COO / Director, Growth Adjacencies and New Markets

About Us

Far East Organization is a Christian Enterprise, which develops real estate and operates businesses by serving with grace, love, integrity and honesty. Together with its Hong Kong-based sister company Sino Group, they are one of Asia’s largest real estate groups, with operations in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, China (Mainland and Hong Kong) and USA. 

Far East Organization is the largest private property developer in Singapore, having developed over 780 developments across all segments of real estate including 55,000 private homes in Singapore since its establishment in 1960. Far East Organization includes three listed entities: Far East Orchard Limited, Far East Hospitality Trust and Yeo Hiap Seng Limited.

Far East Organization is the winner of 14 FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence awards, the highest honour in international real estate. In 2022, Far East Organization is listed as top 50 of The Straits Time’s Singapore Best Employers Study. We believe in taking care of the total well-being of our people as they grow with us. We nurture a community where talent is developed and recognised, innovative ideas are encouraged, and achievements celebrated.

Our health and well-being benefits provide physical, mental and spiritual support to our people and their families. In addition to annual leave, performance bonus, medical and insurance coverage, you can anticipate the provision of birthday leave, birthday benefits, care leave, flexible benefits, staff rebates at F&B outlets, and special rates at our hotels, both locally and overseas. We empower you in your engagement with the wider community by providing varied activities to experience different opportunities to serve and contribute to the community.

Responsibilities

• Build a prioritised pipeline of opportunities that draw on the Group's property, hospitality, development, investment or operating strengths. 

• Define the investment thesis for each opportunity, covering customer need, market potential, competitive advantage, business model, required capabilities, capital, partnership approach and principal risks. 

• Validate the thesis through market, customer, commercial, regulatory, operating and financial evidence before seeking material resources or capital. 

• Apply defined stage gates and stop non-viable initiatives early. 

• Set the market thesis for Japan and any subsequently assigned market, based on property fundamentals, sector demand, policy, regulation, competition, entry barriers and potential partners. 

• Recommend the entry model and pace of capital deployment, including direct investment, development, acquisition, joint venture, strategic partnership or platform creation. 

• Build relationships with government and regulatory stakeholders, local partners, owners, investors and advisers, drawing on the Executive Director's sponsorship when required. 

• Track external developments and adjust market plans or exposure when conditions change. 

• Lead cross-functional teams through concept development, business cases, partner selection, commercial structuring, due diligence, negotiation and approval. 

• Present recommendations that distinguish evidence, assumptions, sensitivities, unresolved risks, conditions precedent and the decision required. 

• Mobilise approved initiatives with an accountable leader, operating model, budget, milestones and risk controls. 

• Monitor portfolio performance and capital efficiency, requiring corrective action or recommending scale, transfer, restructuring or exit as warranted. 

• Mobilise expertise from existing Business Units and Platforms without creating duplicate structures or competing accountabilities. 

• Set proportionate decision rights, reporting, risk ownership and escalation, and ensure compliance with Group approvals, policies and local requirements. 

• Provide the Executive Director with concise portfolio reporting and surface material issues early. 

• Build a lean team using internal mobility, external expertise, secondees or partners according to each initiative's needs. 

• Set objectives and delegated authorities, coach portfolio leaders and hold them accountable for results. 

• Develop successors and preserve institutional knowledge, stakeholder relationships and lessons learned. 

Requirements

• Substantial senior experience in new business investment, development, corporate strategy, business building or portfolio management. 

• A record of creating and scaling adjacencies that draw on an enterprise's existing assets, capabilities or customer relationships. 

• Strong transaction experience across financial evaluation, due diligence, structuring, partnerships or joint ventures and post-approval mobilisation. 

• Experience entering new markets and navigating cross-border governance, regulation and complex stakeholders; Japan experience is advantageous. 

• Experience leading first-of-kind, cross-functional initiatives. Relevant qualifications in business, finance, economics, engineering or a related discipline are advantageous. 

• Strategic judgement: Connects market, property, capital and organisational considerations while balancing growth, returns and risk. 

• Commercial and investment acumen: Tests value creation, funding implications and execution feasibility. 

• Business building: Turns uncertain opportunities into disciplined, executable initiatives. 

• Stakeholder influence: Builds trust across government, partners, investors and internal leaders and challenges assumptions constructively. 

• Leadership through others: Sets direction, delegates effectively and develops enduring team capability.