Singapore University Of Technology And Design (SUTD) Hiring! Full Time Deputy Manager, Centre of Excellence (Built Environment AI) in East Region (Singapore) - Ricebowl

(This role is hired on contract basis.)

About the Built Environment Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence

The Built Environment Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (BE AI CoE) is a national initiative established by the Ministry of National Development (MND) in partnership with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). The Centre drives applied AI research, industrial partnerships, capability development, and solution translation to transform Singapore’s Built Environment (BE) sector across the entire lifecycle—from urban planning and building design to construction and facilities management.

The Centre serves as a national focal point, bringing together government, academia, and industry to co-develop AI solutions with real-world impact while nurturing a new generation of "AI bilinguals" who can bridge technical AI capabilities with BE domain expertise. Through these efforts, the Centre aspires to transform Singapore’s Built Environment (BE) sector across the entire lifecycle—from urban planning and building design to construction and facilities management.

Why You’ll Love This Role

The Deputy Manager plays a key operational role in overseeing the CoE’s portfolio of AI R&D and translational projects. This includes ensuring effective programme governance, administering research funding, managing cross-agency and industry partnerships, and ensuring delivery of high-impact outcomes aligned with national Built Environment priorities such as construction productivity, facilities management optimisation, regulatory efficiency, and climate resilience.

The Deputy Manager will work with multiple stakeholders to ensure that projects across the BE AI CoE’s four work packages—AI for Urban Planning & Design, Building Design, Construction, and Facilities Management—are well-scoped, effectively governed, and progressing towards deployment and adoption.

In addition, the Deputy Manager will collaborate with SUTD’s Office of Innovation and Enterprise on industry-oriented initiatives, contributing to broader goals in innovation and talent development within the Built Environment sector.

What You’ll Do

1. Programme & Portfolio Oversight

• Oversee the planning, scoping, budgeting, and execution of a portfolio of applied AI research and translational projects.
• Coordinate across Work Package (WP) Convenors to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and cross-WP integration.

2. Research Governance & Funding Operations

• Manage end-to-end administration of research funding, including tracking utilisation, milestones, deliverables, and KPIs.
• Lead the preparation of financial statements, progress reports, and grant submissions.
• Oversee compliance with NRF RIE funding requirements, institutional research policies, data governance standards, and audit protocols.
• Conduct due diligence on new project proposals—including technical feasibility, costings, workplans, and alignment with CoE objectives.
• Run governance meetings, including steering committees and review meetings.

3. Stakeholder & Partnership Management

• Serve as a primary liaison with government agencies, SUTD teams, and industry partners to coordinate collaborative projects, workshops, and pilot deployments.
• Foster partnerships with progressive BE firms to accelerate translation of AI prototypes into real-world applications.
• Facilitate public–private collaboration by scoping new joint projects, supporting MoUs, and managing partner expectations.

4. Programme Operations & Execution Excellence

• Develop suitable templates, toolkits and dashboard for programme management, project progress tracking, and knowledge documentation.
• Lead the design and delivery of technical workshops, capability-building events, and dissemination activities.
• Support resource planning, procurements and external services.

5. Translational Impact & Sector Development

• Drive translation of research outputs into deployable solutions for the BE industry.
• Contribute to the Centre’s goal of developing "AI bilinguals" through training pathways, mentorship, and collaboration with educational partners.

Who We Are Looking For

• Degree in Business, Engineering, Architecture, Computer Science, Urban Planning, Data Science, or related BE/technology disciplines.
• At least two years of experience in programme management, R&D administration, innovation programmes, or public sector/industry collaboration.
• Experience with RIE funding, research grants, or large-scale innovation programmes is highly advantageous.

Skills & Competencies

Technical & Domain Expertise (Preferred but not mandatory)

• Understanding of AI/ML concepts, digital BE solutions (e.g., BIM, robotics, modelling), and BE sector operations.
• Ability to evaluate technical proposals, research plans, and innovation concepts.

Programme & Operational Excellence

• Strong programme management skills (risk, budget, timeline, stakeholder, KPI management).
• Experience in establishing governance structures, dashboards, and PMO processes.
• Strong financial administration capabilities.

Communication & Leadership

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to engage senior stakeholders across government, academia, and industry.
• Skilled at building collaborative, multi-disciplinary relationships.