Job Description

The Senior Assistant Director / Assistant Director will support the Precision Health Sector leadership in translating scientific, technology, policy, market and ecosystem signals into focused strategies and actionable portfolio choices. The role combines foresight, strategic analysis, portfolio management and stakeholder engagement to strengthen sector and sub-sector roadmaps, shape coherent programmes and support evidence-based decisions. The incumbent will work across research institutes, programme teams, Tech-Biz colleagues and local and international partners in a complex matrix environment. 

The role is expected to provide a higher level of independent analysis, coordination and strategic advice than the Senior Manager / Manager position, while working under the overall direction and decision-making authority of the Director and Sector leadership. 

Key Responsibilities

The incumbent may be involved in some or all of the following areas of work to guide and support team members on selected workstreams, strengthen reusable methods and tools, and contribute to capability building in foresight, strategy and portfolio management. 

Foresight and Strategy 

• Guide horizon scanning, landscape analysis and benchmarking across biomedical science, emerging technologies, clinical needs, policy developments, industry dynamics and investment trends; assess strategic opportunities, capability gaps and investment priorities across institutes, platforms, programmes and partnerships to inform sector planning and growth.

• Oversee the synthesis of complex evidence into strategic implications, scenarios and actionable recommendations for sector and sub-sector roadmaps, including areas where A*STAR has a differentiated right to win. 

• Support the Sector leadership in framing strategic choices, priorities and trade-offs, with clear implications for programmes, talent and capabilities, partnerships and resources to maximise impact and strategic positioning.

Portfolio management 

• Work with the Portfolio Management team to maintain an integrated view of portfolio governance, performance, risks, interdependencies, resource needs and translation pathways, ensuring timely identification and management of emerging issues and opportunities and monitoring progress against outcomes.
• Track portfolio outcomes and impact realisation, evaluate opportunities and ongoing activities against strategic, scientific and translational considerations, and recommend portfolio priorities and adjustments for Sector leadership’s consideration.
• Collaborate with scientific, clinical, programme and Tech-Biz stakeholders to ensure portfolio coherence and delivery, managing cross-programme dependencies and shape the development of coherent, mission-oriented programmes to maintain alignment with intended translation pathways and sector objectives.

Stakeholder management 

• Develop stakeholder engagement approaches and build trusted relationships with relevant local and international stakeholders across A*STAR, healthcare clusters, universities, government agencies, industry, investors, funders, national platforms and external advisors.
• Integrate diverse stakeholder perspectives into strategy, programme design and portfolio reviews, identifying areas of alignment and implications for Sector leadership’s consideration.
• Support Sector leadership in building strategy around shared priorities, portfolio choices and intended outcomes, including across stakeholders with differing interests and accountabilities.
• Design and facilitate senior-level workshops, expert consultations, advisory engagements and portfolio discussions that support informed decisions and effective follow-through.

Job Requirements

• PhD/MSc degree in life sciences, biomedical sciences, medicine, biotechnology, engineering, public policy, economics, business, strategy or a related discipline. 

• At least 8 years of relevant experience in strategy, foresight, research and innovation, technology assessment, portfolio management, consulting, policy or programme development. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex analytical workstreams, integrate scientific, policy, market and organisational perspectives, and translate evidence into clear options and recommendations. 

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to build alignment, manage differing interests and influence across organisational boundaries. 

• Excellent writing, presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with scientific, policy, industry and senior leadership audiences. 

• Independent, intellectually curious and comfortable with ambiguity, with strong judgement, attention to detail and follow-through. 
• Experience in Singapore’s biomedical, healthcare, deep-tech or public-sector R&D ecosystem, familiarity with international research and innovation landscapes, and expertise in foresight or market-intelligence methods would be advantageous.