Career Opportunities

***Latest Career Opportunites***--> LOOK HERE !

Career with Building and Constuction Authority

BCA’s ‘Built Environment Job Portal’ à http://www.elveslab.com/project8/search.aspx   launched Feb 08, meant as listing of job opportunities, currently has 62 companies listed (includes biggies like DLS, Keppel Land, etc.), has registered 35,000 hits in 6 mths.

Also  visit the BCA’s ‘Built Environment Job Portal’ at http://www.buildingcareers.sg

Senior / Property Officers

You will carry out inspection and maintenance of common areas in HDB estates, as well as supervising works done by maintenance contractors in accordance to standards and specifications e.g. cleaning, building & sanitary, electrical, pest control, horticulture etc. You will also work closely with residents and community leaders with regard to estate maintenance issues. Requiements for the post include:

·Diploma in Civil, Building, Estate Maintenance or equivalent

·2 to 5 years’ of relevant work experience, preferably with a Town Council

·A team player who with good interpersonal and organization skills

·Able to withstand pressure and work beyond normal working hours and on weekends/public holidays

For those interested please send you CV to  HR manager Er Sock Huan at er.sock.huan@cpgcorp.com.sg


CPG FM is looking for 5 M&E Technical Officers to handle T3 Changi Airport.

IBT graduates and alumni members are invited to apply for these positions

You can send their resume directly to Mr Jeffrey Chua, MD of CPG FM Pte Ltd (email : jeff.chua@cpgfm.com.sg ).


FM connect is recruiting one project engineer and one senior engineer (minimal diploma level) to manage their facilities.

They must have knowledge in BMS.

Interested party can send resume to their MD Mr Harry Woon at harrywoon@fmconnect.net.

Make Your Mark in Banking with DBS!

Financial Executive Program for Polytechnic Graduates is here!

What is this Programme about?

Financial Executive Program is a leadership and sales training programme in our Consumer Banking Group (CBG) targeted strictly for diploma holders. It aims to groom service and sales leaders of the future within you!

Why are we better?

From day one, you will be immersed in the exciting, dynamic environment of Singapore’s largest bank, which will provide you with immense growth, reward and developmental opportunities.

What the programme entails

• Comprehensive Training
• 1.5 years structured programme
• Hands-on rotation across service, processing and sales
• Classroom training on products
• Fast-Track Career Paths
• POSB Sales (PFM) > DBS Sales (SRM) > Treasures Sales (TRM) > Branch managers
• Accelerated promotion
• Sponsorship to Pursue Part-Time Degree Studies
  • Sponsorship of up to 70% of the cost of the program, subjected to a maximum of $10,000

What we are looking for

• Strong academic results
• Highly-driven and self-motivated individuals with a strong desire to excel in service and relationship management
• Bilingual proficiency with strong communication and listening skills

How to apply?

• Log on to DBS Careers website at http://www.dbs.com.sg/careers/FEP after 21st Nov 2007

Application information

• Application deadline by 30 Nov 2007
• Interviews will be conducted in Dec 07
• Selection and Offer will be held by Jan 08

Going places with a Diploma in IBT – but not in the building industry!

While most of their IBT peers would have secured related jobs in the building industry upon graduation, some of our graduates have chosen to take the path less traveled and become entrepreneurs.  We feature here two such graduates:

Pamela Shee – Co-Owner of Art Bless’ns Pte Ltd

(Source: ENGINEERUS, Jul 2007)

So, folks, if you have any siblings or relatives who’d be interested to enroll their children in art and craft activities, or need an events manager for an arts-related event, then Pam’s the person you’ll want to contact.  Anyway, by the time you read this, Pam would already be in the UK, pursuing her Business Studies degree at Loughborough University – thanks to her Diploma in Intelligent Building Technology!

Andy Chua – Owner of A.Sugarcane Café

(Source: ENGINEERUS, Jan 2005)

If you’ve ever wondered what a Diploma in Intelligent Building Technology has to do with selling sugarcane juice, you might just want to drop by at Andy’s café on a typically hot and humid Singapore afternoon, chill out with a tall glass of juice, and ask the man himself.

