Associate Director, Global Research Strategy & Partnerships, ORS
Associate Director, Global Research Strategy & Partnerships, ORS
About Us
Singapore Management University is a place where high-level professionalism blends together with a healthy informality. The 'family-like' atmosphere among the SMU community fosters a culture where employees work, plan, organise and play together - building a strong collegiality and morale within the university.
Our commitment to attract and retain talent is ongoing. We offer attractive benefits and welfare, competitive compensation packages, and generous professional development opportunities - all to meet the work-life needs of our staff. No wonder, then, that SMU continues to be given numerous awards and recognition for its human resource excellence.
Job Description
- This position is for Office of Research Strategy (ORS).
- Lead strategic analysis of global research funding landscapes, including philanthropic foundations, multilateral development institutions, bilateral development agencies, and international collaborative research programmes.
- Provide strategic guidance to ORS leadership on global research positioning and institutional priorities across foundations, multilateral organisations, and international research programmes.
- Build and maintain institutional intelligence on global funders, agenda-setting international research convenings, major international funding programmes, strategic research priorities, and emerging programme opportunities relevant to SMU's research capabilities
- Exercise institutional judgement in identifying research themes, clusters, and programme opportunities aligned with SMU2030 priorities.
- Lead programme and cluster scoping with Schools, Institutes, and selected local and international partners to identify fundable thematic opportunities.
- Lead senior-level engagement with international research funders, philanthropic foundations, and multilateral organisations to strengthen SMU's positioning within global research ecosystems.
- Identify and cultivate relationships with key international funding organisations and thought leaders to support the development of programme-scale research collaborations.
- Guide Schools and Institutes in shaping research agendas suitable for major programme funding opportunities.
- Provide strategic direction for programme development activities across ORS, ensuring alignment between global funding opportunities and institutional research priorities.
- Support the development of large programme-scale initiatives involving multiple investigators, research centres, and international partners.
- Work closely with the Assistant Director - Research Programme Development to ensure that emerging research initiatives are strategically aligned with international funding priorities.
- Contribute to the development of institutional strategy regarding global research engagement, emerging thematic priorities, and future research capability development.
- Monitor global developments in research funding, international policy priorities, and thematic research agendas that may influence future funding opportunities.
- Provide advisory input on strategic hiring directions and emerging interdisciplinary research priorities based on global foresighting and funding intelligence.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Master's degree or equivalent professional experience in public policy, international development, economics, social sciences, business, or related disciplines, with 12 to 15 years of relevant professional experience in research strategy, international programme development, research funding strategy, or global research partnerships.
- Prior experience working within or alongside international funding ecosystems including philanthropic foundations, multilateral development banks, bilateral development agencies, or international research programmes.
- Experience engaging senior stakeholders in international organisations, global foundations, universities, or research institutes will be highly advantageous.
- Deep understanding of global research and development funding ecosystems, including philanthropic foundations, multilateral development institutions, development finance organisations, and bilateral development agencies such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, United Nations Development Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development initiatives, United States Agency for International Development, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
- Strong familiarity with international research funding mechanisms including Horizon Europe, collaborative research programmes, consortium funding initiatives, foundation-supported research programmes, and multilateral research partnerships.
- Demonstrated experience shaping programme-scale initiatives or research agendas aligned with major international funding opportunities.
- Ability to translate global funding intelligence into institutional research strategies and programme opportunities.
- Experience engaging senior stakeholders across universities, international organisations, government agencies, and philanthropic foundations.
- Strong capability in identifying emerging thematic research areas and aligning institutional research strengths with international funding priorities.
- Experience working on multi-institutional or multi-country research initiatives involving universities, research institutes, and international partners.
- Excellent strategic analysis and written communication skills, particularly in preparing strategic briefs, concept notes, programme strategies, and institutional positioning materials.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to represent institutional research interests in international forums and partnerships.
- Experience working within or closely with international development organisations, multilateral institutions, global foundations, or international research programmes will be highly advantageous.
Other Information
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Candidates who do not possess the stipulated qualifications but have relevant work experience may still apply. Remuneration and appointment terms shall commensurate with qualifications and experience. SMU reserves the right to modify the appointment terms where necessary.
Posted On 04 Jun 2026
Employment Type: Full Time
Experience Level: Middle Management
Education Level: Master's or equivalent
Country: Singapore | Closing On 04 Jul 2026
Working Arrangement: Hybrid
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