Director, Forensics COE (Applied Science R&D)

The Forensics Centre of Expertise (CoE) in HTX plays a critical role in strengthening Singapore’s Home Team forensic capabilities through science, technology, and innovation. Leading a global shift in forensic science, the CoE’s mission extends beyond solving crimes by harnessing innovative technologies to revolutionise investigations, enhance public safety, and keep Singapore ahead of an evolving threat landscape. HTX is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to shape the future of forensic science and applied R&D in support of Singapore’s public safety. The Director will lead the Forensics Centre of Expertise, setting strategic direction, research priorities and capability roadmaps across forensic biology, chemistry and pharmacology, physics and engineering, scene forensics, and emerging digital, computational and AI-enabled domains. Working at the intersection of science, technology and operations, the Director will translate emerging technologies into trusted, operationally relevant capabilities for investigations, intelligence, enforcement, surveillance, policy and public safety. The role calls for a strategic leader who can connect operational needs with innovation opportunities, build strong partnerships across government, industry, academia and research institutions, and ensure forensic capabilities remain rigorous, defensible and future-ready. The scope of work includes the following: • Set strategic R&D direction: Develop and execute long-term research, innovation and capability strategies aligned with organisational priorities and future needs. • Translate research into operational capability: Identify, evaluate and operationalise emerging technologies and methodologies for investigations, intelligence, enforcement, emergency response, policy and public safety. • Drive capability transformation: Integrate traditional forensic sciences with digital, computational, engineering, modelling and AI-enabled tools, while maintaining strong governance, quality, safety and security. • Build strategic partnerships: Develop and sustain collaborations across government, industry, academia and research institutions to advance innovation objectives. • Align stakeholders and advise leadership: Engage senior stakeholders to understand evolving needs, align R&D efforts with organisational priorities, and advise senior management on technology trends, capability development and innovation opportunities. • Provide scientific leadership: Offer authoritative scientific advice for policies, legislation, regulations, ministerial queries and high-profile matters, while upholding scientific integrity and public trust. • Oversee governance and delivery: Manage resources, budgets, risks and performance measures to ensure effective programme delivery and measurable outcomes. • Strengthen innovation culture: Foster collaboration, continuous improvement and organisational learning to build technical depth and innovation capacity. • Lead and develop talent: Lead, mentor and grow multidisciplinary teams through workforce planning, talent development, retention and succession planning. • Represent HTX and Singapore: Contribute to local and international forensic and innovation platforms, strengthening the organisation’s standing as a credible authority. • Academic and technical foundation: Postgraduate qualification, preferably a Master’s degree or PhD, in a relevant STEM, forensic science or related discipline. • Senior leadership experience: Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in research, innovation, technology development, engineering, science or related disciplines, with significant leadership responsibilities. • Proven transformation delivery: Proven track record in leading large-scale research, innovation, transformation or capability development initiatives in complex operating environments. • Strategic foresight: Strong strategic thinking, foresight and systems thinking, with the ability to translate emerging trends and organisa…