Assistant Manager / Manager, Programmes, MHC

[What the role is]

The Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) provides cultural exposure and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages and interests. Situated amidst the Istana Kampong Gelam, Gedung Kuning and the surrounding Kampong Gelam precinct, the Centre acts as a vital heritage institution for the Malay community in Singapore. Through its exhibits, programmes and activities, the Centre hopes to honour the past whilst providing a means for present-day expression. The Malay Heritage Centre is under the management of the National Heritage Board in partnership with the Malay Heritage Foundation.

In this role, you should have a strong passion and interest in Malay history, culture and heritage. You understand the importance of establishing partnerships and the need for building rapport and engaging the community to increase appreciation and understanding of Malay heritage. You are also excited about developing collaborative programmes to cater to different groups of audience, bringing heritage and culture to life. This is a role where you will be contributing actively to the development of culture and heritage of the historic Kampong Gelam precinct.

[What you will be working on]

As the Manager of Programmes, you will be responsible for the conceptualisation, planning and implementation of the Centre's diverse programming initiatives across physical and digital platforms.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Conceptualise, plan and implement festivals, programmes and initiatives onsite, offsite and online to engage diverse audiences and enhance visitor experience

• Create compelling and culturally authentic content aligned with MHC's strategic outcomes for both physical and digital consumption

• Prepare comprehensive programme proposals, budget management, KPI reporting, project evaluation and post-programme analysis to ensure programme effectiveness

• Identify, foster and maintain strategic partnerships with community stakeholders, businesses, government agencies and cultural institutions to create a vibrant precinct ecosystem and extend programme reach and impact

• Collaborate effectively with other departments within MHC including education, outreach, curatorial and marketing teams to further awareness and appreciation of MHC's narrative

• Actively develop relationships and partnerships with stakeholders through co-created programmes, initiatives and other forms of meaningful engagement

• Monitor programme budgets and maintain effective vendor relationships to ensure cost-effective delivery

• Evaluate programme success through visitor feedback, attendance metrics and stakeholder engagement to inform future programming strategies

• Provide support for major programmes and events in the MHC calendar, along with other duties as assigned

[What we are looking for]

An ideal candidate should possess the following:

• [Partnership Management & Development] Ability to identify and assess relevant partners to form strategic alliances with and co-curate initiatives to increase vibrancy in the precinct
• [Project Management & Evaluation] Ability to oversee programme implementation to ensure that programmes meet objectives, quality standards, timelines, and budgets
• [Content Creation & Curation] Ability to research, propose and present heritage content in innovative ways, delivering programme objectives that resonate with the target audience and bring collective value for partners
• [Audience Management] Ability to develop and implement engagement strategies and activities that cater to different visitor segments and align with the Centre's goals, evaluating its effectiveness to continuously improve audience engagement

Work Experiences and Knowledge

• Background in Event Management, Arts, Humanities, Communications or a related field
• Preferably minimum 3 years of relevant working experience in heritage-related projects, cultural programming and/or events management
• Experience in digital content creation and online programme delivery is advantageous
• Strong passion and interest in both local and Malay history, culture and heritage
• Resourceful team player with strong interpersonal skills and excellent written and verbal communication abilities
• Meticulous attention to detail with proven ability to multi-task effectively
• Demonstrated project management capabilities and problem-solving skills
• Preferably fluent in English and Malay (but not mandatory)
• Flexibility to work outside regular office hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays, as required