Senior Assistant Director, Policy & Programmes, Registries Cluster

Interested applicant, please click here -

Great ideas do not discriminate, and anyone can have them. Given the right protection and support, a great idea can become a power brand, a transformative technology, an innovative process, or design, or even a song or story that moves one’s soul.

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore works with creators, innovators and innovative companies to catalyse the ideas of today and transform ideas into the assets of tomorrow. We leverage our deep technical, legal and business expertise to help innovative enterprises grow using their intangible assets, including IP.

The Registries of Patents, Designs and Plant Varieties supports IPOS’ vision by building and maintaining a top-ranked IP regime in the world.

About the Role

As a Senior Assistant Director in the Registries of Patents, Designs and Plant Varieties, you will play a key role in shaping Singapore’s innovation infrastructure by developing trusted, forward-looking policies, legislation and programmes for one of the world’s top-ranked IP regimes. This role offers exposure to high-impact national policy work, senior stakeholders, regional and international engagement, and leadership development through the opportunity to guide officers and build team capability.

What You Can Look Forward To

You will work on issues at the intersection of law, technology, business and innovation, with the opportunity to influence national IP policy and legislation, contribute to Singapore’s position as a trusted hub for innovation and intangible assets, and represent Singapore in regional and international engagements. You will also lead meaningful cross-functional projects, mentor officers, and deepen your expertise in a specialised and strategically important area of public policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape Singapore’s innovation infrastructure by conducting policy reviews, horizon-scanning, data analysis and stakeholder engagement to strengthen the patents, designs and plant varieties regime.
• Translate policy intent into practical legislative, regulatory and operational changes.
• Advance cross-functional projects and sector development initiatives that build capabilities, improve programme delivery and support Singapore’s broader innovation ecosystem.
• Represent Singapore in regional and international forums, including ASEAN and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and build strategic relationships with overseas counterparts and stakeholders.This offers exposur to international IP policy developments and may require overseas travel 1–3 times a year, with each trip typically not exceeding five days.
• Lead and develop a small team of officers by setting clear priorities, reviewing outputs, mentoring officers and building capabilities for higher-impact policy and programme work.

Write to us if you are/have:

• Typically around 8 years of relevant work experience, preferably in policy development, strategy, programme management or implementation, with demonstrated ability to lead projects and use data and evidence to support decision-making.
• Experience leading and developing officers, including setting clear work priorities, coaching officers through regular feedback, creating opportunities for professional growth and capability-building.
• Strong analytical, research and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information, identify key issues and develop practical policy and programme recommendations.
• Excellent written, verbal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues and data-driven insights clearly to diverse audiences, including senior management.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes in a dynamic environment.
• A collaborative, self-motivated and people-oriented mindset, with the ability to exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities and foster a supportive team culture.
• Relevant domain knowledge in intellectual property, innovation policy, law, public policy, patents, designs or technology-related domains will be advantageous.