Job Summary
The jobholder (2-year contract) oversees the operational management and delivery of programmes under the Perform in School Department, with primary accountability for the MENDAKI Achievement Programme (MAP) — MENDAKI’s flagship educational initiative. The Director ensures MAP is run with operational excellence, enabling consistent and high-quality support to Malay/Muslim students from primary through secondary school.
The jobholder is responsible for end-to-end MAP operations, including tutor management, scheduling, quality assurance, and data-driven performance review. He/She is expected to build strong relationships with MAP tutors, serve as the key operational point-of-contact, and ensure that tutors are well-supported, briefed, and engaged throughout each programme cycle.
The Director must be analytically sharp — able to interpret programme data, surface insights, and develop clear PowerPoint presentations for management and stakeholder reporting. He/She is expected to exercise strong initiative, anticipate operational challenges, and propose solutions proactively without waiting to be directed.
The jobholder leads a team of Assistant Directors, Senior/Managers, and Senior/Executive Officers, and works cross-functionally with other departments and external partners (MOE, schools, M3 partners) to achieve departmental outcomes and MENDAKI’s OKRs and KPIs.
Working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend and public holiday work may be required to support programmes and events. The role involves both office-based work and external engagements at programme sites.
Key Responsibility Areas
Operations Management
a. Lead end-to-end operational planning and execution of MAP and all departmental programmes, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery across all programme cycles.
b. Establish and maintain robust standard operating procedures (SOPs), workflows, and operational frameworks to support consistent programme implementation.
c. Monitor programme timelines, deliverables, and operational KPIs, flagging risks early and driving corrective action swiftly.
d. Coordinate resources, logistics, venues, and manpower required across MAP cycles and other Perform in School programmes.
e. Track and report on OKRs, departmental KPIs, and operational metrics, ensuring alignment with MENDAKI’s organisational goals.
f. Proactively identify operational gaps, risks, and improvement opportunities — taking initiative to implement solutions without requiring direction.
MAP (MENDAKI Achievement Programme) Management
a. Serve as the primary operational lead for MAP, MENDAKI’s flagship programme, overseeing all aspects of programme delivery including scheduling, tutor deployment, student placement, and session quality.
b. Build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with MAP tutors — acting as the key point-of-contact, ensuring tutors are well-briefed, supported, and motivated throughout each programme cycle.
c. Develop and manage a robust tutor management system including onboarding, briefing, feedback loops, and performance monitoring.
d. Work closely with tutors to understand ground-level challenges and translate those insights into operational improvements.
e. Ensure MAP sessions are consistently high-quality, well-attended, and aligned with intended learning outcomes for Malay/Muslim students from primary to secondary school.
f. Prepare clear, accurate, and well-designed PowerPoint presentations for MAP programme reviews, management briefings, and stakeholder updates — at pace when required.
g. Use data and analytics to assess MAP effectiveness, track student and tutor performance trends, and generate actionable insights for continuous improvement.
Programme Operations and Implementation
a. Oversee delivery of educational programmes and initiatives supporting primary and secondary school students across the department.
b. Ensure smooth implementation of programmes including scheduling, facilitator deployment, venue management, and logistics coordination.
c. Monitor programme outcomes and operational performance through regular data reviews and structured reporting.
d. Drive continuous improvement in programme delivery through systematic post-programme reviews, feedback analysis, and iteration.
Stakeholder Management
a. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders including MAP tutors, schools, MOE, M3 partners (MUIS and MESRA), Self-Help Groups, and other government agencies.
b. Serve as a trusted and responsive partner to tutors and community stakeholders on the ground — building credibility through reliability and genuine engagement.
c. Facilitate collaboration across stakeholders to align programme objectives, communicate operational requirements, and support joint implementation.
d. Represent MENDAKI professionally in external engagements, exercising good judgment and initiative in building new partnerships where relevant.
Financial and Resource Management
a. Oversee departmental budgeting, forecasting, and financial utilisation to support MAP and other programme operations.
b. Monitor budget expenditure and ensure efficient, accountable allocation of resources across programmes and activities.
c. Ensure compliance with organisational financial policies and procurement processes.
Team Leadership and Development
a. Provide strong operational leadership and direction to the Perform in School team, creating a high-performance, initiative-driven culture.
b. Set clear goals and performance standards aligned with departmental and organisational objectives.
c. Mentor, coach, and support staff development — identifying capability gaps and investing in team growth.
d. Conduct workforce planning and ensure the team has the right capabilities to deliver MAP and all departmental programmes effectively.
Requirements
a. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Education, Social Sciences, or other relevant disciplines.
b. At least 8–10 years of relevant experience in programme operations, project management, or organisational operations, preferably in the public sector, education, or social service environment.
c. Demonstrated experience managing a flagship or large-scale operational programme end-to-end, with strong accountability for delivery outcomes.
d. Proven ability to connect with and manage tutors, facilitators, or frontline programme staff — with a warm, credible, and hands-on engagement style.
e. Sharp analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, track KPIs, surface trends, and translate findings into operational decisions and management reports.
f. Strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint — able to produce clear, polished, and well-structured presentations quickly and independently for diverse audiences.
g. A self-starter with high initiative — able to anticipate issues, take ownership, and move work forward without waiting for direction.
h. Supervisory or team management experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop staff, and drive performance.
i. Strong stakeholder management and partnership-building skills, with experience working with external partners such as schools, government agencies, or community organisations.
j. Strong planning, coordination, and organisational skills with meticulous attention to operational detail.
k. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage stakeholders across all levels — from ground-level tutors to senior leadership.
l. Knowledge of the Singapore education landscape and the Malay/Muslim community context would be a strong advantage.