Role Overview
As an Assistant Director, Events & International Programmes of International Business Division (IBD), you will play a critical leadership role in shaping how SBF enables Singapore companies to Learn, Lead-Generate, Land, and Localise in overseas markets.
The Assistant Director will lead the Events & International Programmes function, providing strategic direction, governance, team leadership, and stakeholder management across all IBD events-both domestic and international. You will be the key interface between senior management, government agencies, business leaders, and international partners, ensuring institutional-level oversight, strategic coherence, and high-quality delivery of all event initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Direction, Governance & Financial Stewardship
- Strategy Leadership: Develop, communicate, and drive the division-wide strategy for international events and programmes, ensuring alignment with SBF's internationalisation priorities.
- Governance & Compliance: Establish robust systems for operational governance, audit readiness, procurement compliance, and risk management, particularly for high-value, multi-stakeholder events.
- Financial Oversight: Oversee P&L for all event-related activities, approving budgets, ensuring prudent allocation of resources, and maintaining high accountability in financial reporting.
- Event Conceptualisation, Planning & High-Level Management
- Lead the conceptualisation and development of major IBD platforms such as conferences, seminars, roundtables, networking events, and hybrid programmes for international markets.
- Provide strategic guidance to Market Teams and the Events Management Team to ensure all events are relevant, impactful, and aligned with business outcomes.
- Oversee coordination with government agencies, embassies, chambers, corporate partners, speakers, vendors, and PR/marketing agencies.
- Ensure adherence to protocols for events involving senior political office holders, foreign dignitaries, and top business leaders.
- Project Leadership, Quality Assurance & Reporting Excellence.
- Guide, mentor, and oversee the Events Management Team to ensure excellence.
- Project timelines: On-time delivery of all milestones and outputs.
- Budget & financial management: Optimisation of event budgets, cost effectiveness, and adherence to governance standards.
- Logistics & operations: High-quality participant experience, seamless onsite execution, and strong vendor performance.
- Strategic reporting and delivery of high-quality reports and updates.
- Operational plans, run downs, and manpower charts Event marketing and promotional materials Budget trackers and P&L summaries.
- Registration analytics and participant insights post-event outcomes, reports, KPI dashboards, recommendations for improvement.
Partnership Development & Ecosystem Engagement:
- Build, strengthen, and manage relationships with strategic partners, including foreign government bodies, business chambers, corporates, and key business leaders.
- Identify new partnership opportunities to enhance SBF's internationalisation events portfolio and most importantly revenue streams.
- Oversee partner onboarding, engagement, and alignment with strategic events and programmes.
Events Marketing, Communications & Brand Leadership:
- Oversee marketing communications for all IBD events, including campaign strategy, content creation, social media outreach, and media relations.
- Guide the development of digital assets, eDMs, website content, and post-event publicity.
- Strengthen SBF's brand positioning in the internationalisation space through integrated storytelling and consistent messaging across channels.
Team Leadership, Capability Building & Performance Management:
- Lead and mentor a team of managers and executives, providing coaching, feedback, and professional development to build deep bench strength.
- Cultivate a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and innovation within the Events & Programmes team.
- Ensure team readiness for high-stakes, fast-paced, multi-market project environments.
Departmental Planning & Executive Reporting:
- Develop annual strategies, workplans, budgets, manpower deployment frameworks, and performance reports for the division.
- Track and ensure delivery of departmental KPIs.
- Continuously enhance internal processes, SOPs, and operational standards.
Administrative, Financial & Procurement Oversight:
- Provide oversight and guidance on forecasting, budgeting, financial documentation, procurement, and vendor management.
- Ensure strong compliance with financial regulations, internal controls, and audit requirements.
- Maintain clear, accurate and audit-ready administrative and financial records.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Undertake special projects, cross-division initiatives, or strategic assignments as directed by senior management.
Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of experience in planning and delivering large-scale local and international events, including at least 3 years in a leadership or mid-management role.
- Strong understanding of how event platforms support strategic business goals and internationalisation outcomes.
- Demonstrated capability in programme development, partnership management, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement.
- Excellent leadership, delegation, and team coaching skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior executives, government officials, and international partners.
- Proven track record of delivering high-quality outcomes under tight timelines in dynamic, multi-project environments.
- Experienced with digital marketing tools, content creation, social outreach, and analytics.
- Familiarity with protocols for high-level events involving Political Office Holders and senior business leaders is an advantage.
- Highly organised, adaptable, solutions-oriented, and proactive.
- Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and a collaborative team player.
Note: This is a 1+1 year contract position.
