Director, Strategic Planning

Description

The Opportunity Are you looking for a career in an organisation powering the scientific frontier of Singapore? Are you looking to drive agility efforts in a world-class organisation?

Join the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), a world-class organization that propels Singapore's scientific and economic future. The Strategic Planning Department is the architect of a dynamic, agile, and forward-looking corporate service that empowers our researchers to innovate.

We are seeking a proactive individual to lead this charge. This is a rare opportunity to serve as a catalyst for change, working directly with senior leadership to conceptualize, design, and implement high-impact initiatives while mentoring a high-performing team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Senior Stakeholder Management

• Executive Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor to the senior leadership. Bridge diverse views across the organisation, driving conversations and influencing outcomes towards common goals.
• Strategic Planning: Lead the A*STAR’s strategic planning exercises, including strategy workshops, annual work plans, and the development of Corporate Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
• Consensus Building: Conceptualize near-term business initiatives and long-term strategic projects. You will navigate complex stakeholder landscapes to align Corporate Group Divisions with broader organizational aims.

2. Team Management & Talent Development

• People Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of officers. Foster a culture of psychological safety, high performance, and continuous learning.
• Capability Building: Guide staff in developing "pathfinding" skills—navigating ambiguity to complete projects without defined pathways. Provide regular feedback and coaching to groom the next generation of A*STAR leaders.

3. Executive Communication & Engagement

• High-Impact Briefings: Craft and deliver concise briefings to senior leadership. You will be responsible for translating complex data into clear policy papers and presentations that inform executive-level decisions.
• Internal Engagement Architecture: Design culture-shaping leadership retreats and produce dynamic town halls. You will craft experiences that forge powerful connections and build alignment across the entire A*STAR.

4. Transformation & Operational Excellence

• Digital Transformation: Spearhead the implementation of cutting-edge digitalization and automation solutions (including GenAI). Your mission is to build a client-centric,  agile and collaborative corporate environment.
• Champion Excellence: Design and launch feedback to drive continuous improvement. Lead benchmarking exercises to ensure A*STAR stays ahead of the curve in strategy implementation.
• Data Analysis & Insights: Oversee the transformation of raw data into compelling visual stories. Ensure leadership has the insights needed to make critical, data-informed decisions.

Requirements

• Experience: You bring at least 10 years of working experience, with a strong background in strategic planning, corporate planning or management consulting.
• Leadership Track Record: Proven success in managing teams. You must demonstrate the ability to build trust, inspire confidence, and guide staff through complex and sometimes, ambiguous work streams.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders (C-Suite/Director level).
• Analytical Rigour: A keen mind that can anticipate issues, plan for contingencies, and analyze data with a high degree of accuracy.
• Resilience: The capacity to maintain composure and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines.

What You Will Gain

• Strategic Exposure: This role is a proving ground for your career. You will gain direct exposure to senior leaders and diverse corporate functions, placing you at the nerve center of the organization.
• Leadership Growth: You will be empowered to take on higher responsibilities, refining your ability to lead teams through ambiguity.
• Culture of Innovation: Join a team that values creativity and embraces unconventional ideas.
• Adaptability: Hone your ability to adapt to dynamic situations and think creatively under pressure.
• Accelerated Growth : This is a role and proving ground for executive leadership. You will gain exposure to senior industry and scientific leadership, and understand the inner workings of a matrix corporate functions.