Deputy Director, Operational Excellence (2 year contract)

[What the role is]

The Health Promotion Board’s vision is to make Singapore a nation of healthier people.
Come be a part of this journey if you’re passionate about creating boundary-pushing work that drives behavioral change.

You will be a part of HPB’s Operational Excellence team, which strives to transform the way the organisation works — driving meaningful improvements across business processes, programme audit management, programme effective and evaluation frameworks, and inventory management to build a more efficient, accountable, and future-ready organisation.

[What you will be working on]

Reporting to the Director (Risk Management, Operational Excellence and Compliance), you will be at the forefront of driving meaningful, organisation-wide transformation — shaping how the organisation designs its processes, governs its programmes, manages its contracts, and evaluates its outcomes. This is a rare opportunity to build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement that enables the organisation to deliver quality services sustainably and at scale.

As Deputy Director (Operational Excellence), you will work closely with Senior Management and divisional leaders to lead end-to-end assessments of business processes, bringing thought leadership and best practices to redesign workflows, establish meaningful performance indicators, and embed continuous improvement mechanisms that deliver measurable gains in service quality and operational efficiency.

You will spearhead the development of a centralised programme audit management capability — collaborating with stakeholders across divisions to design robust governance frameworks, standardised methodologies, and innovative digital solutions that elevate audit rigour and consistency organisation-wide.

You will be a key advisor to Senior Management and internal stakeholders on Terms of Reference and contract management practices — establishing clear accountability structures, performance tracking systems, and governance protocols that strengthen cross-functional delivery and protect organisational interests.

You will shape how the organisation measures success by championing a rigorous, evidence-based approach to programme evaluation — co-designing standardised methodologies and holistic performance measures that empower divisions to assess outcomes consistently and make well-informed decisions.

As a trusted change leader, you will guide Senior Management and divisions through implementation across all workstreams — building lasting organisational capability through training and knowledge transfer, and ensuring that every improvement, including in areas such as inventory management, is practical, sustainable, and delivers real impact where it matters most.

[What we are looking for]

An ideal candidate will be a dynamic and self-motivated individual with:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Industrial Engineering, or a related field. PMP certification and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification are highly desirable.

Professional Experience: Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience in business transformation, process reengineering, project management, and operational excellence. Experience in service sectors, particularly healthcare or public service, is advantageous.

Track Record: Demonstrable success in applying operational excellence and project management methodologies to deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, cost, and service quality within complex matrix organisations.  Proven track record of influencing and engaging stakeholders at all levels of an organisation.

Project Management: Strong skills in overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives in fast-paced environments. Proficiency in various project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid).

The candidate should also possess:

• Collaborative and consultative approach - ability to partner with stakeholders while respecting divisional ownership

• Strong analytical mindset - ability to interpret complex data sets, diagnose systemic issues, and develop actionable, innovative solutions.

• Change leadership skills - proven ability to drive organisational transformation, manage resistance, and foster adoption of new processes and practices

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - capacity to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, facilitate communities of practice, and build sustainable relationships

• Systems thinking orientation - ability to see connections across divisions, understand organisational dynamics, and design holistic solutions that deliver measurable value

• Results-oriented with patience for capability building - focus on achieving measurable outcomes while investing time in developing others' skills and building long-term organisational capabilities

Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance and may be considered for an extension or be placed on a permanent tenure subject to meeting criteria​.