Job Title: Deputy Director, Centre for Infectious Disease Emergency Response
University-Level Unit: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Faculty/Department-Level Unit: Dean's Office (Medicine)
Employee Category: Tenurable Faculty
Location_ONB: Kent Ridge Campus
Posting Start Date: 22/07/2026
Reporting to: Programme Director, Professor Dale Fisher
Job Purpose
The Deputy Director provides strategic, scientific, and operational leadership for the Centre for Infectious Disease Emergency Response (CIDER), supporting the Director in advancing the Centre's mission to strengthen educational and operational efforts. The role oversees multidisciplinary programmes spanning outbreak preparedness, epidemiology, surveillance, health systems resilience, translational research, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement at national, regional, and global levels.
The Deputy Director ensures the effective coordination of partnerships and emergency response initiatives, while fostering collaboration across NUS, government agencies, healthcare institutions, international organisations, and industry partners to enhance s and the region's readiness for current and future infectious disease threats.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership and Centre Development
- Support the Director in developing and implementing the Centre's strategic vision, goals, and operational plans
- Represent the Centre at institutional, national, regional, and international forums, committees, and working groups.
- Deputise for the Director as required and provide leadership during periods of increased Infectious Disease Emergency activity.
- Provide scientific oversight of the Centre's portfolio in infectious diseases, outbreak preparedness, pandemic response, surveillance, and health systems resilience.
- Develop and lead multidisciplinary initiatives involving faculty, clinicians, scientists, public health practitioners, and external collaborators.
- Facilitate the translation of research findings into policy, clinical practice, and emergency preparedness frameworks.
- Identify and secure grant funding from national and international funding agencies.
- Promote high-quality scientific publications, innovation, and knowledge dissemination.
- Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Oversee the development of scenario planning exercises, simulations, and after-action reviews to strengthen preparedness capabilities.
- Maintain situational awareness of emerging global health threats and develop communication pathways to improve public and professional understanding
- Establish and implement mechanisms to assist development of the pillars of outbreak response regionally
- Develop an international network of trained outbreak responders
- Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government agencies, healthcare institutions, academic centres, international organisations, NGOs, and industry.
- Facilitate collaborative projects that advance research, policy development, and emergency preparedness.
- Strengthen regional and global networks for infectious disease surveillance, capacity development, and rapid response.
- Serve as a key liaison between the Centre and external stakeholders.
- Promote the Centre's visibility, impact, and reputation through strategic engagement activities.
- Education, Training, and Capacity Building
- Oversee the development and delivery of educational programmes, professional training, workshops, and simulations related to infectious disease preparedness and response.
- Mentor faculty, administration, fellows, and students involved in Centre activities.
- Support workforce development initiatives aimed at strengthening public health and outbreak response capabilities.
- Foster interdisciplinary learning and collaboration across NUS faculties and external partners
- Operations and Governance
- Oversee the effective management of Centre operations, resources, budgets, and personnel.
- Ensure compliance with NUS policies, funding requirements, governance standards, and regulatory obligations.
- Develop performance indicators and monitor programme outcomes and impact.
- Lead risk management, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support recruitment, performance management, and professional development of Centre staff
- Policy and Knowledge Translation
- Provide expert advice on infectious disease preparedness, pandemic planning, and health security issues.
- Lead the preparation of policy briefs, technical reports, and strategic recommendations for stakeholders and decision-makers.
- Facilitate the translation of scientific evidence into actionable public health interventions.
- Contribute to national and international discussions on infectious disease preparedness, outbreak response, and health security.
Requirements
- PhD, MD, MBBS with postgraduate qualifications, or equivalent doctorate in infectious diseases, epidemiology, public health, health policy, or a related field.
- Internationally recognised expertise in infectious diseases, outbreak response, epidemiology, public health preparedness, or health security.
- Senior leadership experience in academia, healthcare, government, public health agencies, or international organisations.
- Proven track record in research leadership, grant acquisition, and scholarly publications.
- Demonstrated experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and complex stakeholder environments.
- Strong strategic, communication, relationship-building, and organisational skills.
- Experience contributing to outbreak response.
- Demonstrably strong international multidisciplinary network
Req ID: 33818
