Summary
As the Assistant Director, Corporate Services & Governance, you will lead DesignSingapore Council’s governance, procurement, and finance functions, stewarding organisational integrity, risk management, and the responsible use of public resources. You will design and strengthen enterprise policies, systems, and controls that enable effective, compliant, and agile operations.
You will oversee governance frameworks, audit and assurance processes, Board secretariat functions, organisation-wide budgeting, and procurement governance, while serving as a trusted advisor to leadership and divisions on risk, financial stewardship, and operational matters. Leading a small team, you will drive continuous improvement across corporate processes to ensure sound governance and high-quality support to the organisation.
About DesignSingapore Council
DesignSingapore Council (Dsg)’s 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. The Dsg is a subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
About the Corporate Services & Governance Division
The Corporate Services & Governance (CSG) division drives organisational efficiency and performance with strong governance, and builds a workplace of pride that embodies Dsg’s core values and culture. CSG provides vital services and support in the areas of Digital Services; Governance, Procurement & Finance; as well as Workplace Management & Shared Services, to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the Council. CSG is part of the larger Organisational Health & Excellence (OHE) group, which also includes the Human Resources (HR) division. OHE’s goal is for Dsg to be a loveable place to work in, where staff can perform at their best and have an engaged and fulfilling workplace experience, aligned with organisation values.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director, Corporate Services & Governance and Human Resources, your responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Governance, Audit & Risk Management
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Dsg’s corporate governance and internal control frameworks, covering Enterprise Risk Management (including annual Risk Control Self-Assessments) and Business Continuity Management (including Business Impact Analysis and Business Recovery Plan), ensuring alignment with EDB requirements.
- Oversee the development and regular review of governance policies, SOPs, and reference materials to ensure they remain current, practical, and fit for purpose.
- Provide advisory guidance to divisions and management on governance requirements, approving authorities, risk considerations, and design of controls.
- Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external audits, coordinating audit planning, evidence gathering, and management responses, and ensuring timely closure of findings and sustained audit readiness.
- Strengthen data and information governance practices, including records management, data classification, and knowledge management systems.
- Personally lead complex or high-risk governance initiatives, reviews, or cross-divisional workstreams requiring deep technical judgement and stakeholder alignment.
Data & Information Governance
- Lead Dsg’s enterprise data and information governance strategy, ensuring the secure, compliant, and effective management of organisational data and records.
- Work closely with the designated Data Protection Officer (DPO), overseeing compliance with data protection regulations, policies, and risk mitigation measures.
- Establish and maintain frameworks for data classification, access controls, and information lifecycle management to safeguard sensitive information and enable appropriate sharing.
- Oversee corporate records and knowledge management systems (eg, SharePoint, M-Files, Hubspot CRM), ensuring proper archival, retrieval, and audit readiness of organisational records.
- Advise divisions on data governance practices and drive continuous improvements to strengthen information integrity, accessibility, and compliance.
- Personally lead or oversee complex or sensitive data governance matters requiring senior judgement and cross-functional coordination.
Procurement Governance & Oversight
- Provide functional leadership and governance oversight for Dsg’s procurement policies, processes, and controls to ensure compliance with government procurement rules and organisational standards.
- Partner closely with the Procurement Lead (peer role) to align procurement strategy, policies, and practices, while providing oversight and assurance on procurement governance and risk management.
- Drive continuous improvement and standardisation of procurement processes, panels, and SOPs to enhance efficiency, transparency, and auditability.
- Ensure readiness for procurement-related audits and reviews, and address systemic gaps or control weaknesses where identified.
Finance & Budget Management
- Oversee organisation-wide budget planning, monitoring, and reporting, including the 5-year block budget and annual budget cycles, to ensure optimal allocation and utilisation of resources.
- Lead the consolidation and submission of budget exercises, funding proposals, and financial reports, and provide timely analysis and insights to senior management to support decision-making.
- Provide advisory support to divisions on budget planning, utilisation, and financial governance, promoting sound stewardship and value for money.
- Develop and strengthen financial processes, controls, and SOPs to enhance accuracy, transparency, and operational efficiency.
- Liaise closely with EDB Finance and relevant stakeholders to ensure policy alignment, smooth budget administration, and compliance with reporting requirements.
- Personally lead complex financial analyses, reviews, or cross-divisional initiatives that require senior judgement and coordination.
Corporate Performance & Reporting
- Lead the tracking, consolidation, and reporting of Corporate Key Results and organisational performance indicators to ensure timely and reliable submissions to management and stakeholders.
- Establish clear definitions, methodologies, and governance processes to ensure consistency, accuracy, and integrity of performance data across divisions.
- Streamline reporting processes and tools to improve efficiency, transparency, and alignment between strategy, outcomes, and resource allocation.
Board Secretariat
- Oversee governance and secretariat support for the Dsg Advisory Board and related panels, ensuring high standards of governance, compliance, and professionalism.
- Lead end-to-end planning of Board meetings and governance processes, including agenda setting, quality assurance of papers and minutes, and adherence to good governance practices.
- Advise management and stakeholders on Board governance matters, including appointments, renewals, and procedural standards.
Leadership & Individual Contribution
- Lead a small team, setting clear priorities, building capability, and fostering a culture of accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Act as a trusted advisor to management and divisions on governance, procurement, finance, and risk matters.
- Balance strong controls with operational agility to enable effective programme delivery.
- Take personal ownership of selected workstreams as an individual contributor, providing hands-on leadership and technical depth where required.
Requirements
To meet the challenges of this role, you should possess:
- A degree with at least 8 years of relevant experience in corporate governance, finance, audit, procurement, or corporate services, preferably within the public sector or a statutory board environment
- At least 3 years of managerial or supervisory experience, with responsibility for leading teams and/or overseeing cross-functional initiatives
- Strong knowledge of governance, risk management, internal controls, audit, and financial stewardship practices
- Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing policies, frameworks, and SOPs to strengthen organisational processes and controls
- Ability to engage, influence, and advise senior management, Board members, and diverse stakeholders with confidence and credibility
- Strong judgement and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance compliance requirements with operational agility and business needs
- Systems thinking mindset, with the ability to streamline processes and drive continuous improvement across functions
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing management papers, reports, and policy documents
- Meticulous, structured, and analytical, with high attention to detail and data integrity
- Able to work independently, prioritise effectively, and manage multiple workstreams in a dynamic environment
Candidates with the following experience or qualifications would have an added advantage:
- Experience supporting Boards, senior committees, or secretariat functions
- Familiarity with government procurement policies, budget processes, and Whole-of-Government governance practices
- Experience in data or information governance, or overseeing records/knowledge management systems
- Professional certifications in finance, audit, procurement, or risk management (eg, CA/CPA/CIA/CRMA/CIPS or equivalent)
