Vita Partners is Asia-Pacific's largest pan-regional pure-play life science, innovation and R&D real estate platform, backed Australian headquartered multinational real estate company Lendlease and leading US private equity growth investor Warburg Pincus. The platform focuses on investing, acquiring, developing, constructing, managing, and operating real estate projects in fast-growing life sciences, innovation and R&D real estate markets in Asia-Pacific. The company operates within two main segments – a high-barrier-to-entry life sciences project construction management business and a specialized investment management business. Since the 2000s, the project construction management business has worked on over 200 projects in Asia-Pacific for more than 100 blue-chip life sciences and pharmaceutical companies, with many repeat clients. The investment management business currently manages SGD 2 billion of AUM on behalf of institutional investors, with strong aspirations for growth within the region.
Job Role
Role Overview
The Permitting Manager will lead and manage all permitting and regulatory approval processes for pharmaceutical construction projects in Singapore. This role ensures compliance with local statutory requirements (BCA, NEA, URA, SCDF, PUB, etc.) as well as international pharmaceutical standards (GMP, FDA, EMA). The manager will coordinate with government agencies, consultants, and project teams to secure timely approvals and maintain compliance throughout the project lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Primary point of contact for all permitting activities.
- Liaise with Engineering Consultants, Qualified Persons (QPs), and the Client on permitting matters and required submissions.
- Advise the planning and construction team on authority submissions and timelines.
- Monitor and track the status of temporary and permanent submissions and approvals carried out by relevant parties of the project.
- Manage the end-to-end permitting process for pharmaceutical construction projects in Singapore.
- Liaise with BCA, NEA, and other relevant authorities to obtain required permits (building, environmental, fire safety, zoning, utilities, etc.).
- Ensure compliance with Singapore's regulatory frameworks, including environmental health, workplace safety, and construction codes.
- Align permitting schedules with overall project timelines to avoid delays.
- Prepare, review, and submit documentation required for permit applications (technical drawings, compliance reports, environmental impact assessments).
- Advise project teams on local regulatory requirements and potential risks.
- Track permit status and proactively resolve issues with authorities.
- Maintain strong working relationships with government agencies, consultants, and contractors.
- Provide regular updates to senior management on permitting progress and risks.
- Ensure proper documentation and archiving permits for audit and compliance purposes.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
- 7–10 years of experience in permitting or regulatory compliance, preferably within pharmaceutical or highly regulated industries.
- Strong knowledge of Singapore's regulatory landscape.
- Proven track record of managing complex permitting processes for large-scale construction projects.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills with regulatory authorities.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
- Familiarity with GMP and pharmaceutical facility requirements.
What You Can Expect From Us
Every person at Vita Partners is critical to the success of the business. We believe high performing employees drive business growth. We support our people through ongoing engagement, by providing learning and development opportunities for future career progression and by recognising and rewarding exceptional achievements. If this resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the requirements. We're interested in getting to know you and explore how we can take your career forward. Apply now!
