level reporting, and continuously optimize processes for efficiency and value realization.
- Lead talent development, mentoring project managers and analysts, and fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and agile maturity.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, and regulatory standards, and champion sustainable, user-centric workspace design that supports groundbreaking research.
- Develop risk management strategies, change control, and contingency planning to mitigate disruptions and protect program outcomes.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
- 10+ years of portfolio, program, or project management experience, with exposure to R&D facilities or real estate/space planning.
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and strong Agile delivery experience.
- Proven leadership and stakeholder management skills; ability to influence across cross-functional teams and at executive levels.
- Strong budgeting, procurement, risk management, and governance capabilities; track record of delivering complex programs on time and within budget.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and report-writing skills; fluent in English with ability to translate complex concepts for non-technical audiences.
- Experience in Singapore or APAC region; familiarity with government or research institution environments is a plus.
- Proficiency with project management tools (MS Project, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet) and familiarity with BIM/CAD for facility projects.