Senior Manager (2-year contract), Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Job Description

• Programme Development & Delivery
• Lead the end-to-end outreach strategy, governance, and delivery of the Global Innovation Immersion (GII) China and Rest of World programme and local internships.
• Translate Ministry of Education and university talent priorities into structured programme frameworks, delivery models, and governance mechanisms aligned with RIE2030 requirements.
• Track programme metrics (inputs, outcomes, feedback) and founder progress to prepare regular updates and post-programme reports for programme leadership and management decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement using participant feedback and outcome data ensure programme quality and consistency across runs.
• Maintain operational excellence through audit-ready documentation and compliance with university and regulatory standards.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Ecosystem Partnerships
• Grow and steward internal university partnerships across faculty, schools, and institutional stakeholders to embed IIE programmes within the broader SMU ecosystem.
• Develop senior-level proposals, partnership plans, and performance updates for key stakeholders. Build and coordinate a portfolio of external partnerships and ecosystem stakeholders.
• Monitor regional and global innovation trends to surface strategic insights, opportunities, and risks to management
• Student Engagement & Co-development
• Support student innovation and entrepreneurship clubs through advisory, networks and governance oversight.
• Coordinate student empowerment opportunities by activating innovation and entrepreneurship clubs to support the running of talent development programmes, including programme planning and execution.
• Strengthen complementary initiatives such as local internship programmes to broaden the student engagement pipeline.
• Financial Stewardship & Fundraising
• Support budget planning and day-to-day financial management across related programmes, ensuring transparent and optimal utilisation of grants, donations, and sponsorships in line with institutional standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required postgraduate qualification and specialization in education, business, and/or related fields preferred with at least 5 to 8 years of relevant experience in education programmes, innovation ecosystems, or related domains, with senior-level responsibility.
• Strong interest in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, with awareness of key industry trends and ecosystem players.
• Knowledge and experience in experiential learning / talent development programme design and delivery
• Working knowledge of budgeting, grant administration and financial management principles (including reporting requirements and controls).
• Effective project management and organisational skills-able to plan, track, and deliver multiple workstreams under tight timelines.
• Internal and external stakeholder management skills, with strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to operate independently with minimal direction, prioritise well, and deliver in high-pressure/high-expectation situations.
• Sound attention to detail with good documentation habits to support audit readiness and compliance.
• Ownership and accountability acts with urgency and follows through on commitments.
• Humility, authenticity, high standards, and outcome-driven.
• Team-oriented and collaborative able to work across functions and support student-facing initiatives professionally.
• Network in regional/global innovation & entrepreneurship ecosystem will be an advantage.
• Experience as an educator/mentor to youth is a plus.

• Programme Development & Delivery
• Lead the end-to-end outreach strategy, governance, and delivery of the Global Innovation Immersion (GII) China and Rest of World programme and local internships.
• Translate Ministry of Education and university talent priorities into structured programme frameworks, delivery models, and governance mechanisms aligned with RIE2030 requirements.
• Track programme metrics (inputs, outcomes, feedback) and founder progress to prepare regular updates and post-programme reports for programme leadership and management decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement using participant feedback and outcome data ensure programme quality and consistency across runs.
• Maintain operational excellence through audit-ready documentation and compliance with university and regulatory standards.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Ecosystem Partnerships
• Grow and steward internal university partnerships across faculty, schools, and institutional stakeholders to embed IIE programmes within the broader SMU ecosystem.
• Develop senior-level proposals, partnership plans, and performance updates for key stakeholders. Build and coordinate a portfolio of external partnerships and ecosystem stakeholders.
• Monitor regional and global innovation trends to surface strategic insights, opportunities, and risks to management
• Student Engagement & Co-development
• Support student innovation and entrepreneurship clubs through advisory, networks and governance oversight.
• Coordinate student empowerment opportunities by activating innovation and entrepreneurship clubs to support the running of talent development programmes, including programme planning and execution.
• Strengthen complementary initiatives such as local internship programmes to broaden the student engagement pipeline.
• Financial Stewardship & Fundraising
• Support budget planning and day-to-day financial management across related programmes, ensuring transparent and optimal utilisation of grants, donations, and sponsorships in line with institutional standards.
• Other duties as assigned.