Assistant Director (Digital Transformation), Public Defender’s Office - contract

The Public Defender’s Office (“PDO”) is established as a department in the Ministry of Law to enhance access to justice to accused persons of limited means through the provision of criminal defence aid. Responsibilities As Assistant Director (Digital Transformation), you will be our digital transformation champion. We're not looking for deep technical specialists - instead, we need someone who can navigate the technology landscape intelligently, evaluate solutions pragmatically, and drive implementation effectively. Our goal is for PDO’s operations and service delivery to be optimised and streamlined, while enhancing user experience. You will lead the evolution of PDO’s case management systems while driving broader digital transformation across operations. Your responsibilities include: • System Enhancement and Development - Drive the next phase of PDO system development: o Develop, maintain the system enhancement roadmap, including conceptualisation, planning and design of the next phase IT system o Plan and design front-end system improvements o Manage implementation and integration of new features o Ensure system enhancements improve operational efficiency • Digital Transformation and Innovation – Build up PDO’s technology ecosystem through core enterprise solutions and advanced capabilities: o Diagnose operational pain points across case management and legal workflows, and translate these into system and process improvements o Identify,evaluate and implement technology solutions across our operations(e.g. document processing, workflow automation) based on business value, feasibility and user impact o Evaluate and pilot emerging technologies (e.g. generative AI, advanced analytics) where they can deliver practical operational benefits o Develop and implement proof-of-concept initiatives to test solutions • Stakeholder Management - Foster strong collaboration among PDO, IT and external partners o Work closely with business users and external agencies to conduct requirements gathering, and evaluate requests according to business priorities o Coordinate with vendor and IT team to ensure deliverables meet specifications and performance standards • Change Management – Champion digital adoption and organisational readiness: o Drive behavioural change and adoption of digital solutions by engaging users, addressing resistance, and embedding new workflows into day-to-day operations o Develop and execute structured change management strategies, including communications, training, user guides and change documentation o Champion a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, encouraging teams to adopt and optimise digital tools Requirements Key Competencies • Technology Acumen: Strong ability to quickly understand and evaluate technologies, and translate capabilities into practical business applications and value • Business Strategy: Ability to translate organisational needs into practical technology solutions with measurable outcomes • Stakeholder Management: Experience in managing diverse stakeholders and building strong partnerships across business units, technology vendors, and government agencies • Communication and Influence: Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and facilitate alignment across cross-functional stakeholders • Change Management: Proven ability to support change initiatives, manage stakeholder expectations, and drive user adoption • Project Management: Experience managing multi-stakeholder initiatives from planning through implementation, within timelines and constraints • Business Analysis: Strong analytical skills to diagnose needs, evaluate solutions, and recommend pragmatic approaches within operational and resource constraints Requirements • Qualification in any discipline • 5 – 7 years of experience in digital transformation, business transformation or process improvement projects • Experience working with enterprise systems and digital platforms from a business perspective • Interest in and working knowledge of emerging technologies, including generative AI • Proven track record in: o Managing projects and working with cross-functional and technical stakeholders o Evaluating technology solutions based on business value and user needs o Leading change management and driving user adoption • Ability to simplify and communicate complex concepts to non-technical audiences • Strong analytical and systems thinking skills to understand the interdependencies and optimise end-to-end processes • Comfort in operating within the complex, ambiguous environments The following are not necessary, but will be an added advantage: • Experience in public sector digitalisation projects • Experience in implementing legal tech solutions or case management systems • Familiarity with Singapore’s legal tech landscape and court filing processes • Understanding of data security, governance and compliance considerations • Experience in AI/ML technologies, including generative AI • Familiarity with Agile methodologies (e.g. product owner role) • Understanding of system design, architecture and integration concepts The successful candidate will be appointed on a one-year contract in the first instance, renewable for another two years.