Total 2 Director/C-Level Education / Training job vacancies

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Singapore Management University is a place where high-level professionalism blends together with a healthy informality. The 'family-like' atmosphere among the SMU community fosters a culture where employees work, plan, organise and play together - building a strong collegiality and morale within the university.

Our commitment to attract and retain talent is ongoing. We offer attractive benefits and welfare, competitive compensation packages, and generous professional development opportunities - all to meet the work-life needs of our staff. No wonder, then, that SMU continues to be given numerous awards and recognition for its human resource excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position is for Office of Research Strategy (ORS).
• Conduct systematic reviews of investigator-led research activities, including Ministry of Education (MOE) Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier-1 and Tier-2 grants, completed projects, and high-quality unsuccessful proposals.
• Identify research initiatives with potential to evolve into programme-scale research agendas aligned with major national and international funding opportunities.
• Work with faculty investigators, Schools, and research clusters to strengthen early-stage research concepts and programme design.
• Support the repositioning of research proposals toward alternative funding opportunities including philanthropic foundations, corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, multilateral research initiatives, and international collaborative research programmes.
• Translate emerging research opportunities into structured programme-level initiatives suitable for major funding schemes.
• Work with Schools, Institutes, and research clusters to co-develop programme-scale research concepts and multi-investigator research initiatives.
• Coordinate the development of large research proposals targeting funding opportunities such as:
• MOE AcRF Tier-3 programmes
• Social Science & Humanities Research Thematic Grant (SSHR-TG)
• Large philanthropic foundation grants
• Multilateral research programmes
• International collaborative funding schemes such as Horizon Europe
• Multi-institution consortium grants
• Manage the institutional pipeline of programme-scale research initiatives, including tracking proposal development and coordinating internal stage-gates for major grant submissions.
• Facilitate collaboration between SMU investigators and external partners including universities, research institutes, international organisations, and philanthropic foundations.
• Coordinate consortium formation and partnership development for multi-institution research proposals and collaborative research initiatives.
• Support the preparation and submission of large grant proposals, including programme design coordination, concept refinement, and integration of partner contributions.
• Engage with external stakeholders including philanthropic foundations, multilateral development institutions, bilateral development agencies, and international research programmes to support proposal development and programme positioning.
• Work closely with ORS leadership to prioritise programme initiatives aligned with institutional research strategy and global funding opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Master's degree or equivalent professional experience in public policy, international development, economics, social sciences, business, or related disciplines, with 8 to 12 years of relevant professional experience in research programme development, international development initiatives, research funding strategy, or large grant coordination.
• Prior experience working with international research funding ecosystems including philanthropic foundations, multilateral development banks, bilateral development agencies, and international research funding programmes.
• Strong understanding of global research funding ecosystems including philanthropic foundations, multilateral development institutions, development finance organisations, and bilateral development agencies such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, United Nations Development Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development initiatives, United States Agency for International Development, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
• Familiarity with international research funding mechanisms including Horizon Europe, large foundation grants, collaborative research programmes, consortium funding initiatives, and multilateral research partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience conceptualising programme-scale research or development initiatives aligned with major international funding opportunities.
• Experience coordinating large research proposals or programme-level grant submissions involving multiple investigators and institutional partners.
• Ability to translate investigator-led research into programme-level initiatives aligned with major funding priorities.
• Experience managing multi-institution or multi-country collaborations involving universities, research institutes, international organisations, government agencies, or philanthropic foundations.
• Strong project management capability to track research proposal pipelines and coordinate complex multi-partner programme submissions.
• Excellent written communication skills, particularly in developing programme concepts, research funding proposals, and strategic concept notes.
• Experience working within or alongside international development organisations, multilateral institutions, global foundations, or international research programmes will be highly advantageous.

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Candidates who do not possess the stipulated qualifications but have relevant work experience may still apply. Remuneration and appointment terms shall commensurate with qualifications and experience. SMU reserves the right to modify the appointment terms where necessary.

About Gain City

At Gain City, we have been delivering trusted expertise and quality solutions in consumer electronics, air-conditioning and home appliances since 1981. As a household name in Singapore, we take pride in our strong customer focus, innovative spirit, and commitment to service excellence. With a dynamic workforce and a network of stores and service centres island wide, we offer a vibrant and growth-oriented environment where employees are empowered to thrive, take ownership and make a real impact.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Research and Development (R&D) Director or Assistant Director or Senior Manager to lead the development and enhancement of consumer products for the Gain City portfolio.

This role will oversee the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from concept and feasibility through testing, sourcing, certification, and launch. The R&D Director will lead cross-functional product project teams to deliver innovative, reliable, and market-relevant consumer products, including new product introductions and enhancements to existing product ranges.

The ideal candidate is analytical, strategic, resourceful, and has a deep understanding of the product development lifecycle.

Responsibilities 

• Develop and implement R&D strategies, procedures and techniques, and architectures that align with the company's goals and objectives.

• Identify and propose innovative research and development projects

• Manage the R&D and product development budget, ensuring cost efficiency, value engineering, and margin optimisation

• Collaborate with other departments such as marketing and sales to integrate product development strategies

• Establish performance metrics, monitor and analyze the performance of the R&D projects

• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and quality standards in all R&D processes

• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, technologies, and market conditions

• Report on R&D activities to senior management and stakeholders

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing product and R&D team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement

• Present detailed reports of test results and presenting new product proposals to the company’s executive team

• Lead the product team and foster a culture of innovation and excellence

• Manage the development of new products from concept to production

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful launch of new products
  

Qualifications and Requirements

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Engineering or a related discipline

• A minimum of 10 years of proven experience as an R&D Director or similar role in the related field

• Strong knowledge of the product development lifecycle and project management methodologies

• Excellent leadership, team management, and communication skills

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities

• Ability to stay informed about the latest industry trends and technologies

• Strong understanding of budgeting and performance metrics

• Good knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements, Singapore standards and industry practices.

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Resourceful and proactive, able to work around ambiguity.

• Able to work independently and in a fast-paced environment

What We Offer

At Gain City, we are committed to the growth and development of our employees. You will be offered various learning and development opportunities and a collaborative, forward-thinking and growth-focused work environment to thrive in your career. You will also receive a comprehensive benefits package.

If you are passionate about empowering people, fostering organizational growth and leading impactful R&D strategies, apply now to be a part of our growing team!

Note

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified