Head Personnel MHA

The Head Personnel shall supervise the personnel, security and customer service functions in support of HQ SCDF Departments and Corporate Services Group (CSG). He/she is responsible for planning and directing personnel and welfare activities, managing staff development initiatives, and overseeing administrative support services. As the Unit Security Officer for HQ SCDF, he/she manages security access systems and clearances for the organization. He/she oversees the HQ SCDF Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) units and leads the customer service team to achieve service excellence through effective enquiry management and stakeholder engagement. The role also includes serving as the agency administrator for HQ SCDF resource booking management and coordinating various administrative functions to support HQ SCDF operations.

What you will be working on:

• Personnel management such as the strategic planning and deployment of NSFs, ensuring compliance with HR policies and guidelines, overseeing NSF performance and welfare matters, and driving professional development and upskilling initiatives for internal unit staff.
• Planning and management of staff welfare initiatives including coordinating internal unit events, maintaining wellness facilities, implementing engagement programmes, and overseeing staff recognition to enhance workplace satisfaction and morale.
• Security management such as overseeing access control systems, managing the issuance of security passes for whole of SCDF, monitoring security clearances, and ensuring compliance with security protocols within HQ SCDF premises.
• Customer service management such as overseeing a team of Customer Service Managers and Customer Service Officers to handle, triage and coordinate public enquiries, working closely with internal subject matter experts to provide comprehensive responses, and managing feedback and complaints resolution processes.
• Administrative management such as coordinating HQ SCDF carpark allocation, processing staff department nominations, managing uniform medals mounting services, overseeing printing services, administering resource booking systems for HQ SCDF, and providing administrative support for HQ SCDF Staff Departments.
• Supervisory responsibilities for a team of regular officers and full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), providing leadership, mentorship and guidance to ensure operational effectiveness and team development.
• Stakeholder Management such as engaging with National Service Personnel, their families and external service providers.

1. Knowledge and skills
   • Comprehensive knowledge of HR practices and personnel management, particularly in managing NSFs.
   • In-depth understanding of security management systems and administrative protocols in a public service context.
   • Strong knowledge of customer service principles and stakeholder management in a public sector environment.
   • Operational knowledge of administrative processes and facility management systems.
   • Hard Skills such as project management abilities, analytical and problem-solving skills, proficiency in administrative systems and security management tools, and experience with staff development programmes.
   • Soft Skills such as strategic leadership, team management, effective communication and interpersonal skills, decision-making, critical thinking, mentoring abilities, stakeholder engagement, adaptability, and ability to resolve conflicts and negotiate.
2. Experience
   • Minimum 5-7 years of experience in human resource management roles, at least 3 years of supervisory experience, preferably in a public sector organization. He/she should have prior experience in personnel management, particularly with NSFs or in a military/civil defence context and demonstrated experience in managing multiple portfolios.
3. Attributes
   • Possesses leadership attributes such as strategic thinking and vision, ability to motivate and develop team members, integrity, ethical decision-making and resilience under pressure. Possesses personal characteristics such as analytical mindset with attention to detail, diplomatic and politically astute, able to work within tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities, cultural sensitivity and awareness of public service ethos, proactive and innovative in problem-solving.
4. Other Job Requirements
   • Willingness to be on-call for emergency situations, can work in extended hours when required, especially during peak periods or emergencies. He/she should be familiar with or willingness to learn about civil defence operations, security protocols, and emergency response procedures.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is a uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The main role of SCDF is to provide fire-fighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services; mitigating hazardous materials incidents, as well as formulate, implement and enforce regulations on fire safety and civil defence shelter matters.

In 1982, the National Civil Defence Plan was launched which spearheaded the emergency preparedness for the nation. With the enactment of the Civil Defence Act in 1986, the SCDF was established as an independent organisation under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In the same year, the Hotel New World collapse paved the way for joint operations between the SCDF and Singapore Fire Service (SFS). Due to the similarity in roles and functions, the SCDF and SFS were formally integrated on 15 April 1989.Over the years, the SCDF has improved its life saving operations through innovations and programmes to enhance her fire-fighting, rescue capabilities and public education plans. The Light Fire Attack Vehicle (The Red Rhino) and Tracked Fire-Fighting Vehicle are some of the customized solutions which the force has developed to increase its operational capabilities. The SCDF also actively engages the local community through its wide-ranging public educational programmes and community-based activities to enhance the resilience and emergency preparedness of the civilian population.Today, the Force is recognised by the population as a professional body of well-trained officers and men geared to respond to all types of life-threatening emergencies round-the-clock. An operationally ready SCDF, working hand-in-hand with a prepared and resilient population, helps to ensure that the nation is capable of handling any untoward eventualities.