We, here at IBT, are greatly heartened when Andy says that ‘my diploma training has sharpened my mind, improved my communication skills, and even helped me in the interior designing and renovation of my shops!’  Who knows, what with bagasse (sugar cane waste) already being widely used as a fuel for industrial heat generation in India, perhaps interested parties could consider recovering the bagasse from Andy’s cafés for research into their possible use as an environmentally-friendlier alternative to fossil fuels for Singapore industry!  

IBT graduate reaps rich dividends (and we don’t just mean financially!)

‘There are no geographical boundaries where technical skills are concerned so they can work anywhere in the world.’  

(Mr Edward Ho, Nanyang Polytechnic’s deputy principal of development, and head of the task force to promote engineering)

IBT alumnus, Mohd Solliqin

And it seems that nowhere has this rung truer than in the case of our IBT alumnus, Mohd Solliqin Mohamed Naib.  Solliqin joined NCS Pte Ltd, a home-grown multi-national company specializing in the provision of IT and communications engineering solutions, in Dec 2005, after completing his NS.  He had been head-hunted by a former neighbor who works for the company.  He now works in Bahrain as a service engineer and earns between $3,000 and $3,500 per month.  By Solliqin’s own reckoning, this remuneration is ‘double what other diploma graduates get.’  In fact, employment surveys done by the 5 polytechnics suggest that graduates with an diploma in engineering (electrical and electronic) – under which the Diploma in IBT is classified – earned average gross monthly salaries of $1,706 and $1,821 in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

(Sources: Ng, J. (2007), ‘Engineering grads are still polytechnics’ top earners,’ The Straits Times, 6 Feb, p. H2 and Bahrawi, N. (2007), ‘Diplomas paying dividends,’ Today, 6 Feb, p. 6)

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Prospects in the building and facilities management industry have never looked brighter!  Upturn in the building sector translates to construction of more buildings, which in turn means a greater need for building or facility mgmt staff to upkeep and optimize the performance of these buildings/facilities to ensure greater comfort, health, safety and security for their occupants.  Just look at these recent developments:

‘a. New mall in Tampines to be completed in late 2008’ (ST, Tue, 12 Sep 06, p. H18) à ‘Come Christmas 2008, residents in the Tampines area will have a new mall to visit.’  The mall, to be named Tampines 1, will be owned by AsiaMalls Management (the same owner as neighboring Century Square).

The upcoming 1 Tampines Mall, on the site of the former Pavilion Cineplex and DBS Tampines Central Building, is scheduled to be completed in 2008, adding to the retail buzz in the area. (Source: The Straits Times)

b.‘Top grade office space nears 100% occupancy’ (ST, Tue, 29 Oct 06, p. H20) Occupancy rates for premium office buildings in the city have hit a historic high as the supply crunch for such prime space worsens….In the meantime, rents have also started to soar.’  (Afternote:  there have been recent reports of the proposed construction of low-rise office buildings to help ease the space shortage).

c.‘Govt releases 15 new sites for sale’ (ST, Fri, 15 Jun 07, p. 1) Fifteen new sites have been put up for sale under the Government’s programme to offer land for development, in response to a robust economy and the red-hot property market.’  (The 15 sites include 8 residential, 4 hotel, 2 commercial and 1 white site).

d.‘New private hospital to be set up in Jurong’ (ST, Fri, 15 Jun 07, p. 3) A new 150-bed private hospital, will be built in Jurong at a cost of $15 million.  To be ready within 3 to 4 years, the hospital will a full range of acute and convalescent care services, including emergency and intensive care, surgery, specialist clinics offering oncologic, geriatric and orthopedic care, as well as a TCM clinic.

e.‘Construction frenzy puts squeeze on resources’ (ST, Mon, 25 Jun 07, p. 1 – 2) ‘The site of an integrated resort as well as new offices and homes is at the heart of the buzz in the construction industry.  Elsewhere, commercial complexes and condominium developments have been coming onstream at a breakneck pace…The (construction) sector grew by a sizzling 9.7% between January and March alone – the strongest quarterly showing in nine years.’

f.‘CapitaLand, Far East unveil first new Orchard malls in 10 years’ (ST, Tue, 17 Jul 07, p. H26) The malls are CapitaLand’s Ion Orchard at Orchard Turn (above Orchard MRT Stn) and FEO’s Orchard Central (beside Somerset MRT Stn).  ‘The malls – both of which will open by the end of next year – are the first brand-new shopping centers to rise along Orchard Road in more than a decade.’

