Mandai Nature is a successful Singapore-based non-profit conservation organisation jointly set up by Temasek and Mandai Wildlife Group (which manages zoological parks including Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Rainforest Wild and Bird Paradise). Mandai Nature is the conservation arm of Mandai Wildlife Group and was established with the aim of advancing efforts on biodiversity protection in Singapore and Asia. Through impactful programmes and innovative partnerships Mandai Nature strives to protect nature and inspire action.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Scientific leadership and research strategy

• Lead and drive a translational wildlife biobanking programme focused on living cells, tissues, gametes, embryos and iPSC resources

• Identify priority species, sample types and conservation questions where biobanked materials can support genetic rescue, assisted reproduction, disease modelling, conservation breeding or One Health-relevant research.

• Develop a research roadmap that connects sample collection, cell culture, iPSC generation, biobank data, collaborations and conservation outcomes.

• Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed publications, scientific reports, conference abstracts, presentations, funder updates, technical documentation and stakeholder communications.

• Present important scientific findings at international, regional and local conferences.

• Translate scientific results into accessible outputs for conservation partners, funders and institutional stakeholders.
  

1. Grant development, funding stewardship and PI accountability

• Develop and lead competitive grant applications, donor proposals and sponsored research programmes related to wildlife biobanking, stem-cell technologies, disease modelling, ART and conservation biotechnology.

• Serve as primary grant applicant, with accountability for scientific direction, milestone delivery, funder reporting, budget stewardship, compliance and implementation.

• Build a sustainable funding pipeline by translating scientific progress into credible proposals, funder narratives, collaborations and externally reviewable outputs.
  

3. Collaboration, stakeholder engagement and regional networks

• Liaise and work collaboratively with academic, industry, conservation and government-linked researchers and stakeholders.

• Build local, regional and international collaborations in wildlife biobanking, conservation biotechnology, disease modelling, assisted reproduction and data sharing.

• Use collaborations to support joint proposals, technology development, training, workshops, regional standards and conservation implementation.
  

4. Team, laboratory and trainee leadership

• Supervise and mentor research staff, students, technical colleagues and collaborators involved in wet-lab, dry-lab and biobank work

• Coordinate laboratory workflow, procurement, consumables, equipment use, budgets and timelines.

• Build a safe, ethical, rigorous and collaborative research culture.

• Develop and support team members. Encourage open two-way conversations, constructive challenge, knowledge sharing and multidisciplinary collaboration.

• Actively manage performance outcomes through clear expectations, engaging feedback, development and accountability.

• Manage disputes and address concerns professionally, honestly and efficiently.

• Promote a healthy, inclusive and psychologically safe working environment.
  

5. Governance, ethics, compliance and data stewardship

• Ensure compliance with laboratory ethics, biosafety, institutional approvals, animal ethics, sample access requirements and grant conditions, including development of risk assessments and standard operating procedures relevant to the laboratory activities.

• Maintain accurate records for samples, experiments, collaborators, approvals, budgets, reports and data systems.

• Ensure that biobank expansion, sample use and collaborator access are scientifically justified and ethically defensible.
  

Job Requirements:

• PhD or equivalent in Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Reproductive Biology, Conservation Biology, Veterinary Science or a related field.

• Postdoctoral training or equivalent independent research experience in stem-cell biology, conservation biotechnology, reproductive technologies, biobanking, disease modelling, translational research or wildlife-related laboratory research would be advantageous.

• Training or demonstrated competency in grant writing, grant management, research compliance, biosafety, animal ethics, biobank governance, data management or project leadership would be advantageous.

• At least 5 years of laboratory research leadership experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading cell culture, molecular biology, cellular characterisation, microscopy/image analysis and quantitative data interpretation workflows

• Experience handling wildlife or non-model species tissue samples for derivation of cell lines, primary culture development and protocol optimisation across different taxonomic groups.

• Proven or demonstrable track record in competitive grant development, successful funding applications, funded project delivery, milestone achievement, progress reporting and grant-funded collaboration.

• Experience contributing to peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, technical reports, funder reports and multidisciplinary collaborations.

• Experience with iPSC generation, stem-cell differentiation, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, flow cytometry, FACS, high-throughput screening or advanced bioinformatics would be desirable.

• Experience working with academic, industry, conservation-linked, zoological, government or regional partners would be advantageous.

• Highly motivated, collaborative and passionate about wildlife conservation. Committed to laboratory ethics, research integrity, biosafety and responsible use of endangered species biomaterials.

• Entrepreneurial and grant-oriented, with the ability to identify fundable scientific opportunities, build collaborations, write compelling proposals and deliver funded milestones.

• Able to multitask, work independently and lead as part of a team.

• Shows initiative, problem-solving ability and accountability for agreed objectives.

• Excellent verbal and written English, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

• Able to work flexible hours when required by sample availability, laboratory workflow, grant deadlines or stakeholder commitments