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Summary

Dsg is looking for a passionate candidate to join either the Strategic Planning & Futures team or the Product Innovation and Experience team under the Strategy and Product Innovation division, reporting to the Assistant Director. As the Manager/Senior Manager of the SPI team, you will contribute to shaping Dsg's strategic direction and overseeing the development of the next phase of the Design Masterplan and/or supporting the development of portfolio of products and incentive policies aimed at driving positive impact and outcomes for the design sector.

About DesignSingapore Council

DesignSingapore Council’s (Dsg) vision is for Singapore to be an innovation-driven economy and a loveable city through design by 2025. As the national agency that promotes design, our mission is to develop the design sector, help Singapore use design for innovation and growth, and make life better in this UNESCO Creative City of Design. Dsg is a subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board.

About the Strategy & Product Innovation Division

The Strategy & Product Innovation Division plays a crucial role in driving the strategic direction of the organisation, with a mandate to chart the future of the design sector and position Singapore as a leader in innovation through design. Central to this mission is the development of a robust portfolio of products that not only align with Dsg’s Design Masterplan but also deliver measurable impact across the design industry, empowering the sector to innovate, grow, and achieve long-term success. The division comprises of two teams:

1. Strategic Planning & Futures team is responsible for long-term planning and strategy development. Specific work entails formulation of Design Masterplan, driving Strategic Futures initiatives, and managing research as needed to support Dsg’s interests.
2. The Product Innovation and User Experience team collaborates with Dsg's business units to address both internal and client-facing needs. By employing design-led approaches, the team develops effective incentive policies and product offerings that support the business units in promoting the adoption of design across both design and non-design sectors.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities include but are not limited to either of the following functions:

Strategic Planning & Futures

• Key Research Initiatives: Manage and execute Dsg’s strategic research efforts while also supporting the research needs of other divisions. This includes supporting major studies for Dsg, such as the Value of Design study, which aims to measure the impact of design in Singapore through quantifiable economic and social indicators.
• Strategic Planning and Trend Analysis: Play a key role in shaping Dsg’s strategy, particularly in refreshing the upcoming Design Masterplan. This includes conducting horizon scanning and workshops to transform emerging trends into actionable insights.
• Operational Alignment: Help Dsg’s divisions translate high-level strategies into detailed workplans that align with organisational objectives, including coordinating the annual workplan exercise.

Product Innovation and User Experience

• Product Innovation and Development: Collaborate with Dsg’s business units to evaluate and enhance the range of product offerings that more effectively support the growth of the design sector in alignment with the Design Masterplan. This involves enhancing or developing new Dsg-led programmes through more effective incentive policies and partnering with agencies like EDB, ESG, and WSG to leverage existing initiatives for mutual benefit.
• Design-led Research and Advocacy: Engage internal and external stakeholders through interviews and workshops to conduct customer and product discovery. Prototype solutions to visualise and communicate ideas, synthesising insights and recommend design interventions that align with system constraints and decision-makers' needs.
• Product Outreach and Management: Partner with Dsg’s business units, as well as the brand, marketing, and communications team, to guide the creation of impactful marketing and outreach materials that effectively promote Dsg's products and services. Additionally, oversee the comprehensive development and evaluation of Dsg’s programmes and initiatives, ensuring proper budget allocation and monitoring, setting targets and outcomes, and reporting on overall programme results.

Requirements

• At least 3 to 8 years of work experience in relevant strategic planning, research, incentives policy, product management, and/or user experience design.
• Strong analytical ability; able to synthesise and interpret data to derive insights; ability to drive cross-functional collaboration through design-led processes.
• A great collaborator, with the ability to develop trusted working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and clients, and co-create solutions.
• Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Methodical, process-oriented, and proactive self-starter.
• Good command of product design tools, such as MIRO or Figma would be advantageous for the product innovation and user experience role.