	CapitaLand’s Ion Orchard mall, along Orchard Road (Source: The Straits Times)
	Far East Organization’s Orchard Central mall – also on Orchard Road. (Source: The Straits Times)

g.‘$660 million lifestyle hub to go up at Buona Vista’ (ST, Mon, 10 Sep 07, p. 3)

Property heavyweight, CapitaLand, and Rock Productions, the business arm of New Creation Church, will jointly invest $660 million to develop an integrated lifestyle complex in Singapore’s one-north science hub.  To be completed in 2011, the futuristic-looking facilities will include a 5,000 seat theater in the civic and cultural zone, while restaurants, cafes, shops, wine bars, dance clubs, a concept food hall and a gourmet supermarket will be located in the 2-storey plus 2-basement retail and entertainment zone.

CapitaLand’s and Rock Productions’ future lifestyle hub at Buona Vista (Source: The Straits Times)

h.‘Eco-friendly project for iconic site in Beach Road’ (ST, Tue, 11 Sep 07, p. 1)  

A consortium led by City Developments (CDL), clinched ‘a large, hotly contested Beach Road site, with a winning bid of $1.689 billion.’  Two prominent towers, one 45 storeys tall and the other, 42 storeys tall, will be constructed and integrated with the conserved buildings of the 1930s’ era Beach Road Camp and the former SAF Warrant Officers’ and Specialists’ Club on the 3.5 ha site.  These two towers, which will feature ‘premium office space, two hotels, shops and city residences,’ will also be designed for environmental sustainability and be connected to the new Esplanade MRT station.

CDL’s iconic project, on the site of the former Beach Road Camp and SAF WOSEs’ Club (Source: The Straits Times)

i.‘Marina South: New choice area for homes’ (ST, Fri, 14 Sep 07, p. 1) The Government has identified a huge 60 ha site on the Marina South coast for ‘water-front-garden living in the heart of the city.’  The site, known as the Marina South Residential District, is located near the future Marina Bay Sands integrated resort (IR).  It boasts ‘spectacular sea views in one direction and lush greenery in the other’ since it is situated adjacent to the future Garden at Marina South.  Together with up to 11,000 homes, shopping malls, hotels, parks and schools will also be built in the district.

j.‘Lehman, Japan firm invest $450m in new office block’ (ST, Thu, 20 Sep 07, p. H22) In response to general shortage of office space in Singapore, and a specific demand for quality (ie. Grade A) office space by financial institutions which are expanding in Singapore, a new $450 million, 15-storey office building will be built along the former Crosby House site on Robinson Road.  The building is expected to be completed by mid-2009, before a large influx of office space projected for 2010.

New 15-storey financial office premises at 71 Robinson Road, by Lehman Brothers and Kajima Overseas Asia (Source: The Straits Times)

k.‘Golf clubs get nod to build hotels on their premises’ (ST, Sat, 22 Sep 07, p. 1)  With the tourism boom that Singapore is experiencing, comes concern that the existing 37,000 rooms nation-wide will soon be insufficient.  Even more visitor arrivals are projected with the impending commissioning of Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 in January 2008, and the introduction of other attractions such as the IRs, Formula 1 (F1) race and the Singapore Flyer around the Marina Bay area.  Thus, URA has granted approval to Jurong Country Club and the Laguna National Golf and Country Club to respectively build 300-room and 200-room hotels within their grounds.  These hotels-within-golf clubs are scheduled to open in 2010.

l.‘More medical centers coming up’ (ST, Wed, 26 Sep 07, p. H4) The Government plans to invest more than $2 billion in healthcare facilities over the next 8 years.  These include: (i) hospitals such as the upcoming Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun and a new one in western Singapore to be opened by 2015; (ii) primary facilities, such as the building of polyclinics in new population centers and re-development of older ones; (iii) new heart and cancer care centers in NUH, plus up to 3 more such centers by 2015, as well as the redevelopment of the Communicable Disease Center (CDC); (iv) step-down facilities, such as the new Ren Ci Hospital which will be co-located with TTSH, and setting aside of land near new hospitals for community hospitals; (v) support facilities, such as the SGH’s new pathology laboratory, and (vi) teaching and research facilities, such as the Duke Medical School which will be completed within SGH’s Outram Campus by 2009, together with its new block containing labs for clinician-scientists.

