Assistant Director, Policy & Strategy Development (2-year contract)

Job description

[What the role is] The Policy and Strategy Development Division is part of the Policy, Research and Surveillance Group in the Health Promotion Board. The Division’s mission is formulating public health policies and strategies, as HPB progresses beyond promotional approaches to employ regulatory and policy levers to modify health behaviours. We oversee the sodium reduction strategy, including the Nutri-Grade extension to address sodium and saturated fat intake, upstream industry development work in support of policy, as well as substance abuse (tobacco) other emerging areas of public health concerns related to food. This position offers the right candidate the opportunity to drive evidence-based national policies and strategies in preventive health, to achieve a supportive and sustainable environment for healthy lifestyle behaviours. This is an exciting opportunity to solve some of the most critical issues facing preventive health in Singapore today. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage senior stakeholders from across the government and businesses, and influence decision making on public health policies. The successful candidate will also work closely with industry and academic experts, as part of the consultation and strategy development process. [What you will be working on] Strong project management skills to manage and track key milestones, as well as independently conduct meetings and stakeholder management internally. Strategic planning work such as review and analyse public health findings and market data from a wide range of sources, and develop evidence-based policies and strategies that address public health gaps in the general and targeted populations. Where project requires, take initiative to consult actively with government agencies, companies and experts, to address key stake holders and their concerns, with the objective of achieving successful and sustainable policy and strategy implementation. Collaborate with regulatory agencies and the industry to operationalize solutions and enforce measures. Monitor and evaluate policies and strategies to assess impact and review approaches. Foster strategic alliances, both local and international, to support policy advocacy and lead conversations on emerging public health issues. [What we are looking for] Candidates should have: Highly driven individual with qualifications in health-related sciences or any other relevant disciplines. At least 7 years of experience in developmental and planning roles, with project management skills. Some public policy experience will be helpful. Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to identify, define and propose policy solutions for national preventive health problems. Strong analytical abilities to synthesize information, build strong narrative, and distil ideas and concepts into concrete plans to drive implementation. Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills to maintain strong stakeholder partnerships. Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills. Strong ability to work effectively in an environment that is highly matrixed, fluid and fast-paced. Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance.