Senior Programme Manager / Programme Manager, AI for Science

Senior Programme Manager / Programme Manager, AI4S Programme

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is a department within the Prime Minister's Office, and we set the national direction for research, innovation and enterprise (RIE) by developing policies, plans and strategies; funding strategic initiatives that strengthen our scientific and technological capabilities, grow our RIE talent base, and achieve economic and national impact; and fostering RIE collaboration in Singapore and internationally. Strong, sustained support for Academic Research is a cornerstone for RIE. Sustained investments in academic research have enabled Singapore to build up a foundation of research capabilities across many critical disciplinary areas.

Recognizing the rapid advancements in AI technologies and their expanding potential to revolutionize a broad spectrum of scientific domains, NRF is launching the AI For Science (AI4S) funding initiative to leverage its research strengths, cutting-edge infrastructure, and interdisciplinary expertise to accelerate fundamental discoveries. By uniting AI specialists with scientific domain experts, this initiative aims to develop AI methods and tools that not only enhance how research is conducted, but also propel Singapore's position at the forefront of global scientific innovation.

The AI4S Programme Office will be located at the CREATE campus, co-located with research labs, to foster collaboration and co-creation.

Programme Manager

Overview:
Programme Managers play a pivotal role in the day-to-day administration and active management of projects funded under the AI4S initiative. Reporting to the Programme Director (PD), they facilitate the PD on the strategic oversight, management and execution of the AI4S funding initiative, ensure that the funded projects meet their objectives on schedule, adhere to governance and financial protocols, and align with the overarching strategic vision of advancing AI-driven scientific discovery.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management - Scientific/Technical:

• Strategic oversight of workstreams in meeting the mission and deliverables of the funded programme.
• Monitor and support project progress towards deliverables in assigned workstreams.
• Work directly with project teams to drive programmatic coherence, knowledge transfers and collaborations across workstreams.
• Provide effective advice and administrative assistance to projects / workstreams.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance programme impact, leveraging interdependencies and synergies across multi-disciplinary project teams and workstreams. Facilitate transfer of learnings across workstreams.
• Track project milestones and deliverables, identifying potential issues early.
• Make recommendations on strategic course corrections and programme direction.

Programme Management & Operations:

• Work closely with NRF to support the pre-award phase to ensure the smooth delivery of grant calls and the grant evaluation process.
• Design and implement post-award grant management and oversight framework.
• Progress monitoring, budget tracking, and compliance checks of funded projects and workstreams.
• Design programme-wide policies and frameworks for collaboration, equipment sharing, IP protection, and safety/ethical standards.
• Increase awareness and ensure easy access of programme-wide policies and frameworks. Oversee implementations of lab and office operational policies.
• Oversee operational laboratory operations in collaboration with the CREATE facilities manager to ensure that matters pertaining but not limited to space allocation, safety, renovation, equipment sharing, maintenance, and insurance, and hosting visits are carried out adequately.
• Lead the office in streamlining and standardisation of work processes for better efficiency and effectiveness in administration

Data Management and Reporting

• Data capturing and management on the research input and output from assigned projects / workstreams.
• Prepare and submit consolidated reports on the progress and annual reports for review by the Steering Committee, Scientific Advisory Committee, and NRF.
• Analyse research performance and provide recommendations to support the goals and objectives of the AI4S funding initiative.

Stakeholder Engagement, Outreach & Publicity:

• Coordinate with project teams and stakeholders to support programme objectives.
• Organize and support Steering Committee and Scientific Advisory Committee meetings.
• Documentation and presentation of project outcomes.
• Foster intramural collaborations and create synergies between different projects to enhance research outcomes
• Design and organise outreach events, symposiums, training sessions, research exchanges, and industry engagement to promote AI4S
• Regularly engage with stakeholders within the Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) ecosystem, including industry players, to ensure coordination and alignment

Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement:

• Track rapid AI developments in academia and industry relevant to assigned projects and in general, to inform the strategic direction of the programme.
• Recommend project portfolios and research themes that capitalize on cutting-edge AI technologies, fostering transformative breakthroughs in target science domains.
• Support the implementation of new initiatives and processes.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Minimum a bachelor's degree in science, engineering, or adjacent disciplines, with strong familiarity in AI-related research. Advance degree preferred.
• 9 years of experience in R&D project or program management, preferably in a research, academic, or government funding environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Experience in programme/project management.
• Independent, meticulous, and resourceful with ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral & written).

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Hiring Institution: NTU