Assistant Director/manager

**What the role is**
- The Research Planning Department formulates and drives R&D programmes, strategies, and policies, and supports the building of a vibrant R&D ecosystem in the Agri-Food and technology industry to support SFA’s achievement of its vision and mission. It collaborates with institutes of higher learning (IHLs) and industry to carry out research. Besides planning and developing Agri-tech and food research capabilities in Singapore, the team will also manage R&D programmes.

**What you will be working on**
- Key focus areas include, but are not limited to:

- Develop Science, and Technology (S&T) Roadmap (National S&T Masterplan) to chart SFA’s future focus areas through the formulation of critical research initiatives
- Conduct technology scans to shortlist technologies with existing research and commercial solutions, and local capabilities to address “build” versus “buy” decisions.
- RD&D planning and development of strategies and programmes, including partnering research community and industry to analyse emerging trends and close opportunity gaps for R&D, and securing funding for programmes and initiatives
- Prioritization of RD&D focus areas for Research Innovation & Enterprise (RIE) funding and ensure proper governance, research grant management and project monitoring of the Singapore Food Story R&D programme
- Coordinate and manage awarded consortium(s) for the RD&D projects to ensure timely delivery of project milestones and budget utilisation. This includes regular site visits and monitoring of project progress, addressing any challenges faced by the project teams (e.g., changes to staff composition, equipment, and timeline) and ensuring projects remain relevant to evolving technology and market conditions.
- Working with corporate communications to ensure visibility of projects, which includes drafting of press releases and media Q&As, identifying/creating suitable platforms with GOH announcements
- Coordination and support, including organization of events, such as dialogues, engagement sessions, conferences, and workshops
- Stakeholder (internal and external), international and regional engagements to determine key drivers of agri-food science and technology and R&D for Singapore
- Analysis of patents relevant to the agri-food ecosystem to prioritize RD&D opportunities that Singapore should invest in.
- Develop platforms and opportunities for market translation and commercialization of innovative solutions within Singapore.
- Coordinate and participate in discussions with industry players to facilitate opportunities for RD&D projects with promising research outcomes to enter commercialization.
- Encourage and partner large MNCs to establish joint R&D programmes or incubation platforms for promising start-ups and companies to launch testbeds/pilots and to build local capabilities and capacities through thought leaders and leading overseas experts, IHL/RIs and companies in relevant fields

**What we are looking for**
- Qualifications:

- Degree in science, engineering, business, and other relevant disciplines
- Relevant experience in Agri-tech and/or food industry and research planning/management will be advantageous
- Relevant experience with intellectual property and patents and taking these to a prototype/pilot stage will be advantageous

Other Requirements:

- Excellent analytical and conceptual thinking skills, with the ability to frame complex issues, plan, and translate ideas into strategies and plans
- Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
- Resourceful and demonstrates initiative
- Good organizational skills
- Ability to work both independently and as a team in a dynamic environment
- Ability to work with diverse stakeholders to distill areas of opportunities and for solutioning
- Familiar with national research initiatives such as the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE), and funding support from government agencies
- Experience in the implementation of RD&D projects
- Experience working in a complex multi-stakeholder environment
- Ability to support commercialisation strategies with critical insights and unique selling propositions
- Ability to work with cross functional teams for innovation and commercial development

Work Location:
SFA HQ at JEM Office Tower