Manager / Senior Manager -Programme Development Department

THE OPPORTUNITY

The first six years of a child's life shape everything that follows. For children from lower-income families, what happens in that window determines the trajectory. KidSTART exists to change those odds: personal home-based support, delivered by trained practitioners, built on evidence, and scaled nationally.

That work happens in this team.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Manager or Senior Manager in Programme Development, you will be a core contributor to the operational policy work that keeps KidSTART running well. You will research, analyse, write, and implement — working across internal teams and external partners to develop the policies, frameworks, and monitoring systems the programme depends on.

This is a substantive policy and planning role. The work is analytical and detail-oriented, but the purpose is practical: better policies mean better support for practitioners, and better support for practitioners means better outcomes for children and families.

We are looking for someone who is rigorous about the work, curious about what is happening on the ground, and motivated by the prospect of contributing to a programme that makes a real difference in children's lives.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Operational Policy and Programme Design

Contribute to the planning, development, and review of KidSTART's service model, operational policies, and processes. Translate strategic direction into practical frameworks that implementing agencies and practitioners can use.

Programme Monitoring and Reporting

Analyse programme data,track deliverables, and prepare reports on outcomes and budget utilisation. Identify what the data is telling us about programme performance and surface that clearly for decision-makers.

Partner and Funding Compliance

Support the management of KidSTART's funding agreements with implementing agencies. Track partner compliance with funding requirements, prepare disbursement documentation, and respond to audit-related queries.

Stakeholder Engagement

Work with internal teams, implementing agencies, and government counterparts to advance programme work. Prepare briefs, proposals, and policy papers for different audiences at various levels.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for someone who is analytical, writes well, and energised by policy and planning work, with a real-world implementation dimension. You do not need to have worked in early childhood before. You do need to care about the mission and be willing to learn the programme deeply.

Preferably, you will have:

• Experience or a strong interest in policy formulation, data analysis, planning, or programme development.
• A degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field, with strong writing and analytical skills.
• The ability to lead projects independently, engage stakeholders at different levels, and manage tight timelines.
• A flexible and resourceful disposition — KidSTART is a growing organisation and the work evolves quickly.
• A genuine motivation to learn and develop professionally.

Experience in the public sector, social service sector, or early childhood sector is an advantage. What matters most is intellectual rigour and the drive to do the work well.

WHY JOIN KIDSTART

KidSTART is a young organisation that has grown quickly and is still building its policy infrastructure. Joining now means contributing to frameworks and systems that will shape how the programme operates for years. The learning curve is real, and so is the impact.

You will work closely with a small, focused team, with exposure to government counterparts at MSF and ECDA, implementing agencies across Singapore, and a national programme with demonstrated outcomes. For someone early in a policy or social sector career —or making a move into this space — this is a strong platform.

The work is hard. The purpose is clear.

To apply or learn more, reach out to us at [email protected]