Singapore University Of Technology And Design (SUTD) Hiring! Full Time Manager, Sector Partnerships - Aviation (Contract) in Southwest (Singapore) - Ricebowl

(This role is hired on contract basis.)

About Sector Partnerships – Aviation

The Aviation Sector covers the key stakeholders in the Singapore aviation sector (e.g., CAAS, ICAI, CAG, SIA, SATS, SIAEC etc). The Manager will assist in translating sector strategy into concrete partnership pipelines identifying collaboration opportunities, brokering research and innovation engagements and ensuring that aviation industry partners are well-connected to SUTD’s capabilities.

Why You’ll Love This Role

This role supports the Assistant Director, Aviation in developing and growing SUTD’s Aviation sector by serving as the primary relationship manager and business development lead for the aviation portfolio. The role bridges SUTD’s academic and research community with aviation stakeholders (airlines, ground handlers, regulators and related agencies), ensuring SUTD’s aviation-related enterprise activities are commercially translatable, institutionally embedded and aligned with national innovation priorities.

This role requires the ability to cultivate and manage relationships with both internal and external key stakeholders and be adept at facilitating and managing collaborative research projects, innovation challenges and co-development engagements. The Manager should also be comfortable acting as the working-level counterpart to external partners – coordinating agendas, driving discussions forward and ensuring timely follow-through – while supporting the Assistant Director and Senior Director with the briefs, analysis and options needed for strategic decision-making and principal-level engagements.

What You’ll Do

A. Staffing the Assistant Director & Aviation Sector Strategy (30%)

Staffing & Advisory Support

• Prepare the Assistant Director for all principal-level engagements with local and overseas aviation stakeholders, including pre-meeting briefs, talking points, options papers, and post-meeting follow-up actions
• Provide analysis and recommendations on partnership opportunities, risks, and strategic positioning for the Assistant Director’s decision-making
• Draft speeches, briefing materials, and correspondence for the President/Deputy President and Senior/Assistant Director for Aviation-related events and engagements
• Maintain a running brief on the status of all Aviation partnerships, flagging issues that require the Assistant Director’s attention or intervention
• Anticipate information needs and proactively prepare materials in advance of key meetings, steering committees, and leadership discussions

Strategic Direction

• Develop annual engagement plans for the Aviation Sector aligned with broader sector strategy set by the Assistant Director
• Set targets for number and quality of strategic partners, collaboration opportunities, and income/impact metrics
• Identify emerging technology trends and capability gaps in aviation to position SUTD’s research strengths
• Interface with CAAS, ICAI and other agencies on cross-agency initiatives, as well as other Institutes of Higher Learning or Research Institutes as required
• Flag policy issues, process improvements, and strategic opportunities to the Assistant Director

Domain Expertise Building

• Map SUTD faculty expertise to partner capability needs
• Develop compelling value propositions for each partner segment

Deliverables

• Annual Aviation Sector engagement plan with clear OKRs
• Quarterly pipeline reviews and strategic adjustments
• Technology-to-partner mapping frameworks
• Timely, high-quality briefing materials for all principal-level engagements

B. Business Development & Partnership Management (40%)

Working-Level Counterpart to External Stakeholders

• Serve as the primary working-level counterpart to Aviation and Connectivity agencies (i.e., CAAS, ICAI, MOT, LTA, MPA), coordinating agendas, progressing discussions and ensuring follow-through between meetings
• Build and maintain trusted working relationships with counterparts in CAAS, ICAI, CAG, SIA, SATS, SIAEC, ST Engineering etc.
• Position SUTD as strategic innovation partner, rather than a vendor or service provider
• Staff the Assistant Director and Senior Director OIE for principal-level relationship touchpoints (Chiefs of Service, agency heads)

Proposal Development

• Lead development of major proposals including collaborative research programmes, innovation testbeds, joint labs (e.g., D.AI Fab Lab), co-funded faculty positions, and executive education partnerships
• Coordinate with Programme Directors, faculty, and central offices (e.g., Research, Legal, Finance) to shape viable proposals

