Director - Innovation Central Singapore

1. About Innovation Central Singapore Innovation Central Singapore (ICSG), a collaboration led by Cisco with Curtin Singapore, part of the National Industry Innovation Network, will be established as Curtin University’s regional innovation hub, connecting industry, students, researchers, and government to co-create practical, commercially relevant solutions. Operating at the intersection of academia and industry, ICSG focuses on ecosystem engagement, co-innovation programs, and partnerships that deliver tangible economic and societal impact across Singapore and the region. 2. Overview and Objective of the Role The Director of Innovation Central Singapore is accountable for establishing, building, and operating ICSG as a high-performing innovation hub. This role owns the centre’s strategy, external relationships, commercial outcomes, and overall performance. The Director is responsible for shaping the ecosystem engagement model, originating and securing partnerships and projects, managing the financial sustainability of the centre, and representing ICSG with senior university leadership, government, and industry. Working closely with the Innovation Central Network Program Lead (an external Cisco position) and the ICSG Project Manager, the Director focuses on growth, positioning, and stakeholder outcomes, while ensuring the centre operates with delivery discipline, clarity of priorities, and strong governance. This is a hands-on leadership role within a small, high-output team. Innovation Central Singapore operates with a lean structure and a strong delivery culture, under the framework established under the Innovation Central Network program. The Director is expected to be actively involved in day-to-day execution, not operating at arm’s length. There are no layers of management within the centre; all roles, including the Director, are individual contributors who lead by doing. 3. Key Relationships You will work closely with Curtin Singapore and Cisco leadership, the Innovation Central Network Program Lead, corporate partners, industry and innovation ecosystem participants, government agencies, National Industry Innovation Network member universities and senior stakeholders across Curtin University and Cisco in Australia and Singapore. Additionally, you will report to the ICSG Governing Board and supported by the Innovation Central Network Advisory Committee. Internally, you will lead the ICSG team and partner closely with the ICSG Project Manager, who provides delivery coordination and execution assurance across the centre’s portfolio of initiatives. 4. Key Result Areas The ICSG Director will be responsible for the development of the strategic plan and operational targets for endorsement by the Governing Board, and within the Innovation Central Network Program/methodology. The Director’s responsibilities include: • Lead the strategic direction of Innovation Central Singapore, aligned with the Innovation Central Network Program, and Curtin University and Cisco priorities and regional economic and innovation objectives. • Build, develop, and manage the regional innovation ecosystem, including startups, developers, industry partners, corporate partners, and portfolio companies. • Originate and secure partnership opportunities, identifying organisations whose strategies align with Curtin Singapore, Cisco and strategic partners. • Own business development outcomes for the centre, including pipeline development, partnership formation, and conversion of opportunities into funded programs and projects. • Personally lead the design and delivery of ecosystem programs such as workshops, hackathons, innovation challenges, accelerators, and industry-led initiatives. • Actively oversee day-to-day operations of the centre, ensuring activities are well prioritised, resourced, and aligned with strategic objectives. • Manage operational targets, performance metrics, and financial outcomes for the centre. • Build and maintain senior relationships with existing and future partners, ensuring long-term value, trust, and repeat engagement. • Represent ICSG within the Innovation Central Network Program and engagements with Curtin and Cisco executive leadership, boards, and governance forums. • Align centre activities with relevant country and government strategies, supporting policy objectives and public–private collaboration where appropriate. • Build and sustain a small, highly capable team of individual contributors, working alongside them to deliver outcomes in a fast-paced environment. Success in this role is measured by the strength and sustainability of the centre. You create clarity of direction in ambiguous environments, convert strategic intent into viable programs and partnerships, and ensure ICSG is recognised as a credible, valuable partner within the regional innovation ecosystem. You balance entrepreneurial pace with institutional governance, enabling innovation while protecting Curtin’s and Cisco reputation and long-term interests. You spend time on the floor, in partner meetings, and in delivery discussions, ensuring momentum is maintained and issues are resolved quickly. 5. Qualifications and Selection Criteria Essential • 8+ years’ experience delivering results across one or more of the following domains: innovation, technology, business development, venture capital, startups, or ecosystem leadership. • Demonstrated excellence in written, verbal, and presentation communication, with the proven ability to convey complex and innovative ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences from frontline operations teams to C-suite executives. • Strong technology and innovation strategy capability, with a clear understanding of digital disruption and its economic and industry impact. • Demonstrated commercial acumen, including experience building, launching, and scaling programs, products, or innovation initiatives. • Proven leadership experience, with the ability to build, coach, and lead high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. • Strong stakeholder management capability, with experience influencing senior stakeholders across industry, academia, and government. • Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions in environments characterised by ambiguity, incomplete information, and competing priorities. • Strong change leadership capability, with experience leading organisations or programs through growth and transition. • Deep understanding of innovation ecosystem models. Desired • Experience working within a university or research-adjacent environment, with an understanding of academic governance, decision-making processes, and incentives. • Experience operating at the interface between academia, industry, and government. • Financial and operational management experience, including budgeting, performance management, and business process design. • Strong understanding of value chains and how innovation initiatives translate into commercial and societal outcomes. • Comfortable operating under pressure with high levels of personal accountability, energy, and follow-through. This role suits a leader who enjoys being close to the work. It will appeal to someone who is comfortable operating without layers of support, who prefers progress over perfection, and who gains energy from building something tangible day by day rather than managing through others.