Manager/Assistant Director

[What the role is]

The successful candidate will be part of a small, dedicated team to formulate and review policies and legislation governing food trade and product regulation as part of implementation of the Food Safety and Security Act (FSSA), which is Singapore Food Agency’s new legislation. Working closely with colleagues across Divisions in the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and other relevant ministries and agencies, the officer will contribute to the full policy-to-legislation pipeline — from analysis and position development through to the drafting of legal text — across areas including import control, specific food product regulation, and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) matters.

[What you will be working on]

• Formulate and review policies for the import control of food, food-producing animals, and animal feed, using a science-based risk management approach and benchmarking against international standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Formulate and review policies on accreditation, inspection and sampling frameworks to ensure robust oversight of food trade activities, as well as policies relating to new foods, food production substances and technologies, in line with evolving scientific developments and international best practices.
• Engage relevant Divisions within SFA to ensure that policy positions are operationally sound and aligned with implementation considerations, particularly in areas relating to import authorisations, inspections, testing, compliance and enforcement.
• Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies for proposed policies and legislative changes, including organising public consultations and industry engagement activities. Translate policy proposals into clear and effective engagement materials to support these activities.
• Draft policy submissions and instructions for legislative provisions, working closely with the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) on the legal text of subsidiary legislation and ensuring clarity, coherence, and consistency of legislative provisions throughout the drafting process.
• Formulate and review policies governing the regulation of food traders, including traceability requirements and trade-related fees, to strengthen accountability and oversight across the food supply chain.
• Participate in bilateral and multilateral engagements on SPS matters, contributing to Singapore's positions in international forums and supporting the negotiation and implementation of SPS-related trade agreements and commitments.

[What we are looking for]

• Working experience in policy development and drafting (>2 years) is required, with the ability to analyse complex issues, navigate competing considerations, and translate insights into clear, evidence-based policy positions and well-structured policy documents.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking skills, with the ability to understand the broader regulatory landscape and integrate individual policy decisions with the wider legislative framework and policy objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage, influence and collaborate effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, including industry players and international counterparts.
• Experience in food safety, food trade policy, import regulation, or SPS matters would be an advantage. Candidates with strong policy experience in related regulatory fields, such as border control, trade facilitation, or agriculture, are also encouraged to apply.

Work Location:

SFA Jem HQ