Negotiation & Deal Structuring

• Negotiate high-level terms including scope, funding models, IP arrangements, governance, and timelines
• Navigate complex stakeholder ecosystems involving multiple agencies, funding sources and cross-ministry initiatives
• Balance speed-to-signature with appropriate due diligence and risk management
• Lead MOU negotiations, signing ceremonies, and partnership agreement renewals

Industry Partnership Development

• Develop and maintain relationships with potential contractors and technology companies for research translation and possible commercialisation (e.g., Hope Technik, ST Engineering, A*Star etc.)
• Connect researchers with industry partners for pilot projects, testbeds, and commercialisation opportunities

Deliverables

• $1–2M in contracted research/partnership revenue; pipeline of $5–10M over 3-year horizon
• New partnerships forged across the landscape

C. Programme, Portfolio Oversight & Event Management (20%)

Delivery Management

• Oversee execution of key programmes within the Aviation Sector, ensuring milestones are met and stakeholders remain satisfied
• Coordinate with Programme Directors on technical delivery while managing commercial and relationship aspects
• Escalate risks and resolve delivery issues that could impact partnership continuity

Site Visits & Facility Access

• Organise and lead visits to aviation and related facilities (e.g., Airside, Landside, Inflight Catering Units, Aircraft Maintenance Hangars etc.)
• Coordinate professor and researcher access to classified sites and equipment
• Manage security clearances, visitor registration, and protocol requirements

Event Management

• Plan and execute strategic aviation events such as the Singapore Airshow and other formal gatherings with aviation partners and C-suite executives
• Ensure end-to-end event delivery in collaboration with the OIE Operations Team, including event planning and execution, budget forecasting and management, event-related procurement processes etc.

Secretariat and Administrative Support

• Plan and execute steering committee meetings for various leadership platforms, including the coordination of meeting schedules, and providing secretarial support such as the preparation of meeting agendas and minute-taking

Deliverables

• 100% on-time delivery for critical steering committee meetings and events
• Partner satisfaction scores >4.5/5
• Zero critical programme delivery failures or major reputational risks

D. Budget & Financial Oversight (10%)

• Lead annual budgeting for Aviation Sector partnerships
• Track budget utilisation and variance reporting across active Aviation projects
• Monitor equipment, operating expenses, and overhead allocations
• Flag budget exceedances and coordinate remedial actions with finance and PIs
• Develop manpower rate proposals for project staffing and budget planning

Who We Are Looking For

Experience

• 7–10 years in business development, industry partnerships, research collaborations, or innovation programme management
• Proven track record of securing and managing significant partnerships (ideally >$500K value)
• Experience working with aviation and connectivity sector partners strongly preferred
• Contract management experience with understanding of legal and commercial clauses and its associated risks, governance, and compliance

Skillsets

• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
• Excellent stakeholder management across technical and non-technical audiences, including working level counterparts, C-suite executives, and senior academics
• Proven ability to staff senior leaders effectively: synthesizing complex information into clear briefs, options, and recommendations
• Ability to translate technical research capabilities into compelling business value propositions
• Outstanding written and verbal communication (proposals, speeches, admin briefs, formal correspondence)
• Superior organizational skills to juggle multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines
• Budget management and multi-year financial planning capabilities
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite; familiarity with research administration systems (Workday, grant management portals, finance systems)

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinking combined with execution discipline
• Relationship-builder who earns trust with senior stakeholders
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and complex organizational dynamics
• High political judgment, discretion, and professional maturity
• Cultural agility to navigate industry, academic, and corporate environments seamlessly
• Self-starter with entrepreneurial mindset and long-term orientation
• Integrity and ability to handle classified/restricted information with appropriate confidentiality

Preferred

• Understanding of physical AI and robotics technology landscape in Singapore
• Prior experience in research commercialization, technology transfer, or innovation ecosystems
• Network within Singapore’s Aviation and Connectivity community
• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in relevant technical or business discipline
• Familiarity with IP law, contract law, and legal negotiations