Senior Manager/ Manager, International Collaboration & Strategic Partnerships

Role overview

This position is part of IMDA’s International Group, within the International Collaboration & Strategic Partnerships division. The team works with priority markets and strategic countries, including China, to enable government-to-government, business-to-government and business-to-business cooperation that supports Singapore’s digital economy goals.

The job sits at the crossroads of international policy and market outreach. You will engage with overseas counterparts, Singapore government agencies, private sector organisations, industry associations and research institutions to help advance Singapore’s interests in the digital space. The role calls for ongoing engagement with policy settings, institutional networks and industry stakeholders in key markets, and the ability to turn those insights into practical outcomes for IMDA.

Strategy and policy work

• Create and sharpen high-level approaches to strengthen Singapore’s digital economy interests in key markets, especially China.
• Monitor and assess policy and regulatory shifts in China’s digital economy, including signals from central government work plans, regulators and major industry platforms, then convert those observations into useful recommendations for IMDA.
• Provide policy advice to support existing initiatives or help launch new collaborations that deepen digital connectivity and linkages.
• Use independent judgment to evaluate the strategic value and practicality of proposed partnerships, and recommend the best course of action.

Stakeholder and industry engagement

• Develop and maintain long-term bilateral relationships with Chinese government agencies, industry players, industry bodies and research organisations, acting as a consistent point of contact.
• Collaborate with relevant agencies, major industry participants and foreign counterparts to identify, shape and move forward cooperation opportunities.

Secretariat and operational support

• Take the lead on secretariat duties for bilateral meetings and mechanisms, such as inter-agency meetings and joint implementation committees, including agenda preparation, briefing papers and tracking follow-up actions.
• Assist with planning and on-ground coordination for industry events, including MOU signings and showcase programmes such as ATxSG.

Background and experience

• A background in International Relations, Public Policy, Computer Science, Engineering or Information Technology is preferred.
• 8 to 12 years of experience in the infocomm industry or with an economic agency would be an advantage.

Domain knowledge

• Strong familiarity with China’s digital economy ecosystem, including the regulatory landscape, important institutional actors and key industry developments, is highly desirable.
• Broad interest in international relations and digital technologies, along with good situational awareness, is important for this role.

Communication skills

• Excellent English and Chinese written and spoken communication skills are needed to work with Chinese stakeholders and counterparts.
• Ability to read Chinese-language policy and industry documents is an advantage.

Personal attributes

• Comfort with travel and in-market engagement is required.
• Must be self-driven, capable of working independently, and strong in critical and analytical thinking.
• Strong organisational ability and careful attention to detail are essential.