Senior Assistant Director, Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme

A young, research-intensive university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in engineering, business, science, humanities, arts, social sciences, education and medicine. Ranked among the world’s top universities, NTU Entrepreneurship Academy (NTUpreneur) provides education within the University and the region.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of NTU Entrepreneurship Academy (NTUpreneur), the Senior Assistant Director, Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme (OEP), will provide strategic leadership in driving the growth and implementation of NTUpreneur’s global internship programme across Southeast Asia, East Asia, India, the United States, and Europe. The incumbent will develop and execute strategies to strengthen NTU’s global entrepreneurship network, expand internship opportunities in emerging innovation hubs, and enhance students’ entrepreneurial and international exposure.

The role is responsible for building and managing strategic partnerships with startups and key ecosystem stakeholders worldwide, overseeing overseas placement consultants, ensuring programme sustainability, and formulating strategic plans aligned with NTUpreneur’s objectives and the NTU 2030 Strategic Plan. The incumbent will also provide oversight of OEP operations and lead outreach efforts to drive strong student participation.

In addition, the Senior Assistant Director will manage the Ministry of Education’s Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) grant and Enterprise Singapore’s Global Ready Talent (GRT) grant, ensuring the achievement of programme targets, full compliance with grant requirements, prudent utilisation of funds, and the timely preparation of reports to support audits and grant claims.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide leadership in driving the growth, expansion, and ensuring effective implementation of NTUpreneur’s flagship global internship programm

• Develop and execute strategies to strengthen NTU’s overseas entrepreneurship internship placements in strategic locations globally.

• Drive and deliver strategic outcomes that align with NTU’s internationalisation and entrepreneurship objectives.

• Increase NTU’s presence in the global startup ecosystem.

2. Drive efforts to increase the number and quality of internship opportunities available to NTU students

• Identify emerging markets in global cities to increase new internship opportunities, assess benefits and viability for implementation, and establish a framework for implementation.

• Initiate and deepen strategic partnerships with key ecosystem stakeholders worldwide.

• Ensure meaningful experiential learning experiences that enhance students’ entrepreneurial competencies and global outlook.

3. Oversee the appointment and performance management of overseas placement consultants

• Identify and hire the best overseas placement representatives to secure internship opportunities, engage and monitor the performance to ensure growing and quality placement opportunities. 

• Ensure the financial sustainability of the programme.

4. Design and drive pre-OEP and post-OEP events and activities to support student venture creation, and formulate long-term strategic plans that align with NTUpreneur’s objectives and the broader aspirations of the NTU 2030 Strategic Plan

• Design and organise pre and post OEP I&E themed events and activities with inputs from across relevant stakeholder in NTU.

• Strengthen student engagement throughout the internship period, and establish an OEP alumni network.

• Track and report on students’ entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship status post-OEP.

5.Responsible for the strategic management and administration of external grants and achieving programme performance targets

• Ensure full compliance with grant administration’s terms and conditions.

• Ensure the proper utilisation of grant funds.

• Prepare timely financial and operational reports to facilitate audits, grant claims, and stakeholder reporting requirements.

• Point of contact in negotiating deals and agreements.

6. Leadership in OEP operations and growing team capabilities

• Lead operations of OEP team, supervise team performance and ensure effective performance.

• Equip team with business development capabilities to mitigate dependence on overseas representatives in securing internship opportunities for students.

Requirements:

• A degree in any discipline from a recognised university.

• At least 5 years of experience in corporate partnerships for education purposes.

• Possess a strong network with innovation and entrepreneurship agencies and corporations overseas.

• Strong experience in stakeholder and partnership engagement. 

• A track record experience in overseas internship experience in other IHLs will be an advantage.

• Excellent knowledge of overseas startup landscape in strategic cities such as Silicon Valley, Boston, London, Munich, Finland, Sweden, Tokyo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Jakarta, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and major cities in India.

• Deep understanding of the education approach to outcome-driven entrepreneurship education is essential.

• Good knowledge of the startup journey in its scale and operations and the capability gaps in scaling up.

• Good knowledge of the startup founder’s mindset.

• Able to contribute effectively to the strategic purpose of entrepreneurship education.

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).

• Innovation in designing high impact and attractive I&E activities to attract participation. 

• Able to engage senior leadership in government organisations and startups and negotiate terms.

• Strong team player who is able to work with stakeholders in NTU and external agencies (local and overseas).

• Able to understand students’ mindset and willingness to work and support their entrepreneurial aspirations.

• Highly driven and willingness to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent project and event management skills.

• Enjoy working with students and believe in supporting their entrepreneurial aspirations.

• Good knowledge of what attracts the attention of students / early-career individuals.

• Meticulous with details and processes.