Assistant Manager, Innovation

About The Job

The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), an autonomous institute of the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), is at the forefront of building capabilities and offering continuing professional development for an effective, innovative and responsive Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector.

The Assistant Manager, Innovation will play a key role in driving learning innovation initiatives within the Centre for Workplace and Learning Innovation. Reporting to the Assistant Director, the role will oversee innovation grant programmes, support ecosystem development, and work with stakeholders to advance the adoption, scaling, and impact of learning innovations across the Training and Adult Education sector.

What You Will Be Doing

1. Innovation Grant Management & Governance

• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of CWLI's innovation grant programmes, including grant design, evaluation, project monitoring, governance, reporting, and impact assessment.
• Develop and review grant evaluation frameworks, assessment rubrics, funding criteria, and project review processes to ensure robust and transparent funding decisions.
• Manage and monitor funded projects to ensure achievement of project objectives, milestones, outcomes, and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate programme planning, implementation, communications, evaluation panels, grant review meetings, stakeholder engagements, and reporting activities throughout the funding cycle.
• Track programme outcomes, performance indicators, and ecosystem impact measures.
• Analyse grant performance data and prepare management reports to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.

2. Learning Innovation Ecosystem Development

• Support the development and implementation of CWLI's learning innovation initiatives, including innovation adoption, ecosystem building, capability development, and commercialisation programmes.
• Build and manage relationships with training providers, enterprises, solution providers, public agencies, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and ecosystem partners.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen innovation adoption and diffusion across the Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector.
• Facilitate partnerships and collaborations that contribute to sector-wide learning innovation and capability development.

3. Innovation Adoption, Pilots & Commercialisation

• Support the design and implementation of innovation adoption pathways, pilot programmes, and solution validation activities.
• Work with funded innovators and ecosystem partners to strengthen the commercialisation and scaling potential of learning innovations.
• Assist in identifying suitable pilot sites, adoption partners, and opportunities for market deployment.
• Support the development of adoption case studies, implementation guides, and evidence of impact to promote successful innovations.
• Any other duties assigned, including cross-divisional projects.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, Learning Sciences, Business, Engineering Innovation Management, Organisational Development, Human Capital Development, or a related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field will be advantageous.
• At least 5-8 years of relevant experience in innovation, grants management, programme management, ecosystem development, business development, startup development, workforce development, education, or adult learning.
• Experience managing grants, funding programmes, accelerators, innovation challenges, or ecosystem development initiatives would be highly desirable.
• Experience working with enterprises, training providers, government agencies, or innovation ecosystems will be an advantage.
• Experience in commercialisation, product development, partnership development, or innovation adoption initiatives is preferred.
• Good understanding of innovation management, ecosystem development, programme design, and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with adult learning, workforce development, training and education, EdTech, or learning innovation trends is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate proposals, assess impact, and develop strategic recommendations.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent stakeholder management, facilitation, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, proposal development, and presentation skills.

The successful appointee will be based in IAL Campus located at Lifelong Learning Institute next to Paya Lebar MRT station.