Manager, Business Development & Partnership (NS Gallery Development)

THIS IS A 2-YEARS RENEWABLE / CONVERTIBLE CONTRACT ROLE

Job Synopsis

The jobholder will be part of a team that conceptualises, strategies and develops a world-class NS-themed gallery (NSG) opening in 2028. The NSG aims to be a world-class gallery that impart audiences with an understanding of Singapore’s immutable vulnerabilities, the importance and significance of NS, and why we ourselves must defend Singapore.

Key project components for this role include (a) strategising and leading business development and partnership plans, and (b) cultivating and obtaining sponsorship and raise funds to optimise resources.

Specific to the jobholder, he/she will work with the NSG development team to drive and ensure project delivery in the following areas (including but not limited to):

1. business development (including retail strategies and souvenir / merchandise development) and partnership to ensure business continuity;
2. fundraising and sponsorships efforts to cultivate strong support for the NSG;
3. membership development for the NSG; and
4. stakeholder engagement related programming and events around/for the NSG, for the purposes of place-making, education and buzz-generation

1. Lead and Oversee the Business Development & Partnerships for the NSG, including the development of a physical and online NSG Gift Shop.

• Identify and form strategic partnerships and collaborations to enhance NSG visibility and impact.
• Create and implement strategies to generate revenue streams and business opportunities.
• Monitor and analyse performance metrics for business initiatives.
• Develop and operationalise viable physical and online museum gift shop. This includes working with the team to draft, launch and close tender contracts and onboard relevant partners to operationalise the museum gift shop.
• Oversee the setting up of the museum shop space, product mix, pricing, branding and other related set up, including the establishing of operational policies and inventory systems.
• Ensure suitable merchandise curation and selection as well as production (where necessary), overseeing revenue KPIs to ensure commercial viability and success.

1. Lead and Oversee Fundraising and Sponsorship strategies for the NSG, including stakeholder engagement and relevant membership programmes.

• Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with sponsors, donors, and foundations, which include planning and organising engagement events/opportunities.
• Develop compelling sponsorship proposals and customised partnership packages.
• Plan and execute donor events and annual giving programmes.
• Develop and operationalise an attractive Membership programme for the NSG, to encourage key behaviours & achieve key outcomes (e.g. recognize NSmen; encourage repeat visitors; encourage word-of-mouth; encourage donations etc).
• Plan and execute fundraising campaigns.
• Ensure compliance internally and externally (with funders’ requirements).

1. Provide updates to NS Gallery Task Force and Working Groups

• Support NS Gallery Development team in providing regular updates, where relevant and required, to MINDEF/SAF management and other inter-agency platforms, including raising issues of concern and recommending the course of actions.
• Draft the minutes for key NSG fora.
• As part of overall project management, the jobholder is expected to manage the overall project timelines; work with the team to clear project fora where required; and front frequent and timely reports to senior management.

Challenges:

He/she needs to also ensure that the project milestones remains on schedule, and the gallery meets its overall intent and objective.

• Educational Requirements: Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications or a related field.
• The jobholder should preferably have minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in business development, partnerships or fundraising. Experience in the other areas, e.g. marketing, events and programming and audience research would be beneficial.
• The jobholder should have a strong command of both spoken and written English with good writing and presentation abilities. The jobholder should also preferably be proficient in one other vernacular language.
• The jobholder should have excellent communication, organisational and project management skills. Prior experience in project management in related areas is also an advantage.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing multi-year or high-value grants and/or partnerships.
• Proven ability to manage and engage senior stakeholders with professionalism and insight.
• Strong project management skills and comfortable working with numbers, performance metrics and analysing data.
• The jobholder should be mature and possess excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, able to engage industry partners and internal stakeholders confidently.
• The jobholder is able to work independently, have strong ownership of tasks, anticipates next steps, and moves opportunities forward.
• The jobholder should be meticulous and detail oriented.
• The jobholder should take a problem-solving perspective on issues and help the team move towards viable solutions in a timely manner.
• The jobholder should be comfortable with multi-tasking and tracking and driving multiple workstreams concurrently.
• The jobholder should be able to work collaboratively with different partners and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with membership CRM tools and sales funnel tracking is a plus.
• A keen interest in Singapore’s social and military history is a plus.