Manager/Senior Manager, South East Asia and Oceania (SEAO)

[What the role is]

About EDB
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), a government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is responsible for strategies that enhance Singapore’s position as a global centre for business, innovation, and talent. We undertake investment promotion and industry development, and work with international businesses, both foreign and local, by providing information, connection to partners and access to government incentives for their investments. Our mission is to create sustainable economic growth, with vibrant business and good job opportunities for Singapore.
For more information on EDB, please visit www.edb.gov.sg

[What you will be working on]

About Southeast Asia and Oceania Division

The Southeast Asia and Oceania Division (SEAO) is a division in the Singapore Economic Development Board. SEAO plays a critical role in strengthening linkages between Singapore and the immediate region, and expanding Singapore’s economic hinterland. SEAO (i) develops and executes on government-to-government (G2G) partnerships; (ii) actively engages the region’s top private sector players – including major conglomerates, sectoral champions, and high growth startups, and (iii) facilitates the growth of global MNCs in Southeast Asia via Singapore. This positions Singapore as the choice location for companies to site their regional control tower, research and innovation, and advanced manufacturing operations, as they expand in the region.

Roles and Responsibilities

As a Manager/Senior Manager in the SEAO Division, you will operate at the unique intersection of bilateral economic policy, inter-agency stakeholder engagement, and investment promotion. You will have operational oversight over core cross-border economic initiatives, and support EDB’s corporate engagement in key regional markets including Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. You will work with both global MNCs and regional conglomerates to best harness Singapore’s strengths and the complementary advantages of our immediate neighbours. You will need to understand and assess Singapore’s strategic interests, needs and develop the right solutions catered to Singapore’s position as a global business centre. You will also cultivate and maintain close ties with key influencers or decision makers in Singapore and the region ranging from government officials, industry leaders and company executives.

Bilateral Frameworks & G2G Policy Coordination

• Drive Cross-Border Initiatives: Lead the operationalization and policy coordination for Singapore’s key regional partnerships, specifically the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and Batam-Bintan-Karimun region (BBK).

• Inter-Agency Stakeholder Engagement: Work across multiple Singapore Government stakeholders to balance various interests and develop win-win solutions.

• Bilateral Diplomacy: Work closely with bilateral government counterparts to align economic priorities, address cross-border regulatory frictions, and attract new investments into the region.

Corporate Account Management & Market Strategy

• Portfolio Account Management: Support the management and engagement of strategic corporate relationships in Malaysia and the Philippines.

• Engagement of key executives: Cultivate trusted relationships with senior company executives and next-generation business leaders to understand their regional expansion roadmaps and long-term priorities.

[What we are looking for]

To succeed in this role, you should possess:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, International Relations, Public Policy, Engineering, or a related discipline.

• At least 3 to 5 years of relevant working experience in corporate strategy, investment promotion, management consulting, public policy, or international trade relations.

• Deep Regional Context: Strong understanding of the Southeast Asian macroeconomic landscape, with specific familiarity regarding the corporate governance, regulatory environments, and market dynamics of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

• Excellent Interpersonal & Influencing Skills: Ability to navigate complex government-to-government sensitivities with absolute discretion, and influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority.

• Keen Business Acumen: Exceptional conceptual and analytical thinking, with the ability to translate complex public policy frameworks into high-yield commercial incentives for private enterprise.

• Exceptional Communication: Strong oral and written communication skills, with an ability to synthesize ambiguous trends into clear, succinct executive briefs and talking points for senior management and political leadership.

• Agility & Adaptability: A self-starter who demonstrates high learning agility and execution rigor when operating in an unstructured, rapidly evolving business environment.

• You should be a Singapore Citizen.