Assistant Director, Business Operations

Overview
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Assistant Director, Business Operations
role at
Nanyang Technological University Singapore .
The Asian School of the Environment (ASE) at NTU is an interdisciplinary school focused on Asian environmental challenges. The ASE integrates earth and environmental life science, ecology, engineering and technology, human ecology, humanities, and the social sciences to address key issues of the environment and sustainability. The ASE seeks a dynamic and experienced Assistant Director of Business Operations reporting to the School Chair. This role oversees resource allocation within the Administration Office, including school administration, facilities management, and staff coordination, to ensure smooth operations, regulatory compliance, and support for technology systems and project management. The goal is to optimize internal workflows, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency for staff and students.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as the main contact for Data Protection (PDPA) and Emergency Response Management (ERM) for the school.
Oversee the Business Continuity Process (BCP) to ensure smooth operations during emergencies.
Analyze and review school operations regularly to ensure alignment with the University’s direction.
Lead transformation efforts as required by the school.
Oversee and manage onboarding and offboarding for non-staff members (e.g., temporary staff, interns, adjunct professors, visiting professors, visiting scientists, vendors, contractors) to empower the team to execute these tasks effectively.
Provide financial insights and strategic advice to support business planning and decision-making, ensuring alignment with broader institutional goals.
Guide and develop team members while cultivating a positive and productive work environment.
Collaborate with leadership, the Human Resource Business Partner, and the Finance Business Partner on the annual budgeting process. Lead the budgeting and forecast reporting, and oversee the preparation, monitoring, and management of funds.
Coordinate with RSO, PIs, and stakeholders to develop strong proposals and advise on grant requirements, budget preparation, and submission.
Manage research-related agreements (e.g., Contract for Service, Memorandum of Understanding) in coordination with Associate Chairs, PIs, the research administration team, and the Academic Team.
Coordinate and manage all aspects of delegation visits to ensure successful objectives and productive exchanges.
Stay informed of organizational changes and business developments to ensure operations align with policies and regulations.
Serve as the main liaison for data management matters, including data extraction, compilation, analysis, and reporting.
Provide regular reports on KPI status for various projects, aligning with School and University targets.
Support the transition of school administration to efficiencies enabled by Generative AI and other tools.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, including at least 4–5 years as People Manager, ideally in an educational or academic setting.
Experience in process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and internal capacity.
Experience in grants administration and budgeting with a solid understanding of financial management in research settings.
Proven track record in teams management, budget management, and finance oversight.
Proficient in data analysis and in consolidating and interpreting data.
Proficient in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc).
Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to provide guidance on grant policy and administration.
Ability to work well with a diverse team in a dynamic environment.
Strong communication skills.
Ability to work within tight timelines.
We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
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