National Heritage Board

Asst Manager/Manager, Community Partnerships & Volunteers

Fixed Terms

Closing on 09 Mar 2026

What the role is

The Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) provides cultural exposure and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages and interests. Situated amidst the Istana Kampong Gelam, Gedung Kuning and the surrounding Kampong Gelam precinct, the Centre acts as a vital heritage institution for the Malay community in Singapore. Through its exhibits, programmes and activities, the Centre hopes to honour the past whilst providing a means for present-day expression. The Malay Heritage Centre is under the management of the National Heritage Board in partnership with the Malay Heritage Foundation.

In this role, you should have a strong passion and interest in Malay history, culture and heritage. You are passionate about building and nurturing a vibrant volunteer community and strategic partnerships that expand MHC’s reach, deepen community trust, and activate the Kampong Gelam precinct through cultural programming. The core of the role is growing MHC’s volunteer community and partnership network through relationship-building, co-created initiatives, and resource mobilisation.

What you will be working on

As the Assistant Manager of Community Partnerships & Volunteers, you will be leading the development and management of the Centre's volunteer strategy and partnership portfolio whilst overseeing precinct activation initiatives that enhance community engagement with Malay heritage.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Design and implement volunteer-led initiatives and engagement opportunities that support MHC's operations whilst providing meaningful experiences for volunteers, fostering long-term commitment and community advocacy
Recruit, train and manage a diverse volunteer base, developing comprehensive training programmes and development opportunities to enhance volunteer skills and engagement with Malay heritage
Develop and implement MHC’s partnership strategy with corporates, community organisations, educational institutions and cultural groups, and create collaboration pathways (programmes, content, campaigns, capability-building, sponsorships-in-kind) that strengthen connections to Malay heritage.
Develop youth engagement strategies or programmes for sustained engagement
Develop and coordinate precinct development strategies that strengthen the area's identity through innovative placemaking initiatives and programmes aligned with MHC's objectives
Lead the conceptualisation and delivery of engaging precinct activities, including street performances, public art installations and collaborative programmes during key festivals
Identify opportunities for precinct enhancement and activation whilst ensuring alignment with urban planning guidelines and heritage considerations
Monitor and manage programme budgets whilst maintaining effective relationships with vendors and suppliers
Establish, track and analyse key performance indicators to evaluate programme effectiveness and inform future strategies
Provide support for major programmes and events in the MHC calendar, along with other duties as assigned
Develop and manage a partnership pipeline, including outreach, partner mapping, proposal development, and stewardship of key relationships.
Identify and pursue partnership opportunities that bring capabilities or resources to MHC (e.g., expertise, platforms, in-kind support, funding), in alignment with governance and guidelines.

What we are looking for

[Partnership Management & Development] Ability to structure partnerships across different forms and identify and assess relevant partners to form strategic alliances with and co-curate initiatives to increase vibrancy in the precinct
[Project Management & Evaluation] Ability to oversee programme implementation to ensure that programmes meet objectives, quality standards, timelines, and budgets
[Content Creation & Curation] Ability to research, propose and present heritage content in innovative ways, delivering programme objectives that resonate with the target audience and bring collective value for partners
[Audience Management] Ability to develop and implement engagement strategies and activities that cater to different visitor segments and align with the Centre’s goals, evaluating its effectiveness to continuously improve audience engagement
[Relationship Stewardship & Negotiation] Ability to build trust, align interests, and manage expectations across partners to deliver shared outcomes.

Work Experiences and Knowledge

Background in Business, Communications, Public Policy, Event Management, Arts, Humanities or related field
Preferably at least three years of relevant work experience in programming, event management, volunteer management or stakeholder engagement is preferred
Demonstrated project management capabilities and excellent problem-solving skills
Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and build strong working relationships across different levels
Preferably fluent in English and Malay (but not mandatory)
Experience in managing arts, cultural or heritage-related projects is advantageous
Meticulous attention to detail
Passionate about culture and heritage
Comfortable to work well in a team as well as independently
Flexibility to work during evenings and weekends for special events, as required

About your application process

This job is closing on 09 Mar 2026.

If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the job ad closing date, we seek your understanding that it is likely that we are not moving forward with your application for this role. We thank you for your interest and would like to assure you that this does not affect your other job applications with the Public Service. We encourage you to explore and apply for other roles within National Heritage Board or the wider Public Service.

About National Heritage Board

The National Heritage Board (NHB) champions the development of a vibrant cultural and heritage sector in Singapore. Our role is to make heritage enriching, relevant, accessible and above all, enjoyable to Singaporeans and visitors alike. If you have the Passion …to build a nation of confident people and sense of rootedness …to deliver great service towards a strong community …to inspire generations of Singaporeans through heritage preservation …to continually innovate and develop yourself as a professional …to have fun while doing all of the above We Want You! http://www.nhb.gov.sg

Learn more about National Heritage Board