Singapore Management University

About Us

Singapore Management University is a place where high-level professionalism blends together with a healthy informality. The 'family-like' atmosphere among the SMU community fosters a culture where employees work, plan, organise and play together building a strong collegiality and morale within the university.

Our commitment to attract and retain talent is ongoing. We offer attractive benefits and welfare, competitive compensation packages, and generous professional development opportunities all to meet the work-life needs of our staff. No wonder, then, that SMU continues to be given numerous awards and recognition for its human resource excellence.

Job Description

Named after Singapore's founding prime minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the LKYGBPC is a global competition that identifies promising young scientific entrepreneurs from universities to solve the world's biggest problems. The newly launched LKYGBPC Accelerator will further support this mission by anchoring high-potential startups in Singapore.

• This position is for Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE).
• Strategic Leadership and Governance
  • Work closely with the Chairman of the Programme Management Council and the Director of IIE to build a world-class commercial level deep tech accelerator and ensure the smooth execution of its programmes.
  • Design and implement a comprehensive strategy for the accelerator, aligning with industry trends, grantor guidelines, and organizational goals.
  • Build a robust operational framework to deliver world-class acceleration programs tailored to deep tech startups.
  • Drive the establishment of Programme Management Council (PMC) with C-level representatives of the founding partners of the Accelerator.
  • The role will expand subsequently to oversee the full LKYGBPC suite—event, teaching, and investment—forming a cohesive innovation platform for SMU
• Program Excellence and Technical Oversight
  • Lead Programme Execution with emphasis on IP development and technology demonstration in operational environments.
  • Work closely with startups to refine their technological roadmaps, regulatory strategies, and market entry plans. Identify Deep Tech startups for direct and co-investments with qualified investors.
  • Lead and drive a strong deep-tech mentorship programme, bringing together a network of industry experts and seasoned investors to guide startups on commercialisation pathways and navigating grants and venture capital landscapes.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Ecosystem Building
  • Forge strategic partnerships with research institutions, corporates, venture capitalists, and government agencies locally and internationally.
  • Represent the accelerator at global forums, positioning it as a hub for cutting-edge deep tech innovation.
  • Develop media and thought leadership strategies to elevate the accelerator's profile within the global ecosystem.
  • Collaborate with the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan (LKYGBPC) to build pipeline startups for the accelerator.
• Operational and Resource Management
  • Oversee financial and manpower planning, ensuring optimal utilization of resources.
  • Monitor and evaluate program impact using data-driven methodologies, ensuring continuous improvement and scalability.
  • Secure funding opportunities, including grants, sponsorships, and strategic collaborations, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the accelerator.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in STEM, business, or related disciplines (PhD and/or MBA preferred) with extremely strong passion for deep tech and a desire to make a tangible impact.
• Minimum of 15 years of leadership experience in deep tech entrepreneurship, venture capital, or innovation management.
• Deep understanding of IP management, regulatory landscapes, emerging technology trends and commercialisation pathways globally.
• Acute knowledge in focus areas related to urban solutions & sustainability and understanding the support needs of related startups.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex, high-stakes projects.
• Proven track record in fostering partnerships, ecosystem growth, and startup scaling.
• Excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong knowledge of budget, grant management and financial management principles.
• Detail-oriented and team-oriented with a strong desire to be successful.
• A keen sense of ownership and accountability and act with a sense of urgency to meet tight deadlines.
• Humble, authentic, value hard work, creative problem solver and outcome driven.
• Deep knowledge and network in the SE Asia innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem will be viewed favorably.

Other Information

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Candidates who do not possess the stipulated qualifications but have relevant work experience may still apply. Remuneration and appointment terms shall commensurate with qualifications and experience. SMU reserves the right to modify the appointment terms where necessary.