Manager, Strategic Projects - #1171341

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Dormitory Association of Singapore Ltd (DASL) is seeking an experienced, hands-on and highly organised Manager, Operations & Projects to support the Assistant Director in the overall management and execution of DASL's operations, projects and initiatives.

This is a broad-based management role for an individual who is comfortable moving between strategy and execution. The successful candidate will serve as a key operational partner to the Assistant Director, taking ownership of day-to-day operations, coordinating multiple projects, managing internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring that decisions and initiatives are followed through to completion.

The role requires someone who can operate independently, solve problems on the ground, manage competing priorities and provide the Assistant Director and DASL leadership with clear visibility of progress, risks and matters requiring escalation.

The successful candidate should be equally comfortable walking the ground at an operational site, managing contractors and events, engaging government agencies and industry stakeholders, and preparing a professional management paper for senior leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Association Operations & Management

Support the Assistant Director in the day-to-day management of DASL and ensure that operational matters are effectively coordinated and followed through.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate activities across DASL's operations, projects, programmes and industry initiatives.
• Translate management and Committee decisions into clear action plans, responsibilities and timelines.
• Maintain oversight of key deliverables and ensure timely follow-up and closure.
• Identify operational issues early and recommend practical solutions.
• Establish appropriate SOPs, workflows, trackers and management reporting systems.
• Provide regular updates to the Assistant Director on progress, outstanding matters, risks and decisions required.
• Step in to coordinate DASL operations on behalf of the Assistant Director when required.

2. Project & Programme Management

Take ownership of assigned DASL projects from planning through implementation and completion.

This includes:

• Develop project plans, timelines, budgets and resource requirements.
• Coordinate internal teams, consultants, contractors, vendors and external stakeholders.
• Track milestones, deliverables, dependencies and project risks.
• Conduct meetings and site inspections where necessary.
• Follow up aggressively on outstanding actions and commitments.
• Prepare progress reports and recommendations for management and relevant Committees.
• Conduct post-project reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.

The Manager will be expected to manage several projects concurrently and maintain clear visibility over their status.

3. Woodlands Recreation Centre & Operational Facilities

Support and oversee the effective operation and continued development of DASL-managed facilities and initiatives, including the Woodlands Recreation Centre (WRC).

Responsibilities may include:

• Oversee facility operations, maintenance, security, cleaning and other contracted services.
• Work with the WRC management team to ensure appropriate operational standards.
• Monitor visitor experience, footfall, facility utilisation and operational performance.
• Coordinate tenants, vendors, contractors and service providers.
• Support commercial, retail, F&B and community activation initiatives.
• Identify operational deficiencies and ensure timely rectification.
• Support the development of SOPs, emergency procedures and crowd-management plans.
• Ensure appropriate standards of safety, cleanliness and service delivery.

4. Events, Community Engagement & Activation

Support DASL's events and engagement programmes for migrant workers, dormitory operators and industry stakeholders.

Responsibilities include:

• Plan and execute events, programmes and facility activations.
• Coordinate event logistics, manpower, vendors, security and crowd management.
• Work with partners, sponsors, community organisations and government agencies.
• Conduct pre-event operational planning and risk assessments.
• Provide on-ground leadership during major events.
• Conduct post-event reviews covering attendance, operational performance, expenditure and lessons learned.

The role will require occasional work during evenings, weekends and public holidays, particularly for major events and operational activities.

5. Government, Industry & Stakeholder Management

Support the Assistant Director in maintaining strong working relationships with government agencies, DASL members and industry partners.

Responsibilities include:

• Liaise professionally with government agencies and statutory boards.
• Coordinate responses to requests for information, consultations and industry matters.
• Engage DASL members to understand operational concerns and industry developments.
• Coordinate meetings, consultations and industry engagement sessions.
• Maintain productive relationships with vendors, contractors, community partners and other stakeholders.
• Represent DASL at meetings or operational discussions when delegated by the Assistant Director.

The successful candidate must be capable of balancing the perspectives of government, industry, members, commercial partners and the migrant-worker community.

6. Committee & Management Support

Support the Assistant Director, DASL Council and relevant Committees in effective decision-making and execution.

Responsibilities include:

• Prepare management papers, presentations, reports and briefing materials.
• Conduct research and analysis to support recommendations.
• Coordinate information required for Council and Committee discussions.
• Maintain action trackers arising from meetings and ensure follow-through.
• Escalate matters requiring manage mentor Committee decisions promptly.
• The role is expected to go beyond recording decisions — the Manager will be responsible for helping ensure that decisions translate into execution.

