Assistant Director (Innovation)

About the role

As Assistant Director (Innovation) you will lead organisational innovation and drive transformational change across business functions within MINDEF/SAF. You will shape innovation strategies using human‑centred design, emerging technologies and data‑driven insights while championing adoption and managing stakeholder communications.

Key responsibilities

• Establish partnerships and frameworks to accelerate solution development and technology transfer.
• Develop comprehensive digital innovation roadmaps and change‑management frameworks.
• Monitor and evaluate performance of innovation initiatives and report regularly to stakeholders.
• Oversee innovation labs, hackathons and rapid‑prototyping programmes using agile and design‑thinking methods.
• Identify emerging technologies and digital trends to enhance employee experience.
• Create multi‑channel communication strategies to promote an innovation culture.
• Set up digital knowledge‑sharing platforms and communities of practice for cross‑functional collaboration.
• Represent MINDEF/SAF at industry conferences and public‑sector transformation events.

Required profile

• Education in any discipline.
• At least 8 years of experience in innovation management, digital transformation and organisational change, with a proven track record in culture transformation and digital adoption.
• Deep knowledge of design methodologies, digital strategy, agile processes and change psychology.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross‑functional teams and strong programme‑management skills.
• Understanding of public‑sector transformation challenges and regulatory environments is advantageous.
• Excellent communication, presentation, critical‑thinking and analytical abilities.
• Self‑driven and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Required skills

• Human‑centred design
• Design thinking
• Agile methodology
• Digital strategy development
• Change management