Senior Manager/Licensing

Job description

[What the role is] The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) is Singapore's statutory board dedicated to raising the professionalism of the real estate agency industry and safeguarding consumer interests. Through effective regulation, industry development, and consumer education, CEA works towards a trusted and resilient property landscape where consumers can transact with confidence and real estate professionals are held to the highest standards of integrity and competence. [What you will be working on] As a Senior Manager/Manager in CEA's Licensing Division, you will play a key role in administering the licensing regime for estate agents (EAs) and the registration of real estate salespersons (RESs). Beyond day-to-day licensing operations, you will contribute to the review, formulation, and implementation of operational policies and initiatives that strengthen CEA's licensing regime. Working closely with EAs, RESs, industry stakeholders, and other government agencies, you will help shape a more professional and client-centric real estate agency industry for Singapore. Your responsibilities include: Licence and registration – assessing and ensuring applications received through CEA's online e-Services from EAs and RESs meet the legislated requirements before granting licence/registration and renewals, including identifying cases that require deferral, rejection, or approval with conditions. Management of IT systems – serving as the key liaison between the Licensing Division and CEA's external IT vendor, including engaging the vendor to resolve bugs and issues, implement system enhancements, and review overall system performance. You will prioritise and deconflict competing enhancement requests to ensure development efforts are aligned with the Division's operational needs. You will also be responsible for system configuration and user acceptance testing and will coordinate with other divisions and external agencies on data sharing and integration matters. This role requires occasional after-hours availability, including being on standby during scheduled system maintenance windows, which occur approximately twice a week. Policy reviews and data analytics – collating data for analysis and trend assessment to support operational policy formulation, reviews, and workflow improvements, and contributing inputs in cross-division policy reviews. Handling of enquiries and appeals – supporting day-to-day operations in handling enquiries and ensuring that appeals are attended to promptly in accordance with established SOPs. Secretariat duties – supporting various workgroups and meetings through the preparation of agendas, coordination of schedules, minute-taking, and other coordination work. Carrying out any other duties as assigned to support the achievement of CEA's corporate objectives. [What we are looking for] We are looking for a driven and self-motivated individual who is resourceful, works well in a team, and has a commitment to continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in a regulatory environment that requires both attention to detail and the ability to exercise sound judgment on complex cases. You should also possess these core skills: At least 3 to 5 years of relevant work experience, preferably in a regulatory, licensing, or public administration context. Prior experience managing IT systems or working with external IT vendors will be an added advantage. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage and manage multiple stakeholders and align them towards common objectives. Excellent analytical, writing, and interpersonal skills. Strong critical thinking skills, with an aptitude for data analysis and interpretation. Adaptability to changing circumstances and the ability to navigate uncertainty. Proficient in leveraging digital tools to solve problems, drive efficiency, and facilitate information sharing. Familiarity with IT systems used in licensing or case management, and an ability to work constructively with IT vendors to identify issues and drive improvements, will be an advantage. Willingness to work outside of regular office hours when required, including being on standby for scheduled system maintenance sessions.