Job Purpose
The Research Fellow / Research Engineer (Connector) is responsible for originating, securing and delivering high-value, high-impact healthcare innovation projects for SIT. The role builds a strong pipeline of industry and healthcare opportunities, converts stakeholder needs into fundable project propositions, and secures external funding through industry contributions, grants, sponsorships and other co-funding arrangements. Working closely with healthcare institutions, companies, government agencies, faculty and internal teams, the Connector drives projects from lead generation and proposal development through contracting, implementation and measurable innovation outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development and Project Origination
• Develop and actively manage a pipeline of qualified leads across healthcare institutions, industry, government agencies, funders and ecosystem partners.
• Identify unmet needs, strategic priorities and market opportunities, and convert them into commercially and operationally viable innovation projects for SIT.
• Initiate and lead engagement with prospective partners, including needs discovery, solution framing, value proposition development, pitching and negotiation.
• Secure high-value and high-impact projects that contribute to SIT’s industry engagement, applied research and innovation objectives.
• Build and maintain stakeholder relationships that generate repeat projects, referrals and longer-term strategic partnerships.
• Track the opportunity pipeline, conversion status, projected project value and next actions, and provide regular business development updates.
Funding Strategy and Funding Conversion
• Identify suitable funding pathways for each opportunity, including industry cash and in-kind contributions, government grants, philanthropic funding, sponsorships and co-funding arrangements.
• Lead the development of compelling funding proposals and business cases, including project scope, outcomes, workplan, budget, sustainability model and partner commitments.
• Drive funding applications and partner negotiations from initial concept to submission, approval and award, coordinating inputs from faculty, project teams and external stakeholders.
• Develop projects that meet the requirements of relevant funding schemes, including IAF-ICP, IAF-PP, EDG, LTIF, NMRC and other applicable programmes.
• Maintain visibility of the funding pipeline, submission timelines, probability of success and funding secured, and ensure compliance with funder and institutional requirements.
Project Structuring and Delivery
• Translate partner needs into clear project objectives, deliverables, milestones, budgets, KPIs, implementation plans and measurable outcomes.
• Lead projects from concept and contracting through implementation, evaluation and closure, ensuring timely delivery, financial discipline and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and work with relevant SIT functions on agreements, intellectual property, procurement, finance, risk, compliance and reporting requirements.
• Identify and resolve delivery risks, maintain project documentation, and provide timely progress and financial reports to partners, funders and management.
• Capture project outcomes, impact evidence and success stories to support follow-on funding, scaling, commercialisation and wider adoption.
Applied Research and Healthcare Innovation
• Co-create and implement practical healthcare innovation solutions in areas such as automation, AI and analytics, workflow redesign, productivity improvement and technology-enabled care.
• Conduct needs assessments, operational analyses and evaluation activities to ensure projects address real-world healthcare challenges and deliver measurable impact.
• Monitor healthcare, technology, market and policy developments to identify new project opportunities and strengthen SIT’s position in the healthcare innovation ecosystem.
• Contribute relevant industry and applied research expertise, and support knowledge transfer and capability development involving faculty, researchers, students and partners.
Job Requirements
• A degree in Healthcare Management, Health Sciences, Engineering, Business or a related field; a relevant postgraduate qualification is preferred.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in healthcare, health technology, innovation, business development, partnerships or a related field.
• Proven track record in originating and securing industry projects, partnerships or innovation opportunities, with clear personal contribution to converting leads into funded work.
• Demonstrated experience in securing external funding through grants, industry contributions, sponsorships, co-funding or similar mechanisms.
• Strong working knowledge of Singapore’s healthcare ecosystem, including healthcare providers, public agencies, industry partners and relevant funding landscape.
• Experience developing proposals, business cases, project budgets and partner presentations, and negotiating project scope, funding commitments and collaboration arrangements.
• Experience leading multi-stakeholder projects from concept to implementation and measurable outcomes.
• An established network across Singapore’s healthcare, technology, industry, government or funding ecosystem.
• Knowledge of relevant schemes such as IAF-ICP, IAF-PP, EDG, LTIF and NMRC, and experience managing funded projects.
• Experience in healthcare innovation, workflow redesign, automation, AI, digital health or technology implementation.
• Experience working with institutes of higher learning, applied research teams or commercialisation and technology-transfer functions.
Key Competencies
• Commercially minded and opportunity-driven, with strong lead generation, stakeholder engagement, pitching and negotiation capabilities.
• Able to build trust with decision-makers and mobilise internal and external stakeholders around a shared project proposition.
• Strong funding acumen, including the ability to match opportunities to funding sources and develop persuasive, compliant and outcome-focused proposals.
• Results-oriented and accountable for project pipeline, funding conversion, project value and delivery outcomes.
• Able to translate complex healthcare needs into clear, practical and fundable project plans.
• Strong project management, financial planning, analytical, presentation and written communication skills.
• Comfortable working across commercial, research, clinical and institutional environments and managing multiple opportunities concurrently.
• Takes ownership, follows through and works effectively with limited supervision in a fast-moving environment.