Senior Manager / Principal Manager (Partnerships) (EED)

[What the role is]

The Senior Manager / Principal Manager in EED plays a lead role in developing and driving enterprise partnership strategies and initiatives for the Enterprise Group, enabling SWDA to deliver impactful workforce solutions to enterprises at scale.

The role focuses on managing strategic oversight of SWDA’s enterprise partnership ecosystem covering key industry intermediaries such as lead firms, business groups, industry associations, sectoral stakeholders, unions, etc. This includes conducting landscape analyses to identify strategic gaps, conceptualising effective partnership models, coordinating the smooth implementation of partnership programmes, and building capability across the partnership ecosystem to unlock and achieve stronger outcomes.

The role also entails guiding and nurturing team members across key functional areas such as policy translation, stakeholder management, programme governance and partnership performance monitoring, while fostering a collaborative and high-functioning team culture.

[What you will be working on]

The key job role responsibilities cover the following areas: 

Partnership Strategy and Management

• Oversee SWDA's enterprise-wide partnership ecosystem to ensure alignment with organisational priorities, sectoral needs and economic impact.

• Conduct landscape analyses to identify strategic gaps and opportunities where partnership resources should be prioritised and allocated.

• Translate policy direction into implementable sectoral strategies and potential partnership models.

• Develop and refine partnership strategies and implementation models to strengthen the delivery of workforce solutions to enterprises  

Competency: Strategic Thinking and Planning; Analytical Thinking, Policy Translation

Partnership Model Innovation and Incubation

• Study emerging partnership and intermediary models, including relevant local and international practices, to identify approaches that can strengthen ecosystem impact.

• Conduct feasibility studies, conceptualise and pilot innovative partnership models or frameworks where there is potential for scale, sectoral relevance or stronger enterprise outcomes.

• Review pilot learnings and recommend whether new models should be refined, scaled or discontinued.

Competency: Problem Solving and Innovation; Systems Thinking

Programme Management

• Oversee programme delivery, review, and policy development of signature enterprise partnership programmes such as the SkillsFuture Queen Bee and Sector Convenor, and ensure alignment with workforce development goals, enterprise needs and SWDA's priorities.

• Develop frameworks and guidance resources to support the coordination and smooth implementation of enterprise partnership programmes across Enterprise Group.

Competency: Programme and Project Management

Ecosystem Standards and Capability Development

• Set consistent standards and operating requirements across partnership programmes including performance expectations, key outcome measures and governance practices.

• Monitor partnership performance and implement quality measures to ensure programmes deliver clear, measurable and sustained results.

• Maintain feedback loops with Enterprise Group stakeholders and industry partners to strengthen programme design, reporting discipline and continuous improvement.

• Equip Enterprise Group stakeholders and industry partners with the tools, processes and capabilities to support effective implementation

Competency: Operational Excellence; Governance and Quality Management

Business Group Account Management

• Manage and foster strategic industry relationships with major business groups, industry associations and other key intermediaries to strengthen industry collaboration and engagement.

• Facilitate capability-development collaborations (e.g. peer-sharing platforms and resources) that connect partners with each other and with SWDA’s priorities to open up new opportunities to amplify impact.

• Represent SWDA professionally at engagement platforms, forums and discussions with enterprises and sectoral stakeholders.

Competency: Stakeholder Engagement and Management

Team Development and Management

• Guide, coach and develop staff in policy translation, partnership strategy, account management, programme governance and analytical work.

• Provide work direction, review deliverables and help staff prioritise across concurrent assignments to ensure timely and high-quality outcomes.

• Build team capability by sharing context, strengthening judgement, encouraging collaboration and supporting professional growth.

• Foster a positive, accountable and learning-oriented team culture that enables officers to manage stakeholders confidently and deliver against divisional priorities.

Competency: People Development; Team Leadership; Resource Management

[What we are looking for]

• 5 to 7 years of experience in partnership management, stakeholder engagement, policy implementation, programme management or a related role, preferably within the workforce development ecosystem, sectoral development or public sector context. Candidates with less direct experience but strong relevant competencies may also apply.

• Demonstrated ability to translate policy direction into practical strategies, workplans and implementation approaches that align with organisational and national priorities.

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to assess partnership landscapes, identify gaps and recommend practical options based on impact and priorities.

• Good understanding of enterprise engagement, sectoral development, workforce transformation and the role of intermediaries such as business groups, trade associations, chambers and large enterprises.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, manage relationships and facilitate collaboration across diverse internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience in programme or project management, including performance monitoring, governance, reporting and continuous improvement.

• Ability to manage concurrent work assignments, exercise sound judgement and deliver high-quality work within tight timelines.

• Ability to guide and develop staff, provide clear work direction, review deliverables and support a collaborative team environment.

• Proactive, adaptable and innovative, with a strong interest in strengthening the workforce development ecosystem.

Successful candidates will be offered a contract in the first instance and may be considered for an extension or be placed on a permanent tenure.

 

Candidates are encouraged to sign up for a Careers & Skills Passport (CSP) account and include your CSP public profile in your resume.  Please check out www.myskillsfuture.gov.sg for details on the CSP