Senior Research Fellow, Programme Director (FSSD)

As a University of Applied Learning, SIT works closely with industry in our research pursuits.

SIT invites applications for the position of Program Director as part of the Future Ship and System Design (FSSD) R&D program. The FSSD R&D program is a multi-project research programme focused on maritime decarbonization and is funded by the Singapore Maritime Institute. The program involves close partnership with the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore and has diverse industry, research institutes, and academic collaborators from Singapore and overseas. The projects are categorized into three capability areas: 1) Ship and System Design for Sustainability 2) Intelligent Ship and Operations and 3) Charging Infrastructure & Onshore Microgrid.

The primary responsibility of the Program Director is to manage the research program and assist the Lead Principal Investigator and the three Capability Area (CA) Leads in scientific, technical, and administrative matters. The PD will support R&D activities in maritime decarbonization and lead activities such as demonstration and deployment of innovative solutions arising from the projects under the FSSD program.

The PD will serve as a point-of-contact, working closely with individual research project teams and external stakeholders and funding agencies. Responsibilities include facilitating and supporting research & joint development agreements, such as Research Collaboration Agreements with industry, universities, or partner research institutes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Lead Principal Investigator and the three Capability Area (CA) Leads in scientific, technical, and administrative matters.
• Assist in project planning and undertake coordination responsibilities, including coordination with funding agencies, industry partners, academic collaborators, and individual investigators to ensure alignment of goals and objectives. Activities include scheduling and leading regular project meetings to monitor progress and address any issues.
• Stakeholder Management responsibilities include acting as the primary point of contact for all project stakeholders and building and maintaining strong relationships with industry partners, funding agencies, academic collaborators, and research investigators.
• Budget Management responsibilities include development and management of project budget, ensuring that expenditures are within approved limits. Activities include monitoring financial performance, preparing financial reports, and providing regular updates to stakeholders.
• Compliance and Reporting responsibilities include ensuring projects comply with all relevant regulations, policies, and ethical standards and assisting in the preparation and submission of required reports to funding agencies and other stakeholders on time.
• Risk Management responsibilities include identifying potential risks to project execution and developing mitigation strategies with individual project teams, including implementing contingency plans to address unexpected challenges.
• Team Management responsibilities include managing tasks, providing guidance and support for research management, and assisting in managing team dynamics to ensure a productive work environment.
• Communication and dissemination of research output include developing and implementing a communication plan to ensure effective information sharing among all stakeholders. Responsibilities include organizing and overseeing dissemination activities, such as conferences, workshops, and publications, ensuring that research findings are communicated effectively to both academic and non-academic audiences.
• Administrative Duties include handling administrative tasks related to the project, such as scheduling, correspondence, and record-keeping. Ensure that all project documentation is up-to-date and accessible to relevant stakeholders.

Job Requirements:

• Ph.D. or Master's Degree in Engineering or Sciences is preferred.
• Domain knowledge and experience in R&D supporting the maritime industry and related ecosystem with a strong research management track record in fields of maritime decarbonization would be advantageous.
• Demonstrated leadership in R&D with a strong publication or intellectual property track record would be advantageous.
• Proven communication and leadership skills to motivate research team members and provide mentorship and support for research team building.
• Preferred to have significant industrial experience, either by having worked in industry research or having completed projects with industry partners and/or agencies such as the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) Singapore, on projects with deployment-based validation.
• Must be able to work in and lead interdisciplinary teams with a wide variety of competences and a high level of diversity.

Key Competencies:

• Experience in research program management, managing large, multi-stakeholder research projects.
• Strong organizational leadership and communication skills are essential.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to manage diverse teams and interact with various stakeholders.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills are important for maintaining positive working relationships.
• Able to build and maintain strong working relationships with people within and external to the university.