7. Procurement, Vendors & Financial Oversight

Support the responsible management of DASL resources.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop scopes of work and obtain quotations or proposals where required.
• Evaluate vendors and service providers.
• Manage vendor performance and contractual deliverables.
• Review project and operational expenditure against approved budgets.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimisation without compromising operational standards.
• Support procurement, contract administration and renewal processes.
• Verify that services and deliverables have been satisfactorily completed before recommending payment.

8. Data, Systems & Continuous Improvement

Promote greater use of technology and data in DASL's operations.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop meaningful operational dashboards and management reports.
• Analyse visitor, programme, operational and other available data.
• Support implementation of digital systems and operational technology.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive administrative processes.
• Use data to identify trends, operational weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.
• Work with technology vendors and internal stakeholders on digitalisation initiatives.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Experience

The ideal candidate should possess:

• Approximately 8–15 years of relevant working experience, with meaningful responsibility for operations, projects or facilities.
• At least 3 years in a managerial, supervisory or substantial project-leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Experience managing contractors, vendors and service providers.
• Experience with budgets, procurement and operational reporting.

Candidates from the following sectors are particularly relevant:

• Facilities / Property Management
• Integrated Facilities Management
• Community or Recreation Facilities
• Hospitality
• Shopping Malls / Retail Operations
• Attractions
• Dormitory / Accommodation Operations
• Events & Venue Management
• Government-linked organisations or industry associations

Experience working with government agencies, migrant-worker programmes or the dormitory industry would be advantageous but is not essential.

Education

Diploma or Degree in a relevant discipline such as:

• Business Administration
• Facilities Management
• Property / Estate Management
• Engineering
• Hospitality
• Project Management
• Operations Management

Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Execution & Ownership

A strong bias towards action.

The candidate should naturally take ownership of matters, establish what needs to be done, assign responsibilities, set deadlines and follow through until completion.

Operational Problem Solving

Able to assess situations quickly, identify the real operational issue and develop practical solutions rather than simply escalating problems.

Project Management

Strong organisational ability with the discipline to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, dependencies and stakeholders concurrently.

Stakeholder Management

Able to communicate confidently and professionally with government officers, Council and Committee members, dormitory operators, contractors, commercial partners and community stakeholders.

Leadership

Able to provide clear direction to staff, contractors and project teams while maintaining accountability for outcomes.

Communication

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Must be capable of independently preparing professional correspondence, reports, presentations, meeting summaries and management papers.

Commercial Awareness

Understands budgets, contracts, vendor performance, facility utilisation and the commercial implications of operational decisions.

Digital & Data Literacy

Comfortable working with Microsoft Office and digital management systems, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Should be comfortable interpreting operational data and using technology to improve productivity and decision-making.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

We are looking for someone who is:

• Hands-on and willing to work on the ground.
• Highly organised and dependable.
• Resourceful and solutions-oriented.
• Comfortable working independently.
• Calm under operational pressure.
• Able to prioritise when several urgent matters arise simultaneously.
• Confident without being unnecessarily bureaucratic.
• Comfortable dealing with people across different levels of seniority and backgrounds.
• Willing to challenge existing processes constructively.
• Able to distinguish matters that can be resolved independently from matters requiring escalation.
• Prepared to work outside normal office hours when operational circumstances require it.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within the first 6–12 months, the successful candidate should become the Assistant Director's key operational partner and establish strong oversight of DASL's day-to-day activities.

Success in this position means:

• Projects and operational matters move forward without constant intervention from the Assistant Director.
• Responsibilities, deadlines and outstanding actions are clearly tracked.
• Operational problems are identified and resolved earlier.
• WRC and other DASL initiatives operate to consistently high standards.
• Contractors and vendors are held accountable for performance.
• Council and Committees receive concise and useful management information.
• Government agencies and industry stakeholders receive professional and timely responses.
• The Assistant Director is able to spend more time on strategic, industry and senior stakeholder matters because operational execution is being effectively managed.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

This role provides broad exposure to the operations and development of Singapore's purpose-built dormitory industry and DASL's growing portfolio of industry, community and operational initiatives.

For the right individual, the position offers the opportunity to take on progressively greater responsibility within DASL and become a key member of its management team.