Senior/Assistant Director, Specialised Investigations

[What the role is]

As a Senior/Assistant Director, Specialised Investigations, you will lead a team of investigation officers to undertake challenging enforcement efforts against the illicit abuse and supply of prohibited tobacco products such as e-vaporiser, and controlled substances which includes etomidate. The post requires operational leadership, oversight, and collaboration with local and international stakeholders to safeguard public health and uphold regulatory compliance.

[What you will be working on]

Specialised Investigations is responsible for enforcing illicit importation, distribution, possession and abuse of prohibited tobacco products and controlled substances. It also oversees the supervision of individuals undergoing rehabilitation for substance dependence. These enforcement functions are carried out under the provisions of the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993.

In addition, Specialised Investigations investigates into complex and syndicated cases that require protracted investigation, within the Ministry of Health’s regulatory ecosystem, such as the healthcare services, health products and health information.

Reporting to Deputy Director (Specialised Investigations), the Senior/Assistant Director (Specialised Investigations) will support the Director in the following functional competency areas:

1. Enforcement Policy, Strategy and Governance

• Formulate, implement and review enforcement policies, operational frameworks and strategies to achieve effective enforcement outcomes.
• Develop, review and enhance standard operating procedures, and ensure their effective implementation within HSA and with relevant external partners.
• Identify emerging risks, enforcement gaps and areas vulnerable to illegal activities, and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.

2. Investigation and Case Management

• Oversee complex and long-term investigations into suspected contraventions of legislation and subsidiary regulations administered by HSA.
• Review and endorse investigation papers, reports and recommendations for enforcement action.
• Work closely with HSA’s prosecutorial teams and the Attorney-General’s Chambers on investigation and prosecution matters.
• Support and oversee the prosecution of cases in court, where required.

3. Enforcement Operations and Intelligence

• Plan, direct and participate in inspections, enforcement operations and intelligence-led activities.
• Authorise and oversee enforcement actions, including arrests where necessary and the execution of warrants of arrest.
• Coordinate operational engagements with external agencies to facilitate intelligence-sharing, joint operations and situational awareness.

4. Leadership, People and Resource Management

• Lead, develop and provide strategic and operational direction to a team of investigation officers.
• Drive manpower planning, capability development and resource allocation to ensure operational readiness and organisational effectiveness.
• Manage the team to optimise operational performance, productivity and resource utilisation within approved budgets.
• Provide training, coaching and professional development opportunities to investigation officers.

5. Stakeholder and Inter-Agency Collaboration

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
• Collaborate with internal Groups, Departments and Divisions to improve operational workflows, coordination and joint enforcement efforts.
• Liaise with international law enforcement organisations, including Interpol and overseas regulatory counterparts, on cross-border investigations.
• Strengthen enforcement capabilities through active participation in local, regional and international enforcement networks and collaborations.

[What we are looking for]

• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to motivate train and develop teams in a demanding operational environment;
• Demonstrated the ability to make sound decisions and adapt effectively in dynamic and evolving situations;
• Resilient and able to perform effectively under pressure and during complex enforcement operations
• Passionate about safeguarding public health and committed to upholding regulatory and enforcement standards
• A strong team player who can also work independently with minimal supervision
• Physically fit and able to meet the operational demands of enforcement duties
• Strong interpersonal, communication and investigative skills;
• Extensive experience in enforcement, investigations and operational roles within enforcement or regulatory agencies.
• Experience in leading teams, managing complex investigations, and engaging stakeholders across multiple agencies will be an advantage

The successful candidate will be offered a 1-year contract (with option for automatic renewal for a further one year) in the first instance.

Shortlisted candidates would be contacted within 30 days from the closing date of the advertisement. We regret that only shortlisted candidates would be notified.