Assistant Manager

COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Singapore Art Museum opened in 1996 as the first art museum in Singapore. Also known as SAM, we present contemporary art from a Southeast Asian perspective for artists, art lovers and the art curious in multiple venues across the island, including a new venue in the historic port area of Tanjong Pagar.

SAM is building one of the world's most important public collections of Southeast Asian contemporary art, with the aim of connecting the art and the artists to the public and future generations through exhibitions and programmes. SAM is working towards a humane and sustainable future by committing to responsible practices within its processes.

DESIGNATION : Assistant Manager / Manager, Events Management

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Assistant Manager/Manager, Events Management, will oversee the planning and execution of events hosted by Singapore Art Museum (SAM), including exhibition openings, donor receptions, and stakeholder engagements. This is a standalone role, suitable for someone who is highly organised, resourceful, and hands-on, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across departments. This role is responsible for ensuring the smooth and professional delivery of all events, managing everything from guest experience and F&B to on-site logistics and cross-department coordination. The incumbent will report to the Estates division for operational matters, while supporting the Marketing & Communications, Partnership and Patronage, Business Development, Production Management, Visitor Experience teams on stakeholder-facing aspects of events.

Key upcoming projects include the Singapore Biennale in October 2025 and a Benefit Event in January 2026. Both events will require at least 4 to 6 months of advance preparation, and the workload will build up significantly in the lead-up to these milestone moments.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Plan and manage end-to-end execution of SAM-hosted events, including exhibition openings, fundraising events, and VIP receptions
- Oversee guest list planning, invitation roll-out, RSVP tracking, seating arrangements, and guest communication
- Manage appointed event management companies or agencies, including the preparation of briefs, evaluation of proposals, and oversight of deliverables to ensure alignment with SAM's objectives and standards
- Coordinate F&B selection, vendor sourcing, event setup, dcor, and logistics
- Liaise with Mapletree and relevant authorities for events taking place beyond SAM's premises
- Work closely with internal teams on event publicity, on-site branding, and media needs
- Prepare detailed event run sheets and manage live event coordination across all parties
- Ensure compliance with safety and venue protocols for all events
- Plan and execute events involving Political Office Holders (POHs), ensuring all arrangements meet official protocols, security, and guest experience standards
- Conduct post-event evaluations and maintain documentation for institutional reporting
- Build and maintain a database of preferred vendors and event templates
- Manage event-related procurement processes, including drafting specifications for ITQs/ITTs, evaluating submissions, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies via SAP or relevant systems

QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum 5 years' experience in event management, preferably within the arts, hospitality, or cultural sectors
- Strong planning, vendor management, and interpersonal communication skills
- Experience managing external event management companies or vendors, including briefing, negotiation, and performance oversight
- Proven experience managing events involving Political Office Holders (POHs), with strong understanding of protocol, security, and guest handling requirements
- Experience managing high-level events with VIP guests and external partners
- Able to work independently and collaboratively across teams
- Comfortable being the sole events lead, managing multiple projects, budgets, and timelines with mínimal supervision
- Comfortable working evenings and weekends, as required by event schedules
- Experience in procurement processes (ITQ, ITT) and finance systems such as SAP is preferred
- Solutions-oriented and resourceful, with a strong eye for detail and guest experience