Senior Scientific Manager (NIRBA Research Portfolio)

Job Description

The National Initiative for RNA Biology and its Applications (NIRBA) is a pioneering national program dedicated to advancing RNA biology research. Established with support from the National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, we unite experts across multiple disciplines to address critical challenges in RNA science and its applications.

NIRBA consists of four Innovation Clusters each designed to address a key challenge in RNA biology. In each Cluster, research teams are assembled from across the three NIRBA Partners (NUS, A*STAR and NTU) to address specific scientific questions. These Clusters are supplemented by shorter term Satellite programmes, put in place where a novel knowledge gap or problem arises.

The Senior Scientific Manager (NIRBA Research Portfolio) provides scientific management and programme/ portfolio oversight for NIRBA-funded research. The role ensures that the research portfolio is strategically aligned, scientifically rigorous, and delivering high-impact outcomes.

For more information on NIRBA, visit: https://nirba.sg/

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Personal Responsibilities

• Portfolio Strategy: Manage and shape NIRBA’s research portfolio in alignment with strategic priorities and emerging scientific opportunities.
• Scientific Management: Provide expert guidance on research design, milestones, and deliverables across Clusters and Satellite Labs/ Programmes.
• Research Quality & Impact: Promote excellence, reproducibility, innovation, and translational potential within the research portfolio.
• Reporting & Evaluation: Contribute to scientific reporting for Executive Director, CGT-SC, and other institutional stakeholders
• Collaboration & Integration: Foster cross-project collaboration, data sharing, and alignment with national and international research initiatives.
• Scientific Risk Management: Identify scientific risks and recommend mitigation or course-correction strategies.

Key Team Responsibilities

• Program Management: Monitor progress of Cluster projects, Satellite teams, track performance against KPIs, and support timely delivery of outcomes.
• Funding & Review Processes: Support fund allocations to Clusters and Satellite Labs, competitive grant calls, peer review processes, appropriate fund utilization & outcomes.
• Investigator Engagement: Act as a key scientific liaison with principal investigators and research teams, providing guidance and problem-solving support.

Special Projects

• Undertake special initiatives at the discretion of the ED

Other duties & responsibilities

• Any other duties as assigned by ED

Qualifications

Requirements

• PhD in molecular biology, RNA biology, genetics, biochemistry, genomics, or a closely related field
• Postdoctoral experience strongly preferred
• Supervisory experience
• Experience in grant/ programme management, e.g. budgeting, variation/ virement, progress reporting etc is strongly preferred, ideally from multi-institutional programmatic type grants
• Experience in research management e.g. IRB, MTA, IACUC, GMAC submissions and/ or data governance frameworks etc is preferred
• Excellent writing and reporting ability
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

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