Above: Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun Left: SGH’s new pathology lab at Outram Campus (Source: The Straits Times)

m.‘Collyer Quay makeover’ (ST, Fri, 28 Sep 07, p. H15)  Developer Sino Land has invested $165.8 million to redevelop Collyer Quay and its surrounding properties.  The developer, which already owns the existing Fullerton Hotel and Waterboat House, will be: (i) transforming the present Customs Harbor Branch Building into Customs House, which will house restaurants, cafes, shops and a maritime gallery showcasing the history of Collyer Quay, an glass pavilions linking it to the (ii) Fullerton Bay Hotel, which will be a 6-storey, 100-room boutique hotel with full sea views; (iii) revamping Clifford Pier into 1,500 m² of commercial space, which will include luxury watch, jewelry and fashion boutiques.

Historical Collyer Quay – giving Sydney’s Circular Quay a run for its money! (Source: The Straits Times) The above new developments will also have a knock-on effect on contractors, vendors and other technical service providers in the building industry.  Thus, while the construction of more buildings will generate a greater demand for FM staff, it will also result in more building systems requiring the attention of the contractors, vendors and other tech service providers, meaning greater employment opportunities.

n.‘Economy trumps analysts forecasts with 9.4% growth,’ (ST, Thu, 11 Oct 07, p. 1) ‘The economy grew by a blistering 9.4% in the third quarter, trumping analysts forecasts and beating the bumper numbers racked up in the previous three months.. Construction and manufacturing drove the rapid expansion, which has left the country well-placed to hit its official 7 percent to 8 percent  growth forecast for the year….Construction….grew by double-digits from a year ago,’ viz. 13.1% in Q1 ’07, 18.8% in Q2 ’07 and 15.5% in Q3 ’07, compared to 2.7% for the whole of 2006.

m.‘MAS forecasts more moderate growth next year,’ (ST, Wed, 31 Oct 07, p. 1) ‘Tech sector’s contribution to growth dwindles to 4%,’ (ST, Wed, 31 Oct 07, p. H24) ‘….the booming construction, marine and oil-rig building industries will lead economic expansion next year.  The MAS said the building boom will have its biggest payoff for the economy later this year and the next……Another key driver of growth this year…..was “asset market-related” activities – related to the property and financial services sector.’  This sector ‘includes the wealth advisory and capital market segments, and the construction sector, which has been driven by the property boom.  This has also spilled over to financial and business services, where loans to the building and construction industry has hit double-digit growth since the second half of last year.’  Furthermore, non-IT growth drivers – which include such domestic-oriented services as construction and property-related services – have been contributing an increasing share of Singapore’s GDP growth, as shown below:

(Source: Adapted from The Straits Times, 31 Oct 07, p. H24)

n.‘Sports Hub proposals promise to add buzz to Kallang,’ (ST, Tue, 6 Nov 07, p. 1), ‘A year-round Sports Hub for everyone,’ (ST, Tue, 6 Nov 07, p. H10) ‘Dome-shaped stadium gets the ayes,’ (ST, Wed, 7 Nov 07, p. H16) The replacement for the 34-year old National Stadium, the Sports Hub expected to cost in the range of $650 million to $800 million to build.  Three consortiums have submitted bids for the project, from which the winner will be announced in Jan 2008.  When completed in 2011, it will feature ‘a new 55,000-capacity stadium with a retractable roof, a 6,000-capacity indoor aquatic center, and a 3,000-seater multi-purpose arena’ plus ‘retail and other recreational facilities.’

