Assistant Director, Innovation

[What the role is]

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Assistant Director, Innovation to provide stewardship and leadership over IMDA's Innovation Team's marketing communications and digital product development and management. This pivotal role will own the strategic integration and delivery of high-impact marketing campaigns alongside the evolution of the Open Innovation Platform (OIP) - a national digital platform connecting enterprises with innovative solution providers.

As the senior leader of a multidisciplinary team, you will set the strategic direction, foster cross-functional collaboration, and empower your team to execute with excellence. Your leadership will ensure IMDA's innovation narrative is compelling, cohesive, and resonates deeply across diverse stakeholders, while the digital platform continuously evolves to meet user needs and industry priorities.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned leader who thrives at the intersection of marketing strategy and digital product management, and who is passionate about catalysing innovation for Singapore's economic transformation.

Why Join Us?

• Lead and shape a critical portfolio that blends digital innovation with strategic marketing to accelerate industry-wide transformation.

• Command the product strategy and delivery of a flagship national innovation platform with broad industry impact.

• Inspire and develop a high-performing, cross-disciplinary team to deliver outstanding results.

• Drive integrated campaigns that influence behaviours and amplify IMDA's innovation team's engagement initiatives.

• Operate in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that values bold thinking, agile execution, and meaningful impact.

[What you will be working on]

Responsibilities:

• Provide Stewardship, Leadership and Strategic Direction
  Define and drive the overarching strategy for IMDA Innovation team's marketing communications and digital product portfolio. Set clear priorities that align with organisational goals and position IMDA as a leader in innovation adoption and digital transformation for the industry.
• Lead and Guide Product Strategy and Delivery
  Oversee the Open Innovation Platform's end-to-end product lifecycle, guiding the team to prioritise and deliver features that enhance user value and platform impact. Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making and agile execution to keep the platform adaptive and user-centric.
• Steer Integrated Marketing and Communications
  Lead the conceptualisation and execution of multi-channel marketing campaigns that articulate IMDA's innovation narrative and catalyse stakeholder engagement. Ensure campaign strategies are insight-led, coordinated, and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Champion Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Alignment
  Serve as the nexus between product, marketing, IT, and external partners. Build trust and alignment across these groups to drive seamless collaboration and integrated delivery of strategic objectives.
• Drive Team Development and Performance Excellence
  Build and nurture a motivated, capable, and accountable team. Establish clear performance expectations, support professional growth, and cultivate an environment that encourages innovation and operational excellence.
• Oversee Vendor and Resource Management
  Strategically manage vendor relationships and contracts to ensure quality delivery and compliance. Optimize budget allocation and resource deployment across marketing and product initiatives to maximize ROI.
• Ensure Rigorous Governance and Outcome Measurement
  Develop and maintain governance structures and KPIs that provide transparency and accountability. Use performance insights to refine strategies, report impact, and ensure continuous portfolio enhancement.

Key Deliverables:

• A compelling, user-centric product roadmap for the Open Innovation Platform that delivers measurable growth, engagement, and satisfaction.
• High-impact, integrated marketing campaigns that raise awareness, influence behaviour, and drive adoption of IMDA's initiatives.
• Harmonised messaging and storytelling that effectively positions IMDA's innovation agenda across all stakeholder touchpoints.
• Robust governance and reporting frameworks that demonstrate clear linkage between activities and strategic outcomes.
• A high-performing team empowered to deliver excellence in both product and marketing functions.
• Strong, collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders that amplify IMDA's innovation ecosystem.

[What we are looking for]

Requirements:

Essential

• 10–12 years of progressive experience in digital product management and B2B marketing communications, with a minimum of 5 years in leadership roles.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary teams to deliver strategic initiatives with measurable impact.
• Strong expertise in agile product development and data-driven marketing strategies.
• Deep stakeholder management experience working across government, industry, and agency environments.
• Demonstrated success in vendor management, including procurement, contract negotiations and budget optimisation, and compliance in regulated settings.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and executive presence skills.

Desirable

• CSPO or equivalent agile product management certification.
• Experience leading innovation platforms or ecosystems, ideally in public sector or regulated industries.
• Familiarity with innovation methodologies such as design thinking, lean start-up, or behavioural science.
• Exposure to public sector communications and campaign management frameworks.

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