Scientific Manager

Company description:

The National University of Singapore is the national research university of Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore

Job description:

Job Description

The Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI), is dedicated to advancing understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancer. CSI's mission is to translate scientific discoveries into practical applications that improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. As the host institute for the NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR) and the National Initiative on RNA Biology & its Applications (NIRBA), CSI fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to accelerate impactful cancer research

CSI is looking for a Scientific Manager to provide strategic administrative leadership and operational support in grant financing administration, planning, and fund management for CSI, N2CR, and NIRBA. The role also supports philanthropy activities and donor fund management to strengthen CSI's research and institutional development efforts.

Grants Administration

• Lead and supervise the Grants Administration team to ensure efficient and compliant operations for CSI, N2CR, and NIRBA.
• Oversee the setup, management, and fund utilization of WBS elements for all grants.
  
  Provide financial and administrative guidance to Principal Investigators (PIs) on large external programmatic grants.
• Manage all grant-related matters including budget allocation, virements, and coordination with the Finance Cluster for processing and tracking in S/4HANA.
• Address and follow through on audit queries and compliance issues relating to hosted grants.
• Support PIs in preparing and submitting required progress, appraisal, and financial reports as stipulated under grant conditions.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders (e.g., NUS & NUHS research offices, Office of Legal Affairs, Industry Liaison Office, Office of Financial Services, HR and Finance Clusters) and external funding agencies on grant administration, intellectual property, and research collaboration agreements.
• Review and validate reimbursement and expenditure documents issued from RCAs, PAs, and sub-awards, ensuring accurate reporting in collaboration with the Finance Cluster.
• Provide insights to PIs, Core Facility Heads, and Admin Leads on grant budgeting, utilization, and forecasting.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, develop SOPs, and enhance efficiency through collaboration with administrative teams and relevant clusters.

Philanthropy and Donor Fund Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with NUHS and NUSMed Development Offices to develop donor funding proposals and processes.
• Partner with CSI, N2CR, and NIRBA Senior Management in managing donor engagement and new gift opportunities involving internal stakeholders and external donors, including high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Coordinate with Outreach and Graduate Programme teams on donor-funded initiatives and ensure timely preparation of annual gift impact reports.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of donor cases and progress in the central database.
• Prepare management reports on donor fund utilization to support informed decision-making by leadership.
• Provide administrative support for donor-related events, campaigns, and fundraising activities.

Requirements

• PhD in relevant field (Life Sciences, Biology, Oncology)
• 8-10 years of relevant working experience, preferably in the life sciences or higher education research environment.
• Strong understanding of the Singapore research grant landscape and its administrative processes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and comfortable learning new financial systems (e.g., S/4HANA).
• Prior supervisory experience and exposure to grant administration or project financial management preferred.
• Experience in financial and project management accounting within a research or academic institution will be advantageous.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities to engage effectively with stakeholders across all levels.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and perform effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.