According to the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), the development’s owner, about 41,000 m² (or about 15%) of the Sport Hub’s total gross floor area of 274,000 m² must be dedicated for use as commercial space.  In fact, the 3 bidding consortiums viz. Alpine, SingaporeGold (SG) and Singapore Sports Hub (SSH), envision ‘an integrated facility that is not only filled when there are sporting events, but is also thronging with visitors all year round.’  Indeed, as SSH’s spokesman, Christian Brezet, has iterated, ‘we want to have a Sports Hub that reaches out not just to the sporting community, but is also a lifestyle destination for families and couples.’

Existing buildings also need upgrading for their owners to remain competitive.  A prime example would be malls in the retail industry, such as Marina Square (one of the older malls), as well as Parkway Parade, Century Square and Tampines Mall, and even Changi Airport, to name a few.  Such upgrading projects generate demand for FM and other technical manpower, as do developments in the tourism sector.  Some examples:

a.   ‘Terminal 2 is now BIGGER and BETTER’ (ST, Thu, 14 Sep 06, p. 4)  

Following a 3-year long, $240 million make-over, Changi Airport’s 16-year old Terminal 2 now ‘offers the traveler more space, more shops, more eateries and more facilities overall.’  A new glass now allows more natural lighting to penetrate the terminal building, while a 250 m-long glass canopy extends further out and affords travelers more protection from the rain.  There are also new glass lifts, an entertainment lounge complete with LCD screens and a new foot reflexology spa in the transit areas, as well as 121 food and beverage outlets or about 25% more than before…..Through a combination of sustainable design, creative space planning and facility management, these upgrades help Changi to maintain its lead among airports that give the best traveling experience, amid stiff competition from airports in Bangkok and Dubai.

Changi Airport’s Passenger Terminal Building 2 – newer, bigger and brighter than before(Source: The Straits Times)

b. ‘Boom time in services sector with 111,000 new jobs’ (ST, Mon, 12 Feb

07, p.1) à ‘The service sector was red-hot last year with almost 111,000 jobs created.  Many have yet to be filled, and more are in the pipeline’ with at least 3,600 jobs in the tourism sector, including those for facilities executives.

c. ‘$400m makeover for Science Park,’ (ST, Mon, 22 Oct 07, p. H6) The 25-year old Singapore Science Park will soon be renovated to the tune of $400 million.  The Park, nestled within the boundaries of the AYE, South Buona Vista Road, Kent Ridge Park and Normanton Park, is Singapore’s first R&D hub.  The upgrading will generate more space for R&D companies in the Park and improve access to recreational facilities and the surrounding greenery of Kent Ridge Park.  The developer, Ascendas, ‘hopes the new look will help it to retain current tenants and attract new ones.’  The first phase of development alone, costing $200 million, will begin in Nov 2007 and add 87,000 m² of space, a 14% increase over the hub’s present built-up area.  Some of the phases of development are as follows:

• Phase 1A  4 existing buildings, Pasteur, Pascal, Mendel and Maxwell, will be replaced by a new 6-storey building (the Central Plaza) housing a gym, restaurants, an auditorium, and R&D firms.  Construction is scheduled to start in mid-2008 and end by 2011.
• Phase 1B construction of a new building for R&D facilities, Cintech 4, will begin in Nov 2007 and end in 2009.
• Phase 2  Work to replace the existing Fleming and Faraday buildings with a 12-storey facility for IT and life science companies, is targeted to begin 2012 and end in 2014.
• Phase 3 Work to replace the existing Chadwick, Curie and Cavendish buildings may start 2015 and end by 2018.

d. 'Yishun mall to get bigger, better with new Northpoint 2,’ (ST, Tue, 23 Oct 07, p. H22) The existing 14-year old Northpoint shopping mall in Yishun, will soon be integrated with a new Northpoint 2 to ‘create a single shopping mall with a total net lettable area of 23,200 m².  This upgrading project by Frasers Centerpoint Trust, the owner of malls such as Centerpoint, Northpoint and Anchorpoint, could be seen as yet another move to retain and improve on market share in the highly competitive local retail scene.

The existing Northpoint Mall in Yishun will ultimately be connected to a new mall to be built, Northpoint 2.  Other  existing ‘connected’ malls include Vivo City – Harbor Front in the southern and Tampines Mall – Century Square in the eastern parts of Singapore.