Job Description

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Job Title: Assistant Manager/ Manager (Research Admin & Program Management)
Posting Start Date: 04/08/2025
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Position Summary
The candidate will play an important role in driving research administrative excellence, managing research collaborations and grants, and providing oversight of the PhD Programme in Operations Research and Analytics (ORA) at IORA. This role will be the key administrative point of contact for research teams, partners, and stakeholders, and will lead process improvements across research and programme management functions.
Key Responsibilities
1. Research Administration, Collaboration & Grant Management

• Lead and oversee research administration activities within IORA, ensuring robust processes for research collaborations, industry partnerships, and compliance with NUS and funding agency requirements.
• Drive and coordinate research grant applications: Advise and support PIs and research teams in grant identification, application preparation, internal reviews, timely submission, and post-award administration.
• Monitor and manage grant portfolios: Oversee financial tracking, milestone monitoring, progress reporting, and compliance for all active research grants and collaborative projects.
• Serve as the primary administrative liaison with academic, industry, and funding partners for research collaborations, ensuring effective communication, documentation, and issue resolution.
• Supervise procurement, HR administration, and claims related to grant-funded activities; optimise processes for onboarding research staff, faculty, and students.
• Maintain oversight of research records, partnership agreements, and audit documentation for internal and external reporting.

2. PhD Programme & Student Administration

• Oversee the administration of the PhD Programme in Operations Research and Analytics, ensuring seamless processes for applications, admissions, course registration, examinations, thesis milestones, and graduation requirements.
• Streamline and supervise milestone management: Ensure timely scheduling and documentation of qualifying exams, thesis proposals, research progress reports, and defenses in coordination with faculty and graduate school offices.
• Advise and support students and faculty on programme matters, appeals, and research-related administrative procedures.

3. Executive Support & Operations

• Provide executive support for the Executive Director for research-related meetings, strategic scheduling, and essential travel related to collaborations and grants.
• Organise event and seminar planning for IORA, including industry engagement events, workshops, and research seminars, ensuring effective resource allocation and logistics.
• Drive process improvements and digital transformation in research administration and programme management functions.

4. Leadership, Reporting & Compliance

• Compile, review, and submit management reports on research activities, grants, PhD programme metrics, and compliance for audits and strategic planning.
• Champion best practices in research integrity, data management, and regulatory compliance across all administrative processes.
• Represent IORA in meetings with internal and external stakeholders on matters related to research administration, grants, and postgraduate programmes.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, preferably with further professional qualifications in research administration, business, or higher education management.
• At least 5 years' relevant experience, with proven expertise in research administration, grant management, and postgraduate programme operations (ideally within a university or research institute).
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional teams.
• Excellent organisational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and manage complex projects.
• Proficient in the use of research administration systems, grant portals, and office software