Deputy Director (Operations Policy & Planning)

You will be leading a team that oversees the translation of the Early Childhood Development Centres Act and Regulations into operational policies, systems, and processes. In this role, you will be involved in legislative reviews, translating of broader policies and legislation into operationalisation guidelines and parameters, and framing of public communications. In carrying out this work, you will acquire a deeper understanding of how to balance the WOG priority of being pro-enterprise in regulating the preschool sector, while ensuring that enforcement actions continue to safeguard children’s well-being in preschools. You will also lead the team to shape broader sector development plans spearheaded by the policy directorate.

Key areas of work for this role include, leading a team of five officers to: • Review of the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) Act and Regulations to uplift the standards and quality of care in preschools in Singapore. This includes gap analyses to identify legislative changes that are required and analyses of operational implications of such reviews. The Deputy Director need to be able to steer discussions with senior management and political officer holders, and explain operational views and positions, while being mindful of broader WOG priorities and the political climate/landscape. • Review regulatory standards and operational policies for the smooth implementation of legislative levers. This includes engagements with preschool operators, other government agencies and stakeholders such as parents. • Conceptualise and launch public communications efforts to create buy-in on legislative/regulatory changes from various stakeholders (e.g., preschool operators, parents, broader public), and prepare communication materials to address queries on regulatory requirements and breaches. • Work with other agencies to streamline compliance cost imposed on preschool operators from various regulators, and to develop crisis operations plans for the preschool sector. • Work with operational teams overseeing licensing and investigations to transform work processes for more effective implementation of operational policies, and develop capability building plans for the Division.

• At least 6 years of experience in a management role. • Strong analytical/critical and systems thinking skills. Able to strategies and guide team in aligning operational policies and processes with legislative requirements, and WOG-level strategy for regulations and compliance landscape. • Demonstrated ability to lead team to deliver work on time, re-prioritise work as context and demands evolve, and manage timelines and senior management’s expectations. • Strong writing skills, able to guide team to develop clear and persusiave communications to shape public perception. • Able to work across teams and with diverse stakeholders (internal and external to the Division, including businesses). • Prior experience in policy development, operations policy and/or legislative work would be an advantage.